President refuses to budge on Judicial nominations

President David Granger has dismissed calls for acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire and Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards to be confirmed in the substantive posts.

The Guyana Bar Association and the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers have both thrown their support behind the women.

However, the President has selected Justice Kenneth Benjamin for the post of Chancellor and on Wednesday told reporters that he is not prepared to throw his nomination “out of the window.”

If Justice Benjamin is given the post, Justice Cummings-Edwards will be downgraded to the position of Chief Justice.

However, the nomination by the President was rejected by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, whose agreement the President constitutionally needs to make the appointments.

On Wednesday, the President said he is expected to meet again this month with the Opposition Leader. He plans to bulk the Chancellor and Chief Justice positions with a number of other appointments for that meeting.

“I have other business to discuss with him, the appointment of the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and some other commissions and when Parliament gives me those names, I’ll put all of those on the agenda for the meeting,” President Granger said during an interview at the sidelines of an event at State House.

Justices Cummings-Edwards and George-Wiltshire were appointed acting Chancellor and Chief Justice, respectively, in March 2017.