Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson, has stepped down and handed in his resignation for the position, which the Caribbean Court of Justice recently found, that he was unconstitutionally holding.
This announcement was made on Tuesday after Patterson met with President David Granger. The vacating of the position came days after public pressure for the CCJ ruling to be accepted.
In a statement following the meeting between Granger and Patterson, Government’s commitment to accept the ruling invalidating Patterson’s appointment was reiterated. This would mean that Government has finally accepted the CCJ’s ruling that the President does, in fact, have to give reasons before he can reject an entire list of candidates.
While Patterson’s stepping down was his way of formally demitting office, the step is in actuality a matter of fact gesture. This is since the CCJ has already recognised that by virtue of its ruling, Patterson was already fired from his position.
According to CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders on Monday during the post-judgement hearing, GECOM, in fact, has no legal Chairman since the court ruled on June 18 against Patterson’s appointment.
“In relation to the GECOM case, by concluding that the procedure was flawed and in breach of the Constitution, the inexorable result unless that result is somehow stayed, is that there isn’t a GECOM Chairman. And that process has to be re-engaged,” he had said.
In addition, Attorney General Basil Williams, when questioned about Patterson’s continued presence at GECOM, had confirmed that by virtue of the ruling, Patterson was, in fact, no longer the GECOM Chairman.
“Well, I am sure that question would be addressed when the time comes but you know the decision of the Court is that the appointment was void ab initio so in effect there is no Chairman,” he said.
