By Travis Chase | Nightly News |
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Formal constitutional engagements have officially commenced between President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed regarding critical appointments to three major statutory bodies: the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the Local Government Commission (LGC), and the Public Service Commission (PSC).
Facilitated through Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, the exchange follows formal letters dispatched from the Office of the President on July 24, 2026.
However, the Opposition Leader confirmed that while talks for the three commissions are underway, the President has made no request to initiate consultations on the long-delayed substantive appointments for Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice.
Judicial Service Commission & The Justice Carl Singh Proposal
The tenure of the previous Judicial Service Commission expired on July 13, 2026. Under Article 198(2) of the Constitution of Guyana, the President must engage in meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition to reconstitute the judicial oversight body.
- President’s Nominee: President Ali has proposed the appointment of retired Chancellor Justice Carl Singh.
- Opposition Counter-Submissions: Following consultations with APNU Leader Aubrey Norton and Forward Guyana Leader Amanza Walton, Mohamed submitted three names:
- Leola Narine (Nominated by WIN)
- Leslyn Lowe (Nominated by WIN)
- Nicholas Chesney (Nominated by Forward Guyana Movement)
- Mohamed noted that nominees initially put forward by APNU were not selected for final submission.
Public Service and Local Government Commissions
Consultations are also advancing on the reconstitution of the Public Service Commission pursuant to constitutional provisions requiring meaningful consultation on three appointed members:
- Executive Nominees: President Ali has nominated Maurice Gajadhar, Meleita Bovell, and Leila Ramson.
- Opposition Acknowledgment: The Opposition Leader formally acknowledged the nominations through Shadow Minister and Member of Parliament Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.
- Local Government Commission: Parallel correspondence was exchanged regarding membership vacancies within the Local Government Commission to ensure statutory compliance across regional municipal bodies.
Top Judicial Posts Remain Excluded
Despite movement across the three commissions, Mohamed pointed out that the substantive appointments for Guyana’s top two judicial posts remain unaddressed.
The offices of Chancellor and Chief Justice have operated under acting appointments for more than two decades, requiring the agreement of both the President and the Leader of the Opposition under Article 127(1) of the Constitution. Excluding these posts leaves Guyana’s substantive judicial leadership unresolved.
