CCJ rules on December 21 vote today
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, June 18, 2019
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will, in the matter of minutes commence its ruling on the constitutionality of the December 21 vote of the National Assembly and the unilateral appointment of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
The panel, headed by CCJ President Adrian Saunders heard oral arguments from lawyers on May 10. The decision will determine whether the 33 votes carried during the December 21, 2018 sitting of the National Assembly was adequate to validate a no- confidence motion.
The Trinidad-based court will rule on cases brought by private citizen, Compton Reid, Harmon and Attorney General Basil Williams, challenging the validity of the December 21, 2018 vote in the 111th Sitting of National Assembly.
The CCJ was asked to uphold the Guyana Court of Appeal’s ruling regarding the number of votes needed to pass the motion brought against the government by the opposition.
During the CCJ Consolidated hearing last month, Compton Reid’s lawyer, Neil Boston argued that the Appeal Court’s decision should be maintained on the grounds that former Member of Parliament, Charrandas Persaud could not vote against the list, without first informing the Parliament of his intention to do so.
He contended that Persaud was duty-bound to vote for the list from which his name was extracted.