Dear Editor,
What is a majority?
The Appeal court ruling has been a lesson to the rest of the world; including the great democracy: USA.
In light of that ruling the USA needs to review and revise the Supreme Court decisions.
Members: 9 justices. Seldom is there a unanimous decision. With these Justices being “Political Appointments” there is normally a 5/4 decision. Now the US Constitution needs to review this practice of 5 v 4 ruling – granting 5 as a majority.
In a 9-member court half is 4.5 rounded up to 5. Then add 1 = 6 Therefore 6 is required for a majority decision.
Now coming to the Guyana Appeal Court decision: 3 appeal judges. Decision 2 v 1 decision rules that NCM not validly passed.
Now is the 2 judges a majority and should a majority decision have required: 3 divided by 2 = 1.5 as you cannot have a 1/2 then round up to 2 and add 1 = 3? So the majority ruling should have required 3 votes to pass and not 2?
As Justice Persaud voted against, and his vote is required to give a majority; why was this treated as a vote deeming the NCM not validly passed? Appeal court hoisted by its own petard.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Douglas
