High Court to rule on House to House on Aug 14; Nandlall asks CJ to be firm

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall is pleading with the High Court to order that national election is held within a definitive timeframe to avoid what he described as “violation of the Constitution of Guyana.”

Nandlall, who is representing Christopher Ram in a challenge to the ongoing House to House registration exercise before Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire, on Monday argued that the lack of sternness from the court has led to the prolonging of the issue.

“The Court has a duty to ensure that the Constitution [of Guyana] is upheld,” he told the Chief Justice.

The Chief Justice has set August 14 to deliver her ruling on the matter.

Nandlall said the Government has failed to adhere to the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) June 18 ruling which validated the December 21 No-Confidence motion and the consequential orders issued on July 12.

Speaking with the media after the case adjourned on Monday, Nandlall said “the executive is misbehaving and the judiciary is not being firm enough.”

He explained that the CCJ ordered the Constitution of Guyana must be obeyed but the Government “is trampling” on the constitution.

“That’s why I am telling the judge, for how long will we not bell the cat,” Nandlall said, as he called on the court not to act with restraint.

Ram in an application filed on July 22, asked the court to declare that the House to House registration exercise is in violation of the Constitution of Guyana and the spirit of the Consequential orders issued by the CCJ on July 12.

Ram is also challenging the registration exercise on the grounds that it is only serving to delay the elections which he wants by September 18.

Solicitor General, Nigel Hawke who appeared on behalf of Attorney General Basil Williams –one of the named respondents in the case –argued that it is not the court’s place to set a date for elections.

He further noted that “The orders being sought is in direct collision course to what the CCJ said…the court is urging political players to do their job.”

“The court cannot do that,” he added.

He said the issue is now up to the politicians to deal with and not the court.

“The citizens of Guyana want to see mature politicians meet and solve our political problem,” the Solicitor General told the court.

He also noted that the Guyana Elections Commission needs to be given the opportunity to do its job.