Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton Sunday afternoon assured supporters that Petition #99 is still being pursued in the best interest of all Guyanese. The Opposition Leader, during a candid interview on his party’s ‘Nation Watch’ program hosted by former Member of Parliament Mervyn Williams, said that he has been in discussions with lawyers locally and Internationally to chart a way forward with respect to Elections Petition #99.
Asked to comment on his interpretation of the ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Norton stated that, “As far as I understand it, they (CCJ judges) all agreed that this really was a matter for the full court. Therefore, we have to take the actions to ensure that there (the Full Court) is the next step.”
Norton further stated that he has been in consultation with Lawyers in Guyana and abroad. “Many lawyers are saying that you cannot dismiss a petition because of a so-called simple error and that substantively the Petition should be heard…another Lawyer pointed me to a direction to which this same petition can be addressed. We are going to finalize our position on it and take the requisite action to ensure that this is not the end of the road, said Norton.
Asked how he viewed the decision when compared to long-established practices of the court, Norton indicated that there are problems with the judicial system in Guyana to the extent of the involvement of the CCJ. He pointed out that there may still be a misunderstanding of local circumstances on the actual ground in Guyana which may be the reason for the Court ruling based on the political culture of where they are from, not understanding the dictatorial nature of the PPPC.”
The CCJ on Wednesday, October 19, ruled that the Guyana Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to entertain the appeal in Elections Petition No.99, which was dismissed by Acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George last year on the grounds of technicality, late service. The ruling attempts to end Petition 99, by blocking the APNU+AFC efforts to have documented evidence of electoral fraud investigated by a competent court of law. This is something the PPP has been fighting ‘tooth and nail’ to also prevent from happening.
The controversial CCJ ruling which was riddled with claims of political interference came as a surprise to many Guyanese who took to social media in condemnation of the ruling after it was evident that the court’s judgment did not comply with its usual progressive interpretation of the law.
More, In The Ring.