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Caribbean wonders reasons for Govt approaching CCJ – UWI Political Science Head

May 13, 2019

CCJ no-confidence cases

…says Govt dodging of elections raises questions about its self-confidence

Even as the coalition Government fights for its survival in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), a Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)-based political analyst has opined that the Caribbean at large on a daily basis questions the reason Government even went to court in the first place.

Senior Lecturer at UWI, Dr Bishnu Ragoonath

This is according to Dr Bishnu Ragoonath, a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of West Indies at its St Augustine campus in Trinidad. Dr Ragoonath was at the time making an appearance on a Globespan24x7 Town Hall panel discussion.
According to Dr Ragoonath, observers of the case in the Caribbean have been questioning the reasoning behind the Guyana Government going to the courts, ever since they first approached the High Court.
“For all intents and purposes, there was the feeling that ever since the matter went to the High Court, ‘why is this matter going to the High Court?’ Because as far as most of us were concerned, within the context of all our laws in the Caribbean, once you have faced a no-confidence vote and you have lost, it is anticipated that the Government will hand over or call elections within three months,” he said.
“So it is something that most of us, as political scientists and lay people in the Caribbean, would have (asked) why is Guyana going down this route. Why are they not going and call elections when they should? And why is the Government now challenging this thing when initially they accepted it?”
Indeed, on the very night of the no-confidence vote, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had accepted that Government must follow the Constitution and call elections in three months, in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana.
Article 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution states, respectively: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

Three of the CCJ Judges during the hearing

And “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”
According to Dr Ragoonath, the Government’s about-turn has caused many in the Caribbean to question whether the Government is afraid of going to the polls and whether this fear stems from a lack of confidence in itself and its record.
“I think the eyes of the Caribbean looking at Guyana believe that if the Guyana Government felt so confident in themselves, they should have gone back to the polls and let the people give them another mandate to take the Government forward for the next five years. But there is that concern, that maybe they’re not as confident as they should be.”

The courtroom
But Dr Ragoonath noted that the big question was how far Government would be willing to go, if the court should return a ruling unfavourable to it. He noted that the way the case has been progressing and the way the CCJ Judges have reacted to the State lawyers’ submissions in the two days the cases were heard is very telling.
“While we cannot say what will be the verdict in this matter, the Judges did in fact ask some very telling questions, to the legal representatives of both the Government and the Opposition. For instance, they kept on asking the question of why did the courts in Guyana take so long knowing full well that there was a 90-day limit beyond the no-confidence motion, that the elections were to be held and the (Cabinet) should have resigned.”
“The fact that the Appeal Court in Guyana went beyond the three-month deadline to give their ruling, thus pushing the whole issue back. The issue being raised about whether or not if a verdict does go in favour of the Opposition against the Government, how soon can an election be held in Guyana,” the scholar said.
He made it clear that he was not surprised by the questions the Judges put to the Attorneys. According to Dr Ragoonath, having sat and observed events in Guyana and how they were playing out, it was merely a matter of determining the next step forward.
He also noted the fact that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has given the Government a November earliest date in which elections can be held. This is a date well outside the timeframe the Constitution of Guyana sets for holding elections.
“I think if we are to follow the questions, I think there were serious concerns that the CCJ would have had about how the Government but also the institutions acted… the Elections Commission and the Court of Appeal in how they operated in this matter,” he said.
The three no-confidence motion cases deal with Christopher Ram v the Attorney General of Guyana, the Leader of the Opposition and Joseph Harmon; Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo v the Attorney General of Guyana, Dr Barton Scotland and Joseph Harmon; and Charrandas Persaud v Compton Herbert Reid, Dr Barton Scotland, Bharrat Jagdeo and Joseph Harmon; the last of which deals with Persaud’s eligibility to vote in the House. The oral arguments concluded on Friday, with the whole nation awaiting a ruling.

https://guyanatimesgy.com/cari...itical-science-head/

Replies sorted oldest to newest

DjangoAdmin

Yugi,

Who appealed the CV decision of the "Guyana Court of Appeal" at the CCJ ?

5/13/1910:36 AM

Former Member

Dunce, who challenged Charandass vote in parliament ?

Dunce, the head lecture is questioning the PNC for even going to the courts in the first place ! They are required to hold elections within 90 days of the NCV.

You are fetching so much PNC slop that is has entered into your brain !

5/13/1910:40 AM

alena06Senior Member

Django and his PNC Cohorts are a shame to the Caribbean and the rest of the world.

5/13/1910:45 AM

Former Member

One of the Judges expressed his sentiment about the case even reaching the CCJ and wondered why Granger refused to engage Jagdeo in selecting a GECOM chairman.

Anyone defending the PNC has no shame whatsoever.

PNC is afraid of the electorate. They are a very dumb bunch and should have capitalized on the argument that Ali is not the best candidate but PNC lost all goodwill and has backed themselves in a corner.

The judges seem frustrated that GECOM is acting as an instrument of the PNC and should have been ready for any situation including a 90 day readiness.

5/13/1910:52 AM

DjangoAdmin

yuji22 posted:
Dunce, who challenged Charandass vote in parliament ?
Dunce, the head lecture is questioning the PNC for even going to the courts in the first place !
They are required to hold elections within 90 days of the NCV.
You are fetching so much PNC slop that is has entered into your brain !

So that's your answer to my question ?? what's the purpose COURTS ?

5/13/1911:04 AM

DjangoAdmin

alena06 posted:
Django and his PNC Cohorts are a shame to the Caribbean and the rest of the world.

Guyana has always been a shame to the Region and the rest of the world, the politicians acts like little children. Also most are rejects roaming as politicians.

5/13/1911:08 AM

Former Member

Guyana is only a disgrace to the Caribbean only when the PNC takes office and disply their dictatorial traits, time and time again. Get your facts straight and stop disco dancing.

You have no shame whatsoever of supporting a bunch of PNC criminals. thugs and dictators !

5/13/1911:11 AM

NehruBig Mouth Member

alena06 posted:
Django and his PNC Cohorts are a shame to the Caribbean and the rest of the world.

THAT IS HIGH PRAISE FOR A dumb HIGH SCHOOL DROP OUT. NYC Sewer trading at a higher price than HIM!!!!!!

5/13/1911:11 AM

Former Member

He is hanging his mouth for soup. He rass will get white mouth when the PNC soup stops flowing. That's all that I can say for now regarding that shameless banna. I will reveal it all after the election.

5/13/1911:14 AM

DjangoAdmin

yuji22 posted:
Guyana is only a disgrace to the Caribbean only when the PNC takes office and disply their dictatorial traits, time and time again. Get your facts straight and stop disco dancing.
You have no shame whatsoever of supporting a bunch of PNC criminals. thugs and dictators !

LOL,

The country was a disgrace under the fearless leader. Alyuh sweeping it under the rug.

5/13/1911:15 AM

DjangoAdmin

Nehru posted:
alena06 posted:
Django and his PNC Cohorts are a shame to the Caribbean and the rest of the world.
THAT IS HIGH PRAISE FOR A dumb HIGH SCHOOL DROP OUT. NYC Sewer trading at a higher price than HIM!!!!!!

Ha..ha.. that individual ahead of you by miles in progress and knowledge.

5/13/1911:18 AM

DjangoAdmin

yuji22 posted:
He is hanging his mouth for soup. He rass will get white mouth when the PNC soup stops flowing.
That's all that I can say for now regarding that shameless banna.I will reveal it all after the election.

Will be awaiting your revelation !!! This forum will expose your credibility. Saving this post, babbling too much !!!

Always providing for my self, never depending on handouts.

5/13/1911:26 AM

Former Member

yuji22 posted:
Caribbean wonders reasons for Govt approaching CCJ – UWI Political Science Head
May 13, 2019
CCJ no-confidence cases
…says Govt dodging of elections raises questions about its self-confidence
Even as the coalition Government fights for its survival in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), a Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)-based political analyst has opined that the Caribbean at large on a daily basis questions the reason Government even went to court in the first place.
This is according to Dr Bishnu Ragoonath, a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of West Indies at its St Augustine campus in Trinidad. Dr Ragoonath was at the time making an appearance on a Globespan24x7 Town Hall panel discussion.
According to Dr Ragoonath, observers of the case in the Caribbean have been questioning the reasoning behind the Guyana Government going to the courts, ever since they first approached the High Court.

https://guyanatimesgy.com/cari...itical-science-head/

Perhaps, they are scrambling here, there and everywhere to keep a weee bit of their head above water.

5/13/191:41 PM

Former Member

Django posted:
Yugi,
Who appealed the CV decision of the "Guyana Court of Appeal" at the CCJ ?

The gov't didn't approach CCJ. The PPP did so Kamla's friend should stop being a Jagdeo stooge. I bet that the Caribbean doesn't care the slightest about what its dysfunctional sibling is up to. No one has any expectations of Guyana and this is regardless as to which party is in power.

5/13/193:03 PM

Former Member

yuji22 posted:
Guyana is only a disgrace to the Caribbean

So the Herdmanston Agreement occurred when the PNC was in office? I do recall that all thought that the PPP was being unreasonable. Which is why CARICOM wasted time with Guyana on that occasion.

5/13/193:05 PM

Former Member

And to the contrary I bet that loads of Caribbean gov'ts are watching, secretly hoping that the gov't wins as they also have to periodically undergo nuisance NCV votes.

And in those islands where MPs serve at the pleasure of those who DIRECTLY elect them, and not their party leaders NCVs are even more risky. A few MPs can cross the floor and a gov't collapses. There is nothing that a gov't can do to prevent this.

So quit thinking that political parties in the islands endorse that Jagdeo stunt. If the PPP wins on this one it will the worst nightmare as every who has a brawl with the PM will get revenge by crossing the floor and bringing an NCV which the gov't will then lose. I believe that St L and Antigua had NCV around the time that GY did.

5/13/193:09 PM

NehruBig Mouth Member

What a load of CRAP!!! Rule effectively and competently and you will win a majority of > 1 and I know how difficult the symbol of < and > are to FILTH HEADS!11

5/13/193:24 PM

Former Member

caribny posted:
Django posted:
Yugi,
Who appealed the CV decision of the "Guyana Court of Appeal" at the CCJ ?
The gov't didn't approach CCJ. The PPP did so Kamla's friend should stop being a Jagdeo stooge. I bet that the Caribbean doesn't care the slightest about what its dysfunctional sibling is up to. No one has any expectations of Guyana and this is regardless as to which party is in power.

Hypocrisy at its best. Wonder what your reaction would be if the PPP pulled this disgraceful shit on the shameless PNC? I wonder if GT would still be GT today if the PPP failed to honor a NCM?

5/13/193:55 PM

Former Member

skeldon_man posted:

Hypocrisy at its best. Wonder what your reaction would be if the PPP pulled this disgraceful shit on the shameless PNC? I wonder if GT would still be GT today if the PPP failed to honor a NCM?

I would have said the same as I am not a PNC stooge.

Now please explain why the PNC didn't burn down GT when Judas Charrandass sold his vote for a few pieces of ego boosting because Granger forgot his name.

It is still to be established whether Charandass has a right to cast an NCV given that he represents no one other than the AFC and the AFC didn't decide to vote that way. The only reason why Charandass is in parliament is that the AFC selected him. He wasn't voted in by the voters.

5/13/194:21 PM

Former Member

caribny posted:
skeldon_man posted:

Hypocrisy at its best. Wonder what your reaction would be if the PPP pulled this disgraceful shit on the shameless PNC? I wonder if GT would still be GT today if the PPP failed to honor a NCM?
I would have said the same as I am not a PNC stooge.
Now please explain why the PNC didn't burn down GT when Judas Charrandass sold his vote for a few pieces of ego boosting because Granger forgot his name.
It is still to be established whether Charandass has a right to cast an NCV given that he represents no one other than the AFC and the AFC didn't decide to vote that way. The only reason why Charandass is in parliament is that the AFC selected him. He wasn't voted in by the voters.

If that’s still to be established, then it’s still to be established whether is a functioning democracy!

5/13/195:02 PM

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Topics

Caribbean wonders reasons for Govt approaching CCJ – UWI Political Science Head

CCJ no-confidence cases

…says Govt dodging of elections raises questions about its self-confidence

Even as the coalition Government fights for its survival in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), a Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)-based political analyst has opined that the Caribbean at large on a daily basis questions the reason Government even went to court in the first place.

Caribbean wonders reasons for Govt approaching CCJ – UWI Political Science Head

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