Conversation Tree

WHERE IS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM GOING IN 2024?

After a lapse of seven years, hitherto unheard of, a Judicial Service Commission was finally appointed in July. During 2024 Guyana’s magisterial and judicial systems should have their full complement of magistrates, judges at the first instance and at the appellate level. It appears that as regards the two most important posts in our judiciary, the Chancellor and the Chief Justice, the President will, for no good, justifiable or lawful reason, continue to refuse to appoint the current holders of the positions in acting capacities, Justices George-Wiltshire and Cummings-Edwards, even though he has no alternative candidates and the acting incumbents are well entrenched in their positions and, to all appearances, are performing admirably and have the support of the legal profession. The President may nevertheless surprise Guyana and let 2024 be the year when “the time is right,” as he describes the obstacle.

CHRISTMAS

The Christmas Season this year will give us at least three clear holidays, and four for office workers. This would be time enough for rest and relaxation and to enjoy family gatherings, food and drink, and happy children and grandchildren with new toys. Not everyone, of course, will have these opportunities due to reasons beyond their control, such as the sick, the homeless, the deprived and the grieving. For those in unfavourable circumstances, it is hoped that the Season brings some relief and eases the burdens of life.

ARGYLE – A VICTORY FOR GUYANA

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves publicly described the agenda for the meeting between the two Presidents as being in the interest of “peaceful coexistence,” respect for international law and avoidance of the use of the threats of force. In somewhat more detail, President Irfaan Ali’s understanding of the agenda for talks was based on the framework established by Communique of Caricom Heads of December 8, 2023. The Heads had declared support for Guyana’s pursuit of a solution to the controversy through the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), urged Venezuela to respect the conservatory measures of the ICJ and reiterated Caricom’s commitment to the Caribbean as a zone of peace and to international law. The Communique called for a “de-escalation of the conflict through an appropriate dialogue between the leaders to ensure peaceful co-existence, the application and respect for international law and the avoidance of the use or threats of force. President Ali in his letter of December 12 to Dr. Ralph Gonsalves proposed to: defend Guyana’s sovereignty over Essequibo; argue for the resolution of the controversy by the ICJ; persuade Venezuela to observe the conservatory measures issued by the ICJ; propose the de-escalation of the conflict by avoiding the use or threat of force; argue for respect for international law. Essentially, therefore, President Ali and Caricom were on the same page as regards the agenda for the meeting and included on that page were Caricom’s support for Guyana both as regards the controversy and Guyana’s reliance on the ICJ.

THERE IS NO LAWFUL DISPUTE ABOUT GUYANA’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER ESSEQUIBO

(Conversation Tree expresses its sincere condolences to the GDF and to the families and friends of Guyana’s brave and intrepid military officers who lost their lives while protecting and defending us).

VENEZUELA STOPPED IN ITS BOLIVARIAN TRACKS

The boastful bravado of the Nicholas Maduro/Delcy Rodriguez political duopoly, mirroring the audacious and nefarious plots of the Venezuelan ruling elite, has been dented by the decision International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). Their gloating responses that Guyana lost because the Court did not reject or alter the questions to be posed in the referendum, as Guyana asked the Court to do, is the faux triumphant noises of the defeated.