The Judicial Impasse: SC Ralph Ramkarran Laments Decades of Temporary Leadership
By: Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Legal luminary and Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran has expressed profound disappointment over Guyana’s ongoing inability to confirm substantive appointments for the country’s two highest judicial offices: the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice.
Despite Guyana being an emerging global player, the judiciary—the very backbone of the rule of law—has been led by “acting” officers for nearly two decades, a situation Ramkarran describes as a critical failure in the administration of justice.
The Current Leadership: A Permanent “Temporary” State
The leadership of the Supreme Court currently remains in a state of transition following the recent retirement of long-serving Acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards in October 2025.
- Acting Chancellor: Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire currently performs the duties of the Acting Chancellor.
- Acting Chief Justice: Justice Navindra Singh remains in the role of Acting Chief Justice.
- The Record: Guyana has not had a substantive Chancellor since Justice Désirée Bernard in 2005, making it over 20 years of temporary judicial leadership.
The “Agreement” Trap: A Constitutional Deadlock
Ramkarran highlighted that the root of the crisis lies in Article 127 of the Constitution, which requires the President to obtain the explicit agreement of the Leader of the Opposition for these appointments.
- The CRC Misstep: The Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) had hoped to move beyond simple “consultation” to a more robust “agreement” model to foster unity. However, Ramkarran noted that this has backfired, essentially giving the opposition a veto and creating a “standstill” fueled by political polarization.
- Oversight Error: Ramkarran criticized the Oversight Committee’s interpretation that these roles must have consensus, arguing that adversarial politics makes such an agreement nearly impossible in the current climate.
A Call from the Highest Courts
The disappointment expressed by Ramkarran echoes years of “shaming” from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
- Justice Adrian Saunders: In 2025, the then-CCJ President referred to the situation as a “stain” on the Guyanese justice system.
- Justice Winston Anderson: The current CCJ President has recently highlighted that judicial stability is paramount for investor confidence and citizen protection, yet the stalemate between President Irfaan Ali and Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed continues.
Reform or Continued Stagnation?
For SC Ralph Ramkarran, the solution is no longer found in “hopeful dialogue” but in Constitutional Reform. He maintains that as long as the law requires a “handshake” between two adversarial political giants to fill these seats, the seats will remain empty. As the judiciary handles increasingly complex international cases involving the oil sector and electoral integrity, the lack of substantive leadership remains a glaring vulnerability in the “One Guyana” vision.
