Ruling on presidential term limit “landmark achievement” for Guyana – AG Williams

DPI, Guyana, Saturday, July 7, 2018

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC., said the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) ruling on the presidential term limit case is a landmark achievement for Guyana.

The Attorney General, who played an incremental role in the case, was attending the plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris when the decision was announced.

Commenting recently, AG Williams said, “you cannot begin to fathom the implications of such a decision but it will change the entire political spectrum in Guyana and people’s approach to politics in Guyana.”

Further, the AG said those pursuing politics must have another profession since there is a limit.

He recommends that there be a discussion on the benefits of such a decision, but “it is certainly one that liberates the Guyanese people.”

The AG commended the two Barbadian attorneys-at-law who worked on the case, noting that they performed well.

Reacting following the CCJ’s ruling Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said the ruling validates the work undertaken by the Constitutional Reform Commission.

His assertions were supported by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and a party in the appeal of the third term case, while Minister of State, Joseph Harmon noted the country can now move forward in unity to address issues affecting it as it puts an end to speculations on presidential term limits.

The CCJ, in a majority decision on June 26, ruled that the amendments to Article 90 of the constitution, to restrict who can become president and how long they can serve, were validly enacted.

By: Stacy Carmichael.

Image: Keno George.

Read more on the case:

https://dpi.gov.gy/category/news/government/ministry-of-legal-affairs/