Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:10 AM
Oct 24, 2017 Letters
Dear Editor,
The writing was on the wall since the President’s refusal to accept the first list submitted by the opposition leader. It was clear that the president wanted to appoint someone he had in mind but to commit such an unprecedented abrogation he had to indulge in charade of conflicting interpretation of the constitution to create a matted landing on the public for such a crucial blow on democracy. Hence, his pretense of consideration of two other lists from the opposition leader, culminating in his wicked deed on the darkest night of the year-the unilateral appointment of Justice Patterson as GECOM Chairman.
It is public knowledge that the CJ ruling on the interpretation of article (161) establishes that the GECOM Chairman does not necessarily have to be a judicial officer or a person qualified as such, but should possess “integrity, honesty, and impartiality.” The words “fit and proper” can be applied to persons from various professions and occupations. It is the judicature that is supposed to give direction to the legislative and executive branches of government to keep within the ambit of the constitution. The president’s response to the CJ’s ruling. “The chief justice gave an interpretation based on her perception of the LAW and I will continue to act in accordance with my perception of the constitution” was unacceptable.
You have to feel sympathy for the constitution when the one who swore to uphold and protect it suddenly feels that his interpretation or perception of it trumps that of the CJ’s. Notice his use of the words “law and constitution”. Was he trying to insinuate that article (161) was not in the constitution? This was Granger’s “Sandhurst” training coming into motion- “achieve your objective at all costs”. What looks too devilish to be done in daylight must be done at night- swearing in of James Patterson as GECOM Chairman after taking the opposition leader and the nation for a proverbial ride.
Clear and simple language of the constitution stipulates that the president shall elect someone unilaterally if “no list is submitted by the opposition”. The president had the audacity to call for, and bypassed two subsequent lists supplied by the opposition leader and unilaterally appointed 84 year old, James Patterson. The public is bewildered at the President’s state of mind considering that just months ago the said president had asked two former judges heading the PCA and the PUC to resign because they were too old-both being about 80years.
A few days later, a former PM from the bad days who the President had recently appointed, ostensibly as an act of patronage, to the CHPA had to go because of age. He was 82. How are we to construe the President’s IQ? If 80 to 82 was considered too old to serve, how do we explain his appointment of an 84 year to chair GECOM? Is there some kind of a miracle rebirth for judges at age 84? Who knows! We might see the reappointment of some judges if they get to 84. You can never predict the president’s insidious moves!
The president’s motives come into focus again in his recent speech at the UN, where he asked that body “to resolve to reinforce respect for the rights of citizens within governance structures of our member states.”I wonder if the president wrote this speech himself. If he did, what does he construe “governance structures” to mean? I can only perceive governance structures to mean constitution. It is mind boggling to comprehend how a president could ask the UN to be prepared to assist citizens if their constitutional rights are being violated in member states of the UN, then comes home and violate the constitution in his country by making a unilateral appointment to an institution that is considered as the heart of democracy. I’ve seen too many movies where criminals try to set up their defense before committing the crimes- to think otherwise.
This issue will reach the courts. The integrity of the executive will be questioned. There will be a renewed surge in the call for constitutional reform. Those who had questioned whether foreign interest was driving the haste for CR and extolling the need for compliance trumps the need for reform might be the ones screaming for foreign help.
Rudolph Singh
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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