The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is calling on the David Granger-led Administration to address the shortage of judges in the judiciary now.
PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, during a news conference on Monday, expressed concerns over the shortage of judges which he said is affecting the administration of justice to the detriment of the citizens.
PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee
“We are aware that there are dire shortages of judges in the judicial system,” he stated.
Reports indicate that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) made recommendations to the President for the appointment of several judges to the High Court and the Court of Appeal several months ago.
However, to date, no such appointment has been made.
“The retirement of Chief Justice Ian Chang SC has created quite a void in the judicial system. He was replaced by the Honourable Justice of Appeal, Mrs Yonette Cummings-Edwards, thereby leaving the Court of Appeal, a three-member Court, with only two judges. Every time the Court of Appeal sits, a Judge from the High Court is required to leave all of his/her cases in the High Court to go to the Court of Appeal. The consequences are chaotic in the High Court,” he stressed.
Rohee also highlighted that the work of the crucial constitutional and Administrative Law Court is severely affected by this situation.
This is a specialised Court which was established to exclusively hear and determine, with dispatch, allegations of the citizens’ of constitutional violations and abuse of power by the Executive branch and by public officers.
“In the circumstances, we call upon President David Granger to swiftly act upon the recommendations of the Judicial Service Commission as he is obliged to do under the Constitution of Guyana,” Rohee urged.
He pointed out that under President Ramotar’s Administration the complement of the judges of the High Court was increased from 12 to 20, specifically, to avoid the problems currently affecting the administration of justice.
