In a scathing statement, Human Rights Activist Rickford Burke has labeled the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government’s refusal to confirm Justice Yonette Cummings as Chancellor of the Judiciary and Justice Roxanne George as Chief Justice as a “savage attack” on the integrity of African Guyanese women. Burke called the actions of the PPP government not only racist but emblematic of a broader disdain for Black professional women globally.
“It is nauseatingly odious, disgusting, and disgraceful,” Burke declared, emphasizing that the continued delay in confirming these African Guyanese women, who have served in acting capacities for over seven years, is an affront to their professional integrity and a stark reflection of systemic racism and misogyny within Guyana’s political framework.
Burke accused key figures in the PPP government, including Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, President Irfaan Ali, and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, of perpetuating chauvinistic and racist policies. He highlighted a series of incidents that illustrate what he called the PPP’s “visceral contempt” for African Guyanese women.
“From telling a Black female Member of Parliament to use a sex toy, to physically assaulting another, and referring to a Black female MP as a ‘low life,’ PPP leaders have repeatedly displayed a pattern of sexist and racist behavior,” Burke charged.
Burke also criticized African Guyanese members of the PPP government, including Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Ministers Hugh Todd, Oneidge Walrond, Joseph Hamilton, and Juan Edghill, for their silence on the issue. “Their inaction allows this disgraceful treatment to persist, further emboldening the chauvinism and racism of PPP leaders,” he said.
Under Article 127(1) of Guyana’s Constitution, the appointment of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice requires agreement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition. Burke noted that the Opposition Leader has already given written consent for the appointments, making the delay even more egregious.
The lack of confirmation has drawn criticism beyond Guyana. In April 2022, Justice Adrian Saunders, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), urged the government to fill these positions substantively by the end of that year. However, as of late 2024, no action has been taken.
“This is not just an internal issue,” Burke stated. “The refusal to confirm Justice Cummings and Justice George undermines the credibility of Guyana’s judiciary and tarnishes its reputation on the international stage.”
Burke questioned what African Guyanese women have done to deserve such contempt from the PPP government. He argued that the refusal to confirm these justices serves as a broader signal that Black women in Guyana are undervalued and disrespected.
As a provocative suggestion, Burke proposed that African Guyanese petition Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referencing his 2018 remarks that Guyana is a “mini India.” He stated, “If Guyana is indeed viewed as a ‘mini India,’ perhaps the African Guyanese population should appeal to Modi, the presumed monarch of the PPP’s Guyana, to address this injustice.”
Burke’s statement underscores the urgency of addressing systemic inequities in Guyana’s governance. For many, the confirmation of Justice Cummings and Justice George is not merely a procedural matter but a litmus test for the government’s commitment to equality and justice.