Ruling in sight on challenge to presidential term-limit

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang has set next Tuesday for likely ruling on the petition challenging the presidential term limit.

At yesterday’s in-chambers hearing, submissions were laid over on behalf of petitioner Cederick Richardson and the Attorney General (AG), who is listed as the first-named respondent.

Former Speaker Raphael Trotman was the second named respondent. Trotman’s attorney, Roysdale Forde, was yesterday granted an adjournment until May 11 to lay over his submissions.

In an interview with reporters, attorney Prithima Kissoon, who represents the AG’s Chambers, explained that Forde is scheduled to lay over his submissions on Monday and that the Chief Justice is hoping to give his decision the following day.

Attorney Shaun Allicock made submissions on behalf of Richardson.

Richardson has challenged the term limit, which prevents former President Bharrat Jagdeo from being a candidate for presidential elections on the grounds that it restricts the voters’ choice of candidates and such a restriction could only be effected through a referendum. The term limit was put in place by virtue of Act No. 17 of 2001, which added two clauses to the 1980 constitution to allow for re-election only once.

The challenge, which was initiated in February, just three months before Guyanese head to the polls on May 11, raised questions about its timing and the motives of Richardson, who identifies himself in court documents as a 50-year-old West Ruimveldt resident.

He was listed as a driver at the time of the last elections.

When asked about the genesis of his client’s action, Allicock had told Stabroek News that Richardson is a Guyanese and one who exercises his voting rights and who feels that his constitutional rights have been affected by the amendments.

Jagdeo, who was elected in 2001 and 2006, is not eligible to run for another term due to the alteration of Article 90 of the constitution with the addition of clause (2), which states, “A person elected as President after the year 2000 is eligible for re-election only once,” and clause (3), which states, “A person who acceded to the Presidency after the year 2000 and served therein on a single occasion for not less than such period as may be determined by the National Assembly is eligible for election as President only once.”

Jagdeo has repeatedly maintained that he is not interested in a third term.