VPAC demands inquiry into CCJ-Ali judicial talks

Nov 09, 2025 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Chairman of the Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC) Dorwain Bess wrote the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on October 28, 2025 inquiring about the interaction that was had between the court’s president and Guyana on the substantive appointments of the Chancellor and Chief Justice.

In the letter seen by this publication, Bess said that he was writing, “to request that the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC) institute a formal inquiry into reported interactions between the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Winston Anderson and the Government of Guyana, concerning the recent retirement of the Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and the ongoing vacancy in the substantive appointments of the Chancellor and Chief Justice.”

Highlighting the concerns of his party, he noted that around October 27, Justice Cummings-Edwards proceeded on pre-retirement leave and early retirement from office, and the President announced that the then Acting Chief Justice (Roxane George) would continue as Acting Chancellor and a High Court Judge (Navindra Singh) would act as Chief Justice and also serve on the Judicial Service Commission.

“It is further publicly recorded that the President of the CCJ, Winston Anderson, visited Guyana from 14–17 October 2025 for a series of official engagements (including the swearing-in of a Guyanese judge of the CCJ) and paid courtesy calls on the President of Guyana, Acting Chancellor George, and other officials,” the letter said.

Bess also highlighted in his letter to the CCJ that Justice Anderson returned to Guyana and it was during this visit that he was engaged by President Irfaan Ali as well as the Leader of the political opposition Mr. Aubrey Norton, “to facilitate or mediate negotiations concerning the exit of Acting Chancellor Cummings-Edwards, including discussions of a retirement package.”

VPAC is of the views that one of the effects as a result of this engagement is that the independence of Guyana’s judiciary appears to be or may have been compromised by extrajudicial negotiation. “Given Justice Anderson’s present involvement with the CCJ, the apex court for the Region, the possibility arises that any matter now before the CCJ in which the Guyanese Government is a party, or has a significant interest, might be subject to the appearance of bias or conflict of interest. These circumstances may undermine public confidence in the impartiality of the CCJ and the regional judicial architecture,” the party further stated in its letter.

Furthermore, “VPAC holds the view; – The prolonged lack of substantive appointments to the offices of Chancellor and Chief Justice in Guyana undermines the rule of law, weakens the judiciary’s institutional stability and invites public perception of political interference.”

The party is arguing that if a sitting or future President of the CCJ has been involved in negotiations or arrangements with a national government, in relation to the removal or “modification of senior judicial office-holders, then the credibility of that court’s impartiality in relation to that government may be questioned.”

The party stressed that for victims of corruption as well as ordinary citizens who will be seeking recourse through the courts, the highest regional court’s integrity is of paramount importance. Therefore, if the confidence of the public is shaken, the role of the judiciary as the guardian of rights is undermined. In light of this, the VPAC is respectfully calling on the RJLSC to conduct an inquiry into the nature and the extent of any discussion or negotiation between the Government of Guyana or is agents and Justice Anderson, in relation to the removal or retirement of the Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, the appointment or promotion of senior judicial office-holders, or the participation of the CCJ President in shuttle diplomacy on behalf of the Guyanese Government.

Secondly, there should be an assessment on whether these interactions, “once verified, constitute a conflict of interest, or give rise to a perception of lack of impartiality in respect of future or current CCJ matters involving the Government of Guyana.” There should also be recommendations to address any remedial steps to preserve or restore the independence, impartiality and the public’s confidence in the CCJ, with the inclusion of mechanisms for recusal if required or additional transparency safeguards.

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• CCJ, Chancellor, Chief Justice, Dorwain Bess, politician, VPAC

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