Well, it’s clear that our political leaders can’t settle their differences on their own—almost every issue that comes up. Your eyewitness knows that, in our adversarial politics, the Leader of the Opposition (LoO) is supposed to oppose the Government (duh!!). But jeez, there isn’t a limit, so SOME state business can go on?? When does the opposition become intransigent??
So LMD went to the courts – perpetuating the “trial of politics”. And it risks dragging our constitutional arbiter into the gutter by imputing POLITICAL motives for their JUDICIAL decisions!! Take the decision just handed down by the Chief Justice (CJ) on whether the President’s appointments to the Police Service Commission (PSC) and Integrity Commission were illegal – as alleged by the LMD. And, inter alia, whether the appointments made by the said PSC were not also illegal!!
Your eyewitness must confess that even after reading three different accounts of the CJ decision three times each, his head still spins!! Not least because both the Police Service Commission and the Public Service Commission had the same acronym (PSC) – explaining why yours truly called the former “PoSC”!! It’s good that the Private Sector Commission (even PSC!) did not drag itself into this matter.
The whole issue turned on whether there had been the constitutionally mandated “meaningful consultations” between Pressie and the LoO before these Commissions were established. On the issue of LoO Norton’s claim of “no consultation”, the CJ said “Not so!!” The bottom line was that even after being given clarification on Pressie’s nominations, if additional information was needed, he would unilaterally decide not to make any appointments!! The president must be psychic??
But that was not the END of the story. Is there ever?? It seems that even though the Integrity Commission and its Chairman was a done deal, the KSP appointments were not!! While the CHAIRMAN’s appointment was legal, before he could consult his Committee to make recommendations for appointments, an ex-officio member of the PSC – the Chairman of the Public Service Commission – had to be there!! And trouble it was—big trouble! – There was no KPS president!!
So does this mean that the appointment of all the GPF top brass – the real cause of this war!!! – is it illegal?? Well, YES IT IS!! But does that mean COP Hicken has to go?? Well… NO!! “Well, how come?” you ask dear reader?? CJ (ag) pulled a rabbit out of her legal hat (it used to be a powdered wig!!). She invoked the “de facto doctrine” which your Eyewitness calls the “gaan a watah boat” doctrine!! Revoking the appointment would result in a “failure of public justice”!!This ain’t over till it’s over!! Or some fat lady sings!!
See also
…or creating conflicts??LoO also drew a line in the sand – demanding that GECOM must create a new voter roll, or else!! He didn’t actually say “big trouble” but the way he said it left nothing in doubt, least of all PNC supporters!! Now apparently, the LoO’s claim seems reasonable: Guyana has a population of 740,000, so how come the voter list has 684,354 names – over 91 percent of the population.
But, in August 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the new door-to-door registration meant a “residence requirement” for voting!! Unconstitutional!! Once a person is registered to vote, their name cannot be removed, even if they are out of state or not at their registered address. Much of the alleged “bloat” comes from migrating Guyanese citizens. The coalition government appealed this decision and on February 11, 2020, the Court of Appeal upheld the Supreme Court’s decision of August 2019. To remove the names of persons from the list, there must be an amendment to the Constitution, outlawing dual citizenship!!
…like our neighborsBarbados just voted with a voter roll of 266,330 people – 87% of its population of 302,674! While St Kitts/Nevis voted with a voter roll of 50,933, comprising 94% of its 54,001 population!!No complaints about “inflated” rolls!! What is different??
