President swears in Acting Chancellor, Chief Justice

Mar 29, 2017 News

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By Murtland Haley
During a ceremony at State House yesterday, President David Granger swore in Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire as Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice respectively.

On behalf of the Executive branch of government, the President congratulated both women on their appointments to the two highest positions in Guyana’s judicial system. He said that the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is the supreme law and that its provisions are mandatory.
He said that in Article 127 (2) of the constitution prescribes, “If the office of Chancellor or Chief Justice is vacant or if the person holding the office of Chancellor is performing the functions of the office of President or is for any other reason unable to perform the functions of his or her office, or if the person holding the office of Chief Justice is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his or her office, then, until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of such or until the person holding such office has resumed those functions, as the case may be, those functions shall be performed by such other of the Judges as shall be appointed by the President after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.”
Granger reiterated the fact that both positions of Chancellor and Chief Justice were vacant and after a satisfying consultation with Leader of the Opposition as required by the constitution, he decided to appoint the two Justices to act in the positions until such time that substantive office holders can be appointed in accordance with the constitution.
He said, “The offices of Chancellor and Chief Justice are the most senior of Guyana’s Judiciary. The appointment of persons to perform the functions of these offices is necessary to upholding the constitution and for the administration of justice.”
The President wished both Justices every success in the discharge of their duties.

He urged them to continue upholding the high tradition and standards of the offices of Chancellor and Chief Justice, the functions of which they’ll be performing in accordance with the oath they have sworn.
Members of the legislative, executive and judicial arms of Government were urged by the President to continue showing respect for the country’s constitution.
Among those present at the ceremony were Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General Basil Williams, Brigadier Patrick West, Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine, other members of government along with friends and colleagues of the appointed Chancellor and Chief Justice.
Speaking with reporters, Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire said that herself and the Acting Chancellor are aware of the challenges facing the judiciary and that efforts will be made to overcome those challenges. She added that the Chancellor can expect her support in this regard.
“She (Chancellor Cummings-Edwards) has put in place a number of projects and programmes over the last year and I will try my best and strive to rise to the challenge of maintaining the momentum that she has built over the last year. I pledge to be supportive of her as Chancellor and I look forward to the support of my colleagues and judicial officers.”
When asked to describe some of the urgent issues to be addressed, the Chief Justice said that there is an on-going project called the ‘Jurist Project’ which addresses how the backlog of cases will be handled as well as the implementation of the Civil Procedure Rules.
She said that efforts must be made to not only sensitize judicial officers to these rules but also lawyers and most importantly the public. According to Justice George-Wiltshire the judiciary is moving to become more open so that members of the public understand the judicial and administration of justice system.
“I think that is a bit lacking in Guyana and that is something we will try to do over the next few months.”
Questioned on the issue of the Family Court for which she has responsibility the Chief Justice said that two judges are assigned to the court and that is the complement assigned to the court based on the current strength of the judiciary.
She added that some lawyers have been complaining that matters are coming up quickly in the Family Court. She said that once there is an application for a divorce or a matter pertaining to a child a date for hearing is set.
“It is very difficult to get out of that date for hearing and the public has to understand that. So it is not a question where you file a matter in the court and you think, Oh I have a few years, I have a few months; It is not going to be working like that anymore. It’s going to put pressure on us as judges but the lawyers and the litigants has to understand that the speed at which we are able to work is supposed to be much much faster.”
She said that it is going to be tough particularly as it relates to keeping up with the timeline but the Acting Chief Justice said that challenges are meant to be overcome.

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