Pres. Ali, Norton for second meeting on appointing Service Commissions

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton met for the first time on Friday at the Office of the President since Norton took up the post last month.

The meeting was in keeping a constitutional requirement for consultations between the two officeholders and was initiated by Dr. Ali.

The News Room understands that the discussions centered on appointments relating to several constitutional bodies including the Integrity Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Judicial Service Commission and the Teaching Service Commission, all of which have since expired.

A joint statement confirmed these discussions.

Also present at the meeting were Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC, and Opposition Member of Parliament Roysdale Forde, SC.

The News Room was informed that every request made for information by the Leader of the Opposition was supplied by President Ali.

The joint statement noted that prior to Friday’s meeting, the Leader of the Opposition, by letter dated May 9, 2022, requested details of the appointments to be made.

Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, responded on Wednesday last and provided the details of the Commissions and the names of the persons who are the subject of the consultations to be appointed to those Commissions.

“These are the Integrity Commission, the Judicial Service Commission, Police Service Commission, and Teaching Service Commission,” the statement added.

It should be noted that four members of the Police Service Commission were already unanimously agreed on by the Parliament.

“The Leader of the Opposition in a letter dated the 12 May, requested further information regarding the names under consideration. On the same day Min. Teixeira responded by requesting specificity on the information that is being requested,” the statement detailed.

At the meeting, Norton clarified that the information requested has to do with the Curriculum Vitae (CV’s) of the persons under consideration and the President agreed to make those CVs available within two days.

It was further agreed that the consultations will be guided by the Constitution and the in-person consultations will resume on a date to be fixed but within a week.