By Annette Ferguson M.P- The year 2024 is coming to an end. It came with its challenges, and throughout the year up to the time of me penning this missive, we had the exposes from those in Public Office, ranging from Government Ministries to the Guyana Police Force. The unfortunate nature of them all, the Government’s FAILURE to act.
It appears that Mr. Ifraan Ali has commenced the process of appointing persons, who I believe are not worthy, given their track record and the many allegations of CORRUPTION surrounding their names, while nation’s two distinguished women, who sits at the helm of the Judiciary are left hanging on a branch, waiting patiently for their earned and deserving appointments, to which they are highly qualified.
Contrast their track records, with the recent appointments made in the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force, my question to Mr. Ali and his surrogates, what are the crimes committed by Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Roxanne George-Wiltshire that have caused them to suffer at your hands and being denied what is just to them?
I guess, the mantra of the PPP/C is NOT to appoint those who are worthy, those who continue to stand for fairness, justice, and act principally, built on the foundation of Law.
The PPP/C will at all time reward “yes men and women”, who they can manipulate and control. Typical examples: GPL, NDIA, GUYSCO, and those in strategic positions in Government.
They are those who will be shouting from the mountain top, “Granger should have…” we have long gone past the period 2015-2020. However, we recall that the issue of appointments of the hierarchy of the Judiciary have been with us for decades, pre-May 2015.
Dating back from former Leader of the People’s National Congress Islahat and Leader of the Opposition, late Hugh Desmond Hoyte, former Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Robert Corbin, to current Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton, who were and are on record, calling for the substantive appointments of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice respectively.
Now, that we are almost at the end of 2024, perhaps, it is time Mr. Ali say to the people of Guyana, why his reluctance to adhere to the tenets of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, which allows for meaningful consultation between himself as President and Leader of the Opposition, to affect the appointments of these distinguished and well accomplished women?
As a woman and leader, I have grown weary of the pettiness in our politics. It is dangerous and does not sit well for future leaders, who have an interest and appetite for ‘politics.’ It is time Leaders rise above the fray and do what is essentially right, as prescribed in law.
The former and Current Leaders of the Opposition, are on records, calling on the Ali Regime to appoint Justices Cummings and George to their respective substantive positions, as ‘Chancellor and Chief Justice.’
I am cognizant that many other organisations, groups, individuals, and the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) have added their voice, calling on Mr. Ali to appoint these distinguished women of Guyana’s soil!
The call by Ali since August 2020 for a ‘one Guyana,” is a farce and not truly demonstrated in his actions. We have seen him flout the Constitution, which is only applied to him and his government’s convenience. Accomplished Guyanese have suffered at the hands of Ali and his regime, through discrimination and marginalisation.
I therefore conclude by publicly condemning the Ali administration for the unfair treatment against Justices Cummings and George. Let me remind Mr. Ali, who is a Muslim of his Islam teaching, “all humans are equal before God, regardless of race, class or nationality.” My appeal to you Mr. Ali, be guided by your conscience and move forward with the appointments of our women serving at the highest of the Judiciary.