– as Acting Chief Justice reprimands airing of case in public domain
Weeks after parliamentary opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) filed an injunction in the High Court to rescind the unilateral appointment of GECOM Chairman retired Justice James Patterson, acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire on Thursday urged lawyers for both sides to cease “trying the case in the court of public opinion”.
Her call was issued before she set a timetable for Attorney General, Basil Williams and Attorney-at-Law for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Anil Nandlall and their respective legal teams to file court papers for clarification and oral arguments before January 5, 2018.
Justice George-Wiltshire said “Persons are free to comment but they must not be contemptuous,” as supporters of both the governing A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition and Opposition who were present listened keenly. She also asked the legal representatives “not to engage the public gathering in this case”.
The acting Chief Justice said she was disturbed by some of the headlines in many of news reports, some of which carried opinions on the case that is now before the Constitutional Court of the High Court, inserting “I don’t want to put a gag order”.
She asked the lawyers from both sides to respect her comments and added that she has no issue with comments made on decisions.
When the legal teams reappear before the Chief Justice early next year, it would be for clarifications and elaboration of any points.
The PPP, through its Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha, wants the High Court to quash the President’s unilateral appointment of Retired Justice James Patterson as GECOM Chairman on several grounds.
According to the party, their main reason for filing the injunction is because the President did not select any of the 18 names that had been submitted by Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo throughout almost one year before.
The PPP also contends that Patterson is biased because he is a member of a pro-People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Facebook Page and he was part of an inner circle of top PNCR executives as pallbearers of the body of late party leader, Desmond Hoyte.
Solicitor General, Kim Kyte has since, on behalf of the Attorney General, filed court papers rejecting all of the PPP’s grounds.
On Thursday during the proceedings, a small group of pro-government supporters gathered outside the court building on Charlotte Street making their views known quite loudly.
After the case was adjourned, Attorney General Williams, who is the Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) went downstairs and told the gathering to leave.
