As criticisms continue to mount over the appointment of retired Judge, Justice James Patterson as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Guyana Government is unfazed with Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday dismissing recent attacks on the Chairman.
Harmon at a post-Cabinet press briefing dismissed suggestions that Patterson had
Minister of State Joseph Harmon
a heavy hand in the infamous “Grenada 17” trial, while serving in the judicial system on that island.
The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) in a statement on Wednesday brought to light Justice Patterson’s alleged involvement in the proceedings. The case stemmed from the United States’ (US) invasion of Grenada in 1983, which led to a trial of the surviving 17 alleged ringleaders – known as the “Grenada 17”.
The trial was held by a group of Attorneys and Judges appointed and paid for by the US, and according the GHRA, aspects of the proceedings were dominated by the US Administration, which generated widespread international condemnation.
The human rights watchdog asked whether a person who has never disassociated himself from being at the centre of an episode which tarnished the reputation of the Caribbean judicial community for a generation, is truly ‘fit and proper’ to be elevated to one of the most sensitive posts and constitutional offices in Guyana.
“…National elections in Guyana are the subject of intense interest and require frequent inter-action between the Commissioner, contending parties and the diplomatic community. The extracts from the official documents quoted above encourage the conclusion that when confronted with the interests of a foreign power, Justice Patterson could not be relied on to keep his own counsel or maintain the impartiality or discretion required in a Chairman of GECOM,” the GHRA said on Wednesday.
However, in response to this most recent criticism, Minister Harmon pointed out on Thursday that Justice Patterson’s ability to head the Elections Commission should not be determined by his involvement in the controversial case.
“There are many decisions that are being made by jurists all around the world. Some of the best Judges in the United Kingdom, you’ll find some judgments that they make are so way out but that don’t say that they are not good Judges… So I’m saying that it is difficult for some people in retrospect to look at decisions that were made by Judges and then deem them to be inappropriate for the job which they are holding now because of the decisions which they made then,” the Minister of State posited.
Moreover, Harmon further outlined that he does not believe that the mounting criticisms of the new GECOM Chairman would diminish the public’s confidence in the local electoral system.
The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had filed a challenge in the High Court to rescind Patterson’s appointment on the grounds of unconstitutionality after he was unilaterally appointed by President David Granger, who had rejected 18 nominees on the three lists submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.
The injunction is seeking a declaration that Justice Patterson is not qualified to be appointed in provision with Article 161-2 of the Constitution of Guyana.
The PPP had raised concerns about Patterson’s alleged alignment with the major party in the coalition Government, the People’s National Congress (PNC). The Opposition claimed that he is an active member of a PNC-related website and was also a pallbearer at the funeral of former President Desmond Hoyte.
However, Justice Patterson a few weeks ago denied any affiliation with any political party, telling reporters that he was merely friends with the former President as they had studied together in Grenada.
