The Caribbean Court of Justice upheld an appeal affirming the appointments of Vikash Ramkissoon and Sarah Browne as parliamentary secretaries, overturning previous decisions that deemed their membership unlawful. The ruling concluded that they were presumptively qualified as candidates of the PPP/C list, thereby affirming their roles in the National Assembly after opposition challenges.
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), based in Trinidad and Tobago, issued a unanimous ruling on Wednesday asserting the lawful appointments of Vikash Ramkissoon and Sarah Browne as parliamentary secretaries in Guyana’s National Assembly. This decision came as a result of an appeal initiated by the Attorney General of Guyana and other members of the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP). Previously, these appointments had been challenged by opposition leader Christopher Jones of the APNU+AFC, who argued that their membership should be deemed unlawful. However, the CCJ countered this claim by affirming that both individuals were legitimately qualified as candidates on the PPP/C list during the elections held on March 2, 2020. The Court concluded that no evidence was provided to dispute their qualifications for election, ultimately overturning the earlier rulings of the Guyana High Court and Court of Appeal.
This ruling from the CCJ clarifies significant constitutional issues regarding the qualifications and appointments within parliamentary positions in Guyana. The case stemmed from a challenge to the legitimacy of two parliamentary secretaries from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP), which had generated substantial debate surrounding candidate qualifications and the electoral process in Guyana. The recent court ruling not only reinforces the legal framework governing appointments but also sets a precedent for future cases involving parliamentary governance.
The CCJ’s decision highlights a triumph for constitutional law in Guyana, ensuring that the electoral qualifications of candidates are upheld in accordance with the law. The Court’s unanimous ruling reinforces the legitimacy of Vikash Ramkissoon and Sarah Browne’s roles as parliamentary secretaries, thereby resolving a critical constitutional dispute. This outcome is expected to eliminate previous ambiguities concerning parliamentary appointments, reinforcing the integrity of the electoral process in the country.
Original Source: caribbean.loopnews.com
