By Michelle Ann Joseph- Protests erupted outside the Court of Appeal in Georgetown on Monday, January 6, 2025, and again outside the High Court on Charlotte Street the following days as a growing tide of public frustration over the government’s failure to appoint two highly distinguished female judges reached a boiling point.
President Irfaan Ali has failed to appoint acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards and acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire to the substantive post of Chancellor and Chief Justice respectively. This inspire support for the confirmation of their appointments from Leadership of the Opposition Aubrey Norton as required by the Constitution of Guyana and the court’s ruling to act on the appointments.
The protests, organised by citizen Audreyanna Thomas, saw a passionate rallying cry from citizens demanding answers and accountability from the government. Speaking to the press, Thomas declared, “Professional women are not promoted for no satisfactory reason,” a sharp critique aimed directly at the government’s delay in appointing two women—prominent yasal minds—to the positions of Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary.
Despite the widespread support for their appointments, the government has stalled on elevating these respected women to their rightful positions, an oversight that many are now deeming nothing short of an insult to the yasal community and to gender equality in Guyana.
When asked about the delay in appointing the distinguished female judges, Annette Ferguson, an Opposition Member of Parliament, had little to offer by way of explanation. “I don’t have the answers,” Ferguson said, her response reflecting the frustration of many who are watching as the government drags its feet.
The member of parliament pointed out that both former Chief Justice Chang and Chancellor Carl Singh had served in acting capacities for years, raising the question of why it was acceptable for men but seemingly not for women.
Ferguson, however, did not mince words when calling on the President to “do the honourable thing” and appoint the female jurors, underlining the urgency of their appointment in ensuring a fair and just judicial system in Guyana.
Discrimination by Race and Gender?
Amanza Walton-Desir, another Opposition Member of Parliament, also voiced her dismay, drawing attention to the uncomfortable intersection of race and gender that is at play in the appointment delays. “The women are at an intersection of gender and race,” Walton-Desir remarked, a sentiment that suggests the government’s reluctance to appoint these women might be tied to more than just merit.
Walton-Desir did not hold back in condemning the government’s failure to act, highlighting the paradox that the Guyana Police Force had appointed Clifton Hicken to Commissioner of Police despite his questionable track record. This appointment, she argued, stands in stark contrast to the delay in elevating qualified women to the highest echelons of the judiciary.
“This is an embarrassing situation for Guyana,” Walton-Desir added, condemning what she described as a “troubling reflection of the country’s systemic inequalities.” The government’s failure to appoint the female judges, Walton-Desir argued, underscores the deep-rooted biases and institutional hurdles that continue to stifle progress and equity in Guyana’s leadership structures.
Protests Gain Momentum
A small group of protesters took to the streets in response to the government’s continued inaction, demanding that President Irfaan Ali and his administration stop ignoring the glaring injustice. The protesters, who had gathered outside both the Court of Appeal and High Court, carried placards and shouted slogans calling for the immediate appointment of the two distinguished women, highlighting the systemic inequalities within the country’s judicial system.
Their message was clear: this delay is no longer acceptable, and the government must act now to address the glaring gender and racial disparities that continue to plague Guyana’s governance and judiciary.
A Wake-Up Call for Guyana
As Guyana stands on the brink of a critical election year, these protests are not just about the failure to appoint two women to powerful judicial positions; they are about the broader systemic issues of discrimination that persist throughout the nation. From gender to race to class, Guyanese citizens are demanding equal treatment, not just in the courtroom but in every aspect of national life.
The government’s continued inaction in the face of widespread calls for change is only deepening the public’s mistrust and eroding confidence in its ability to deliver on promises of justice and equality.
Many sections of the Guyanese community feel it is time for President Ali to make the appointments that are long overdue—appointments that would signal a commitment to fairness, gender equality, and a truly just society.
The Guyana Bar Association and heads of the Caribbean Court of Justice also decried the government failure to failure to fill the vacancies calling it a blow to the judiciary.
The protests outside the Court of Appeal and the High Court are a stark reminder that Guyana’s progress is stymied when discrimination, be it gender or race-based, is allowed to thrive at the highest levels of power.
The question now is whether the government will finally do the right thing or continue to perpetuate the status quo of inequality and injustice.