Latest update January 6th, 2025 4:00 AM
Not too late for both sides to reach consensus
DEAR EDITOR,
July 1 was the deadline for submission of proposals to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for consequential orders to be issued on July 12. The court had urged the two sides to meet and discuss the issues and reach consensus on proposed consequential orders.
Regrettably, the two sides failed to meet much less discuss the issues. What the court should have done was mandate that two sides meet (with timelines) and reach a consensus on what should be done. The constitution is very clear on what should be done but one side insists it cannot be done because of time constraints.
When I worked as a clerk at the civil section (handling lawsuits and marriage divorces) at the Bronx Supreme Court during my college days (was posted in the court room), I heard judges issued orders for opposing sides to meet and arrive at a solution on lawsuits. The court routinely offered his clerical assistant as a mediator to get the sides to talk and reach consensus on orders for him (the judge) to issue.
The judge checked up on the process to see if the sides made progress and whether they required further assistance. In some cases, the court goaded the two sides to meet and talk to find a resolution. After much effort, if the sides can’t reach agreement, then the judge issues a ruling based on law. The CCJ should have required the disputants to meet instead of just asking them to meet to find a solution to what is a political problem.
Not surprisingly, the disputants failed to meet. It is not too late for both sides to meet and arrive at a consensus (solution) for the appointment of a GECOM Chair and a date for elections and so advise the court to issue orders. An imposed solution is fraught with dangers given the history of our country.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram
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