Ramjattan supports appointment of Justices Chang, Singh

– Granger remains adamant posts should be advertised

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang

The parliamentary opposition parties have taken differing stances on the appointment of acting Chief Justice Ian Chang and acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh to the substantive positions.  The Alliance For Change (AFC) supports the confirmation of the judicial officials while the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) remains adamant that the posts should be advertised.

AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan told  Guyana Times that the acting chief justice and acting chancellor of the judiciary should be officially appointed to their respective posts. He pointed out that this was his initial position and it still stands.

“Those people are there for a while and for the remainder of whatever time they have left, they ought to be made substantive in their position,” he explained.

On the other hand, APNU leader David Granger reaffirmed his position that a public advertising system should be used to fill the posts. He noted that he inherited a situation of gridlock and has made recommendations so that the issue can be dealt with.

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh

He said he would like to break the gridlock so that the public can be confident about the persons appointed in these positions. When questioned by the media about whether he has any confidence in the persons currently acting in these positions, the opposition leader stated that “it is not a matter of expressing confidence in one person or the other, it’s a matter of dealing with a situation which is eight years old… I have confidence in the mechanism which I recommended,” he said.

When asked if any other country uses this system to fill senior judicial posts, Granger said he was not aware of such; however, he pointed out that different jurisdictions have different procedures. “Not one size fits all,” he stated.

The opposition did not disclose his reasons for not agreeing to the appointment of Justices Singh and Chang, stating that President Donald Ramotar did not disclose his reasons for appointing them so why should he reveal his for making his recommendations.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment on the issue, Guyana Bar Association President, Attorney Ronald Burch-Smith pointed out that if the opposition leader and the president cannot come to an agreement, then they should change the Constitution to satisfy them both.

“If the parties can’t come to an agreement, then they should amend the laws and find a new way to make appointments of these positions,” he stated. The GBA president called the current procedure “foolish”, since it does not work.

The attorney noted that the president and opposition leader are two sensible and experienced persons, so they should find a mechanism that suits them.

Burch-Smith added that the ongoing “political stalemate is undesirous and dangerous for persons functioning in these offices.”

President Ramotar has opted to substantively confirm acting Chief Justice Ian Chang and acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh. However, according to the Constitution, he needs the support of the opposition leader before this can be done.