Dear Editor,
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has finally rendered its long awaited ruling on the two critical constitutional matters pertaining to Guyana: The no confidence motion was validly passed and elections must be held within ninety days; and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chair was improperly appointed. The court asked the lawyers for the two contending parties (really President David Granger and the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo) to meet and suggest a solution on a way forward and return to court on Monday June 24 with their
recommendations. If the two opposing sides can’t agree, then the court said it is prepared to impose a solution on appointing a GECOM Chair.
Since the No Confidence motion was validly passed, then the ninety days rule must kick in. The parliament must be considered to be dissolved as of today and the President must announce a date for elections latest by September 24. The government acts as caretaker until the results of the next elections. There can be no new business transactions.
Since the appointment of James Patterson as Chair of GECOM was flawed and illegal, then he must do the honourable thing (as a former Judge would do) and resign. Failing to do so, the President must revoke his appointment. The CCJ mandates there must be consultation between the President and Opposition Leader (OL) on an appointee or a list of prospective nominees from which the President appoints one as Chair. The Opposition Leader (OL) and the President should immediately meet (consultation as required by the constitution) on resolving this issue. The OL should submit a list of six names. Since there was consultation before on the last two lists (12 names) submitted by Jagdeo, the OL can choose six names from those lists for the President to appoint one as Chair. Patterson was not among the nominees on any list. He must therefore go. His failure to leave will be seen as defying the court and a moral defeat for those who brought the case against his flawed appointment. Besides those points, very few Guyanese have confidence in Patterson to supervise free and fair elections. His replacement must be done urgently by the time the CCJ reconvenes on Monday.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram
