While saying that he takes his constitutional responsibilities seriously, President Irfaan Ali on Monday maintained that Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon must first recognise him as president – and by extension the PPP/C as government – before any engagement takes place on the appointment of members of the constitutional service commissions.
With critics saying that there is no precondition for engagement set out in the constitution, Ali was again asked about engaging with Harmon.
“Let me be very clear: The appointment of commissions and fulfilling all of my responsibilities in accordance with the constitution is something I take very seriously and something that I am committed to. Now, you ask a question as to how fast do I see a meeting with the opposition on this. I think that question can be fairly put at the door of the opposition because I am ready for such a meeting,” he told reporters after the presentation of new vehicles to the Guyana Police Force.
He was then asked whether he maintains certain conditions must be met before the important engagement is done and he answered: “The condition to that, it is not a condition, it is a fact… recognising the government is not a condition…” the Head of State said, before adding that Harmon must recognise that he is coming to have consultation with the elected President of Guyana.
Pressed again on the issue as it was pointed out that there is no pre-requisite for consultation to be had between the President and the Opposition Leader, Ali said, “All the gentleman has to do is to recognise that he would be having consultation with the duly-elected government and the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.”
In the past, Harmon has called this position by President Ali “absurd” as there is no such pre-condition listed in the constitution for them to meet.
“I offer my considered rejection to this notion. This is an absurd proposition and a continuation of the intransigence of the PPP regime in absolutely refusing to engage in dialogue. I am, as I have been and as is well known, since being appointed Leader of the Opposition prepared to meet with President Ali in the best interest of advancing the cause of the Guyanese people,” Harmon had said in a statement in response to a similar stated position outlined by the Head of State.
The President is required to meaningfully consult with the Opposition Leader for the appointment of some members of the Public Service Commission, the Judicial Service Commission, the Police Service Commission and the Teaching Service Commission.
In addition, Article 127 (1) of the Constitution stipulates that “the Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall each be appointed by the President, acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.”
Guyana has not had a substantive Chief Justice since 2001, or a substantive Chancellor since 2005..
