In the event that the National Assembly is reconvened to consider extending the deadline for the holding of general elections, those members who have dual citizenship will have to be replaced in light of the recent ruling by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire, according to attorneys who were involved in the litigation.
On Thursday, Chief Justice George-Wiltshire held that former government Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandass Persaud was not “not qualified” for election to the National Assembly by virtue of his own acts in acknowledging allegiance and adherence to a foreign power to the sovereign state of Canada, in contravention of Article 155 (1) (a).
She was at the time ruling on an application by Berbice resident Compton Reid challenging the validity of Persaud’s eligibility to be in the National Assembly, given that he is a citizen of Canada, as well as the legality of his critical vote that led to the passage of the December 21st no-confidence motion against the government.
