Amidst views that vacancies for judges should be advertised, former Chancellor of the Judiciary, retired Justice Cecil Kennard while expressing disagreement, says that it should be adopted only if capable persons cannot be found locally.
“I don’t agree with that…because we (Judicial Service Commission) would know the people who are capable and if people are interested they would get in touch with the Head of the Judiciary whether you are living abroad or not”, Justice Kennard posited during an interview with the Sunday Stabroek. The retired judge served as head of the Judicial Service Commission which appoints judges.
During this year, two persons with legal expertise who resided abroad were appointed as judges by President David Granger who acted on the advice of the JSC. Questions have now been raised as to what propelled the appointment of overseas-based persons, whether there were locals considered and if so what caused them not to be chosen and whether it should be publicised that vacancies exist in various parts of the judiciary. Publicising the vacancies is seen as aiding in transparency and equality of opportunity.
