There are no records existing to show that the newly appointed Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was ever appointed the Chief Justice of Grenada as is stated on his Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Patterson states on his CV that he was Chief Justice of Grenada in 1987. He has no start or end date to this position.
There are news articles which quote Patterson serving as a Judge in Grenada and there are references to him serving as the acting Chief Justice, but there are no records of him receiving the substantive appointment.
The News Room attempted to reach Justice Patterson all day Friday, October 20, 2017, and today, October 23, 2017. His secretary said she was not in possession of his CV and that the Chairman has instructed that “when he is ready” he will engage the media.
When contacted by the News Room, neither the Supreme Court of Grenada nor the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court could find any record of Justice Patterson being appointed Chief Justice. The News Room also checked with law firms in Grenada and prominent attorneys, but no one could verify Patterson as Chief Justice of Grenada.
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of record for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), including Grenada and five other independent island states.
Following a coup in Grenada in March 1979, the Grenada constitution was suspended by the People’s Revolutionary Government and a new court system was established, comprising the Grenada High Court and the Court of Appeal, which remained in place until 1991 when Grenada returned to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
Justice Patterson would have served as acting Chief Justice under the unconstitutional court in Grenada in 1987, as far as records go. To resolve the constitutional crisis, judges relied on the doctrine of necessity to clothe the court with validity and competence.
Justice Patterson was sworn in minus pomp and ceremony on Thursday last by President David Granger at State House. The only other person in attendance was Minister of State Joseph Harmon.
The new GECOM Chairman assumed duties the next morning and was in a meeting all day with staff. Today, he met with senior staff of the Commission. At news time, the Chairman had not called a meeting with GECOM’s Commissioners. Meetings are usually held on Tuesday.
Bibi Shadick, one of three Commissioners for the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said she will be attending meetings whenever these are held.
“I will be attending meetings of the Commission, which I suppose the gentleman will chair,” Shadick said when contacted by the News Room.
The PPP has vowed non-cooperation with the government over President Granger’s unilateral appointment of Justice Patterson.
