A call to action has been issued by the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) (CCPR) for Guyana to resolve the backlog of cases in the system and preserve the judiciary’s independence.
As per the Guyana Government’s complaint, the HRC’s concluding observations failed to address its reservations. The HRC expressed concern about the roles played by the legislature and the executive branch in appointing judges and Chancellors, who are appointed directly by the President with the consent of the opposition leader by Article 127 of the Constitution. The President appoints judges after consulting the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
- Advertisement -
Convening in Geneva, Switzerland, the Committee expressed concern over the JSC’s appointment process, which involves the President consulting the opposition leader before making the appointment. The practice of selecting “acting judges,” which does not ensure the independence or competency of the court, is another issue that worries the Committee.
