The David Granger-led APNU+AFC government and the opposition PPP/C are unlikely to broker any joint proposal to present to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) this afternoon, when the court issues orders following its recent judgments on two cases.
As at press time yesterday, each side separately said that they were awaiting the CCJ’s ruling and were focused on their respective proposals. President Granger did not yield to any of the demands by PPP/C leader Bharrat Jagdeo contained in a proposal submitted to government on Friday night, nor did the APNU+AFC submit any formal proposals to the PPP/C on a way forward.
Last week, the CCJ ruled that the no-confidence motion brought against the APNU+AFC administration was validly passed with the votes of 33 members of the 65-member National Assembly last December, thereby compelling the resignation of Cabinet and the holding of general elections. The court also ruled that Granger’s appointment of current Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Justice James Patterson breached the Constitution.
Yesterday, Attorney General Basil Williams told Stabroek News that his legal team was, as at 5:17 pm, still working on its proposals for the court while lead counsel for the PPP/C, Anil Nandlall, said that he was in Trinidad and would wait until the ruling to comment.
“I can’t answer that yet…it is a work in progress,” Williams told Stabroek News, when asked if his team had finished its proposal to present to the five-member CCJ panel or had feedback from the opposition.
“I am a very careful man and I am working with a team of lawyers; so everybody has to have input,” he added.
Nandlall, meanwhile, said that there was “nothing new” to add to proposals he had listed and discussed during a forum held at Red House on Friday evening.
Jagdeo, up to press time, did not respond to questions from this newspaper.
Following the court’s ruling last Tuesday, CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders scheduled a hearing for today to hear from the parties on the consequential orders to flow from the ruling. The court has expressed its hope that the parties would come to agreement among themselves on the orders to be made. As Justice Jacob Wit put it, “we are hoping for a happy marriage between principle and practicality.”
The CCJ has, however, made it clear that while it intends to have the parties agree on orders, it will intervene and make the necessary orders if they are unable to arrive at any consensus.
Attorneys for the opposition have said that they will ask the court that it rules for the immediate resignation of Cabinet and Patterson, new polls in 90 days and that the old list of electors be used.
President Granger has not expounded on what government would be asking for but has said that elections should not be held before house-to-house registration as the “current list is corrupted and cannot form the basis for credible polls.” Emphasising that he was committed to credible elections, Granger said that the next general elections cannot be held with the old list of electors. He had said too that while he holds the power to make the proclamation for elections to be held, he could only do so on advice from GECOM as to its readiness. Granger has also stated that he plans to abide by the ruling of the court.
Government had written to the Opposition Leader on Friday seeking a meeting with him after today, following the handing down of the consequential orders by the CCJ.
“His Excellency, the President extends his warm regards and invites you to meet with him at the Ministry of the Presidency at a time convenient to yourselves, after Monday, June 24th, 2019,” the letter, signed by Director General of the ministry, Joseph Harmon stated.
“His Excellency wishes to discuss the current political situation in Guyana resulting from the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice, made on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 and the consequential orders which will be made on Monday, June 24, 2019,” it added.
While Jagdeo has acknowledged receipt of the letter, he has not said if he will acquiesce to a meeting.
Nandlall on Friday evening said that the proposals submitted to government are very specific and leave no space for ambiguity.
As part of the proposals, he noted, they are also seeking to have the court allow them to return at any time if the government fails to implement and carry out the orders made. Attorneys Christopher Ram and Kamal Ramkarran have said that if government fails to adhere to the orders given by the court, it will face severe repercussions from the international community.
