tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129050312024-03-09T21:46:37.447-05:00SelwynA blog that is organized around the lawyering experience of Criminal and Human Rights Lawyer Selwyn Pieters and things that interest him!!!!!Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-46255231334939986122023-12-06T00:35:00.005-05:002023-12-06T00:35:54.687-05:00Venezuela already launched a soft invasion of Guyana<p> <i><span class="userContent" style="font-family: times;">By <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a> B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span></i></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><span class="userContent"><span><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span><br /><span><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span><br /><span><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pieterslaw/" target="_blank">Pieters Law Office</a></i></span></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><span><i>Created December 3, 2023</i></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Cooperative Republic of Guyana
(“Guyana”) / the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (“Venezuela”) border dispute
and Guyana’s continued existential threat from Venezuela (Speaking notes)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">By Selwyn A.
Pieters<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Attorney at Law</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The demarcation of the Guyana and Venezuela existing
boundary was laid down in a final and binding international Arbitral Award October
3rd, 1899 (Boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela (1899)), to which both
Guyana and Venezuela are still bound. Venezuela accepted and honoured the
border determined by the 1899 Arbitral Award for more than half a century.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The post-independence era has had
periods where</span> <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">the Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy
has risen its ugly head and moreso for political mileage on the part of
Venezuelan politicians.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Venezuela from time to time since the 1962 (during
Guyana’s struggle for independence from Great Britain) continue to raise the
issue of a claim to Guyana’s territory. Venezuela current claim to Essequibo
covers 70 percent or two-thirds of Guyana’s total land mass. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Venezuela and Guyana had armed military conflict when
our soldiers removed Venezuelan Forces from Ankoko Island in 1966 and has
engaged Venezuelans in respect to Eteringbang twice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Guyana is 83,000 square miles with a population
approximately 750,000. About 90 percent of the population inhabits the narrow
coastland area. Our borders are porous. And from time to time there are events
involving Venezuelan soldiers and civilians at Eteringbang, Mabaruma, Kaikan,
and other areas in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region of Guyana<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In 2016 Venezuela resurrected its claim. The incursion
of Venezuelan soldiers near Eteringbang in May 2016, and their firing of
weapons at officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines employees forced the
government of the day and then then opposition PPP in a bi-partisan move took
the case to the International Court of Justice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The legal issues before the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) with regard to the claim brought by Guyana was heard. The
Honourable Attorney General and an able team of lawyers provided oral arguments
in Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) in the International
Court of Justice on 22 November 2022 and following before the ICJ. Guyana
prevailed on jurisdiction. It is unknown when its final determination will be
made. In light of Venezuela's Referendum to be held on December 3, 2023, the
ICJ last Friday issued provisional orders so that the status quo ante remains
and that Venezela does nothing that would annex the Essequibo Region whilst
this matter is under consideration by that Court.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, what is apparent is Venezuela’s move to
settle the border regions of Guyana with its citizens. I<span style="color: black;">n a <b><i>Demerara Waves</i></b> Online publication of July 18, 2022, Captain
Gerry Gouveia, National Security Adviser, was quoted at an AMCHAM Guyana forum
setting out the security threats posed to Guyana by persons from Venezuela. He
gave a number of examples, including, and I quote: “a lot of non-state actors
on our Western border that are terrorizing our business people and challenging
our security forces, whether it is orchestrated or not.” And I further quote
him: “You could understand the security dilemma we face that in the migrants
could be embedded Venezuelan agents and so this is not something that we don’t
appreciate, that we are looking at as well as we open our arms with compassion
and with humanity. . . . There are an estimated 60,000 Venezuelans in
Guyana now.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Venezuela with a population of more than 28.2
million person is capable of launching a bloodless takeover of our borders
simply by overwhelming our population with Venezuelan settlers, refugees and
persons with military-like bearing. In other words, sleeper cells. Deportation
of Venezuelan migrants who are not Conventional Refugees or persons in need of
protection or persons who are legitimately in Guyana for a proper purpose would
not be in violation of International Law, it would be consistent with the laws.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is possible that Venezuela can launch a
soft invasion of Guyana by simply overwhelming its population and resources. Spanish
speaking Venezuelan nationals specifically warraus are reported to be amongst
the populations of significance who are migrating from Venezuela to Guyana.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thus, Guyana cannot only rely on the
International Court of Justice and its strategic business and military partners
to secure its borders but must in its deliberate judgment ensure that the
immigration, military, social welfare and policing resources are adequately
deployed to interdict, document and deport those who are indeed trafficked to
Guyana for purposes that can indeed threaten its security and overwhelm its
population.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It should be noted on April 15, 2019 in Santiago,
Chile in what is known as the “Lima Group declaration”, several Latin American
Countries “Agree that Venezuela is experiencing a humanitarian, political,
economic and moral crisis generated by the illegitimate and dictatorial regime
of Nicolás Maduro, which constitutes a threat to international peace and
security, with regional and global effects.” The rule of law in Venezuela under
President Maduro is honoured in the breach rather than the observance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Venezuelans, including the Venezuelan
President himself, Nicolas Maduro, has up the ante (particularly on with the
referendum, inflammatory rallies and speeches on social media and amassing
troops at the Border with Guyana). The stakes are high given Guyana’s recent
economic shift as an oil producing country. This is not a diplomatic exercise
on Venezuela’s part nor is it an exercise in which it will abide by the orders
of the ICJ, it is an exercise that potentially can destabilize investor
confidence in Guyana, cause Guyanese citizens grave unease and discomfort and
indeed set the stage for a soft invasion. The very legitimacy of the Venezuelan
government questionable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We as Guyanese have to stay woke and stay
engaged. This is the time for all Guyanese to support our government in its
fight against this existential threat from Venezuela and its President Nicolas
Maduro.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-44601112597166531022023-07-28T01:00:00.004-04:002023-07-28T01:20:49.740-04:00Attorney General of Guyana, Sarah Browne, Vikash Ramkissoon v. Christopher Jones & Speaker of the National Assembly<p> Electronic Copy of the Full Judgment of the Guyana Court of Appeal in <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/coa_Judgment_Browne_and_Ramkissoon.pdf" target="_blank"> Attorney General of Guyana, Sarah Browne, Vikash Ramkissoon v. Christopher Jones & Speaker of the National Assembly </a>Civil Appeal No. 50 of 2021</p><p><a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Morian_v_AG_Order_COA.pdf" target="_blank">Desmond Morian v. Attorney General of Guyana</a> Civil Appeal No. 19 of 2016 Order of the Court of Appeal </p><p><a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Morian_v_.AG_COA_Transcript.pdf" target="_blank">Desmond Morian v. Attorney General of Guyana</a> (Civil Appeal No. 19 of 2016, 23rd January 2020) - Transcript Guyana Court of Appeal</p><p><a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Morian_v_AG_Chang_J_Decision.pdf">Desmond Morian v. Attorney General of Guyana</a> Ian Chang C.J. decision (2015-HC-DEM-CIV_CM-55, 19th February 2016</p><p><br /></p>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-54274178337853891902023-07-12T18:16:00.004-04:002023-07-12T18:16:43.261-04:00Ethical Conduct in Public Officer - meeting the test of rectitude<p> No one really is above the law, however that law is defined. As persons in the public eye, where as a Judge, Adjudicator, lawyer, Police Officer, Government Minister or even Influencer, we can be subjected to excessive scrutiny in terms of our actions and/or omissions. Obviously, it calls for some risk management in our personal and professional lives. In my professional life we call it "defensive lawyering", which means dotting the i's and crossing the T's. In our private lives it involves risk management or avoiding situations that can embarrass our profession, employer, family and friends. if one is living a risky lifestyle the odds of things going terribly wrong is greater given the obvious pitfalls.</p><br />This calls for an understanding that we are under a greater level of scrutiny. I know that as a lawyer of prominence whose images are flashed on televisions and who appears in newspapers and the internet more often that I like. It means that I can't do some of the things I would like to do or go to some of the places where I can socialize with people that I like.<br /><br />I also know that as a Black man with dreadlocks if things go south I would be held to a higher standard: See, for example, Law Society of Ontario v. Guiste, 2023 ONLSTH 59 (CanLII), <https://canlii.ca/t/jwx9r>. See also my writings on the plight of Black lawyers in Selwyn Pieters, “Lawyer Regulation, Race and Justice: An updated Look at LSUC disciplinary matters involving Black and Visible Minority lawyers.” Selwyn Pieters : A Blog That is Organized Around the Lawyering Experience of Criminal and Human Rights Lawyer Selwyn Pieters and Things that Interest Him!!!!! (blog)12 December 2014, <http://selwynpieters.blogspot.com/2014/12/an-updated-look-at-lsuc-disciplinary.html> and Selwyn Pieters “Lawyer Regulation, Race and Justice”; Law Society of Upper Canada v. Selwyn Milan McSween, 2012 ONLSAP 003 <http://selwynpieters.blogspot.com/2014/12/an-updated-look-at-lsuc-disciplinary.html><br /><br />The task therefore is for us to recognize this and in so doing for us to meet the test of rectitude because we are constantly under public scrutiny.Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-9903754674318428622022-12-20T23:39:00.001-05:002022-12-20T23:39:14.023-05:00Race Anti Black Racism and the weaponization of Criminal Justice System<iframe style="background-image:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hvTKK9Vxahc/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/hvTKK9Vxahc" frameborder="0"></iframe>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-43930735435180609312022-12-02T22:44:00.002-05:002022-12-03T08:34:59.349-05:00Summary of the December 2, 2022 Rulings in Police Service Commission and Paul Slowe v. The Secretary of the Police Service Commission et al 2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA1004<p> <i><span class="userContent" style="font-family: times;">By <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a> B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span></i></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><span class="userContent"><span><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span><br /><span><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span><br /><span><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pieterslaw/" target="_blank">Pieters Law Office</a></i></span></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><span><i>Created December 2, 2022</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Police Service Commission and Paul Slowe v. The Secretary of the Police Service Commission et al 2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA1004</i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Georgetown, Guyana – December 2, 2022 - <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Honourable Mister Justice Gino Persaud
delivered an oral judgement </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">via zoom videoconference </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">on December 02, 2022 at 1:15 PM at the Demerara
High Court in Guyana in the matter </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">PSC and Paul Slowe v. The Secretary of
PSC et al</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA1004 in relation to two interlocutory
applications brought by The </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Attorney General of Guyana, Commissioner of Police, and the Honourable Prime Minister as well as the Police Service Commission.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Mr. Paul Slowe was represented by Selwyn
Pieters, Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Attorney General was represented by
Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, Shoshanna Lall, Chevy Devonish, R. Clarke and
Arti Outar. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The PSC was also represented by a lawyer
standing in for Darshan Ramdhani, K.C.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On July 5, 2022, The PSC Attorney, Darshan
Ramdhani, K.C., filed an application seeking permission for the application to
be wholly discontinued and for the Commission to withdraw the matter. The
matter then came back before the Court on July 11, 14, 22, August 24, and
September 20, 2022. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Attorney General and Minister of Legal
Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C., M.P., at the September 20, 2022 hearing
made an oral application for a stay of the proceedings pending the outcome of
an appeal filed on the Chief Justice’s ruling in <i>Aubrey Norton v. Attorney
General of Guyana et al. </i>2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-902, which held that the
Police Service Commission was not properly constituted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Justice Persaud commenced his ruling on
December 2, 2022 by discussing the purpose of judicial review repeating
paragraphs 12-15 of his March 9, 2022 ruling:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">No Lis</span></u></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> <b><u>between the parties to a claim for
judicial review<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">12. In
Trinidad, the C.A. in the matter of <i>Dr. Myron Wing-Sang Chin, Farrell
(in their capacities as the Commissioners of the COI into the construction of
the Las Alturas Towers) v Noel Garcia, AG (CA# P-342/2017)</i> delivered
on 16 January, 2019 reaffirmed the existing principle of public law that there
is no “<b><u>lis</u></b>” between the parties to a claim for judicial review.
Justice of Appeal Mendonca at para. 14 stated:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 54.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 54pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">It is correct
to say that in judicial review proceedings there is no <b><u>lis</u></b> between
the parties. Judicial review proceedings are directed at the <b><u>decision</u></b> and <b><u>not
the parties</u></b>. As was said in<i> <b>Gilharry v. Transport Board et
al BZ 2012 CA 10</b>, </i>“<b>what is vulnerable [in judicial review
proceedings] is the decision and not the decision maker” it is the “process by
which the courts exercise a supervisory jurisdiction over the activities of
public authorities in the field of public law”.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">13. In the
case of<b> <i>R v Stratford-on-Avon District Council and another, ex parte
Jackson - [1985] 3 All ER 769</i> </b>it was held that,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 54.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 54pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">In judicial
review proceedings there is no true<i> lis inter partes </i>or suit by one
person against another: see R v Secretary of State, ex p Hackney London
BC <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">14. In the
case of<b> </b>R v Secretary of State for the Environment, ex parte
Hackney London Borough Council and another - [1983] 3 All ER 358 it was
stated at page 367 that,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 54.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 54pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Moreover, we
do not think that there is in judicial review proceedings any true <b><i><u>lis</u></i></b><i> </i>between
the parties…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 54.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 54pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">…the court
“is not finally determining the validity of the tribunal's order as between the
parties themselves” but “is merely deciding whether there has been <b><u>a
plain excess of jurisdiction or not</u></b>”. They are a special class of
remedies designed to maintain due order in the legal system, nominally at the
suit of the Crown, and they may well fall outside the ambit of the ordinary
doctrine of<i> res judicata.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">15. In the
case of <i>Chief Constable of North Wales Police v Evans</i> [1982] 3
All E.R. 141 at p. 143 per Lord Halsham stated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 54.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 54pt;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The remedy by way of judicial review is directed at the decision-making
process itself rather than at the parties who made it.</span></u></i></b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> Its purpose “<b>is to protect the individual against an abuse of
power by a wide range of authorities, judicial, quasi-judicial, and
administrative to ensure (he) is given fair treatment by the authority, to
which he has been subjected </b>…”</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 54.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 54pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Justice Persaud in his ruling said the two
applications has stymied the hearing of the substantive matter filed by Mr.
Slowe and there has been one application after another since the matter was
filed in the Court and engaged his attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On the application for a stay until the
conclusion of the appeal in <i>Aubrey Norton v. Attorney General</i> was
resolved. Justice Persaud considered in detail the May 25, 2022 ruling of Justices
Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and Fidela Corbin-Lincoln, sitting in the Full Court in
<i>Attorney General v. Police Service Commission and Paul Slowe</i>
2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FCA- 18 which upheld his March 09, 2022 jurisdictional ruling
to strike out application and substituting Paul Slowe as a party. He read
paragraph 5 of that decision which held that:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[5] The effect of the term of the
appointed members of the Commission becoming vacant is simply that there are
currently no members to carry out its functions. This by itself is not a basis
to strike out the claim under CPR 14.01. Members can be appointed at any time
to continue to carry out the functions of the PSC. Upon their appointment those
members could determine whether to continue or discontinue the claim. Of course
a court would be entitled to take the continued non appointment of members to
the Commission as a basis to strike out the claim as an abuse of process as
this would delay the prosecution of the action.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Justice Persaud read paragraph 6 of the
Full Court’s decision: “We therefore agree with the learned trial judge’s
decision to refuse the application to strike.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Justice Persaud thereafter read paras 7-8
of the Full Court decision:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[7] We do not find that the order as
framed by the learned judge had the effect of permitting a private citizen to
carry out the functions of the PSC - a constitutional body. It is clear from the
reasoning of the learned trial judge that he found that Mr. Slowe had an
interest in his own right and not that he was continuing the action on behalf
of the PSC.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">[8] We fully agree with the learned trial
judge’s reasoning as to why Paul Slowe is an interested party and should be
added. However, we do not find that it was necessary to substitute Mr. Slowe in
place of the PSC which remains an existing constitutional body albeit unable to
properly function in the absence of appointed members. Based on the reasoning
of the learned trial judge Mr. Slowe should be added as a party in his own
right. Apart from the court’s power to hear from any person with a sufficient
interest in judicial review proceedings [CPR 56.04] the court has a general
power to add a party at any stage of the proceedings [CPR 19]. The addition of
an interested party saves time and costs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Justice Persaud then went on to consider
the Chief Justice’s declarations and orders in <i>Aubrey Norton v. Attorney
General of Guyana et al.</i> at paragraph 116:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">(2) It is hereby declared that in the
absence of the appointment of the Chairman of the Public Service Commission to
the Police Service Commission, subsequent to the expiration of the life and or
term of the appointment of the previous Police Service Commission, the said
Police Service Commission is not currently lawfully and duly constituted in accordance
with article 210 of the Constitution of Guyana.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">(3)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
a consequence, it is hereby declared that unto June 29, 2022, the second
respondent could not have lawfully consulted with the other members of the
Police Service Commission on the appointment of an acting Commissioner of
Police in the absence of the appointment of the Chairman of the Public Service
Commission as a member of the Police Service Commission pursuant to article 210
(1) (b) of the Constitution of Guyana.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">(6)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
is hereby declared that in order for the Police Service Commission to exercise
any of the powers, functions, and or duties conferred on it by the Constitution
of Guyana, it is a mandatory requirement that upon the constitution of the
Police Service Commission subsequent to the expiration of the life and or term
of the appointment of the previous Police Service Commission, that a Chairman
of the Public Service Commission be appointed and be made a member of the
Police Service Commission pursuant to article 210 (l)(b) of the Constitution of
Guyana.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">(7)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
a consequence, for the avoidance of any unforeseen consequences of my decision
regarding my finding that there is a deficiency in the Police Service
Commission as currently constituted, it is hereby declared that any action of
the said Police Service Commission as currently constituted is validated
pursuant to the de facto doctrine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Justice Persaud having considered the Full
Court ruling in 2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FCA- 18 and the Chief Justice’s ruling in
2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-902 dismissed the application as an abuse of the process of
the Court, holding that “there can be no stay of a declaratory order, and I am
not prepared to stay the proceedings before me, pending the appeal of the Chief
Justice’s ruling, which will leave the proceedings before me in limbo, since
that appeal would take time to be heard and determine, and we have no
indication how long that would take.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Justice Persaud went on to say that the <i>Norton</i>
appeal has no impact on Mr. Slowe’s right to have the lawfulness of his suspension
adjudicated upon: “This is also an access to justice issue for Mr. Slowe. How
long should he wait as a litigant, who is entitled to access to justice to have
the legality of his suspension ruled upon while the respondents file
interlocutory application upon interlocutory application delaying the
substantive issue. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On the Police Service Commission
application to wholly discontinue the matter, filed by Darshan Ramdhani, K.C.,
the Court held that “It is patently clear that the application cannot be sustained
since the Police Service Commission is not properly constituted and cannot
participate in these proceedings. The application to discontinue the Fixed Date
Application is refused.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Justice Persaud repeated paragraph 5 of the
Judgment of the Full Court which upheld his earlier decision on standing of
Paul Slowe as a litigant in the proceedings independent of the Police Service
Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Justice Persaud found that “There are no
reasonable grounds which would allow the Police Service Commission to withdraw
the Fixed Date Application. The Police Service Commission cannot withdraw Mr.
Slowe’s right to have the legality of his suspension challenged.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In summation, Justice Persaud made the
following orders:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The oral application for
a stay of proceedings pending appeal on <i>Aubrey Norton v AG </i>is an abuse
of process and is hereby refused.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Notice of Application
filed by Mr. Ramdhani, filed 5 July 2022, is without merit and is refused in
light of the Chief Justice’s decision in <i>Aubrey Norton</i> which held that
the PSC is not properly constituted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The timetable for the progress of the
proceedings are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Attorney General is directed to file an Affidavit of Defence on behalf of The Attorney General of Guyana, Commissioner of Police, and the Honourable Prime Minister by no later than
December 16, 2022.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Applicant Paul Slowe is directed to file an Affidavit in Reply by not later than December
23, 2022.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Written
Submissions are to be filed no later than January 9, 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Police Service Commission is not entitled to file an affidavit. However, they
may provide written submissions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Oral
arguments will be heard on January 16, 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">END/<o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-67957045549196623402022-09-15T18:54:00.005-04:002022-09-15T18:54:53.532-04:00The Attorney General v BK MARINE INC and Winston Jordan<p> <i><span class="userContent" style="font-family: times;">By <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a> B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span></i></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><span class="userContent"><span><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span><br /><span><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span><br /><span><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pieterslaw/" target="_blank">Pieters Law Office</a></i></span><br /><span><i>Created September 15, 2022</i></span></span></p><p>The High Court recently dismissed a civil action by the Attorney General of Guyana Mohabir Anil Nandlall in 2021-HC-DEM-CIV-SOC-25 <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/2021-HC-DEM-CIV-SOC-25-BK-MARINE-REYNOLDSJ.pdf" target="_blank">AG v. BK Marine and Jordan</a> asserting the tort of misfeasance in public office or in the alternative breach of fiduciary duty. What is instructive in this case is Justice Brassington Reynolds relied on the seminal U.K. case <a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200001/ldjudgmt/jd010322/three-1.htm" target="_blank">Three Rivers District Council v. Bank of England</a> (No. 3), [2000] UKHL 33, [2000] 2 WLR 1220, [2000] 3 All ER 1. In that case Lord Steyn held that: "The rationale of the tort is that in a legal system based on the rule of law executive or administrative power 'may be exercised only for the public good' and not for ulterior and improper purposes." Three Rivers was adopted and applied by the Caribbean Court of Justice in <a href="http://www.worldcourts.com/ccj/eng/decisions/2011.06.27_Marin_v_Attorney_General.htm" target="_blank">Florencio Marin v The Attorney General of Belize</a>, CV 5 of 2010, [2011] CCJ 9 (AJ).</p><p>The test to be met to establish this tort Justice Reynolds found are as follows:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">[16] The elements of the
tort as adumbrated in <b><u>Three Rivers</u></b> <i>supra </i>and cited in <b><u>Florencio
Marin v The Attorney General of Belize,</u> </b>are as follows:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (i) The Defendant must be a public officer;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> (ii) There must be the exercise of power as a
public officer;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(iii) The Public
Officer must either have acted out of malice i.e., specifically intending to
injure a person or persons (“targeted malice”); or acted knowing that he had no
power to do the act complained of and that the act would probably cause injury
to the plaintiff (“untargeted malice”);</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(iv) Any Plaintiff with
a sufficient interest to found a legal standing to sue was competent to bring
the action;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(v) The plaintiff must
prove that his loss was caused by the abuse of power; and</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(vi) The damage must
not be too remote.</span></p></blockquote><p>
</p><p>In applying the test to this case Justice Reynolds found that:</p><p><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">[23] Having regard to
the above elements of the tort and the principles formulated in various case
law, this Court is not of the considered view that the Claimant made out a case
of misfeasance in public office. The Court found favour with Counsel for the
Second Named Defendant’s contention that the instant case can be distinguished
from <b><u>Florencio Marin v The Attorney General of Belize.</u></b> It is the court’s respectful finding that the
Marin case is clearly distinguishable from the case at bar, as the subject
properties for reasons to be later adduced are clearly not state property
within the meaning of the authorities; any property in the state lying properly
in its ‘shares’ in the fourth-named defendant company. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">[24] The Claimant in
this instant action has also failed to plead or prove that the Second Named
Defendant has accrued any personal benefit from the alleged sale of the land
and that he had acted in bad faith or had a dishonest motive. No sufficient
circumstances have been pleaded or brought to the attention of the court on the
evidence which can ground a finding to the extent required of misfeasance in
public office. The threshold of sufficiency has not been achieved by the
Claimant to ground a finding of misfeasance in public office on the
authorities. It is not sufficient for the claimant to allude to or to invite
the court to infer that the parties have acted in bad faith or with any
dishonest motive, even more so in the absence of any true comparator as to the
value of the subject property; the court being itself unable to substitute or
ascribe any valuation of its own motion.</span></p></blockquote><p>
</p><p><br /></p><p>The Judge went further to find that "the claim constitutes an abuse of the Court’s process and cannot be allowed to stand."</p><p>The Court then Ordered "the Claim instituted by the Attorney General on the 8th day of February 2021 be struck out with costs to the first-named and second-named defendants in the sum of two (2) million ($2,000,000.00) dollars each."</p><p>The Attorney General of Guyana appeared in person to prosecute this claim against the former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan and was all over the media speaking about the case. His Honour however did not found that "the claim by the Attorney General to have been politically motivated or actuated by bad faith, vindictiveness, and spite..."</p><p>This decision by Justice Reynold was sound judicial reasoning about a hopeless case that was bound to fail and should not have been instituted in the first place.</p><p>However, my expectation is the State will appeal all the way to the CCJ.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-40091905568600599302022-09-02T01:23:00.008-04:002022-10-26T03:11:01.967-04:00Constitutional Law Cases engaging the Courts in Guyana 2022<p> <i><span class="userContent" style="font-family: times;">By <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a> B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span></i></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><span class="userContent"><span><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span><br /><span><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span><br /><span><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pieterslaw/" target="_blank">Pieters Law Office</a></i></span><br /><span><i>Created September 01, 2022</i></span></span></p><p>These are some recent cases in which I am involved as co-counsel in Guyana:</p><p>2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-469 Chris Jones and Norris Witter v. Attorney General of Guyana et al. This case concerns the Sitting of the National Assembly on December 29th, 2021, the conduct of the session including the absence of the Mace and the failure to consider a petition by 64 civic minded citizens. Mr. Witter and 63 other citizens had submitted through a Member of Parliament a Petition in which it sought a pause on any debate on the Natural Resource Fund Act (Bill) in order that the Government fully engage with both the Opposition and Civil Society. That the Petition also sought a pause on any debate in order to provide an opportunity for the proposed amendments be made available to the citizens. This Bill was not put before a Special Select Committee. Parliament erupted in chaos as Government Members and some Opposition Members in engaged boisterous and loud shouting at each other across the well of the National Assembly. The Natural Resource Fund Act 2021 was passed in the absence of the Mace. The Natural Resources Bill assented to by the President on December 30th, 2021. Jones and Witter are seeking:</p><p><span style="color: #191919; text-indent: -36pt;">1.</span><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -36pt;"> </span></p><div style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 72pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">a)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A Declaration that the conduct and or proceedings of the
National Assembly <span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">on December 29, 2021 in the absence of the Mace is <i>ultra vires</i>
the Constitution, Common Law,</span><span style="color: #00b0f0;"> </span>the
constitutional values of the Rule of Law, Democracy, and Inclusive Governance, unwritten
constitutional principles of the Rule of Law, and <span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">the Standing Orders of the
National Assembly,</span><span style="color: #00b0f0;"> </span>illegal, null,
void and of no legal effect.<br /><span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">b)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">A Declaration
that the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">passage of the Natural Resource Fund Bill No. 20 of 2021 by the National Assembly
on December <span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">29, 2021 in the absence of the Mace is <i>ultra vires</i> the Constitution,
Common Law,</span><span style="color: #00b0f0;"> </span>the constitutional values
of the Rule of Law, Democracy, and Inclusive Governance unwritten
constitutional principles of the Rule of Law, and <span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">the Standing Orders of the
National Assembly</span>, illegal, null, void and of no legal effect.<br /><span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">c)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A Declaration that the holding and or continuation of
proceedings of the National Assembly on
December 29, 2021 beyond the time stated in
Resolution No.2 of the 12<sup>th</sup> Parliament of Guyana, First
Session (2020) of the National Assembly without any approved Motion to do so <span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">is <i>ultra vires</i>
the Constitution, Common Law,</span><span style="color: #00b0f0;"> </span>the
constitutional values of the Rule of Law,
Democracy, and Inclusive Governance, <span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">unwritten constitutional principles of the Rule
of Law, the Standing Orders of the
National Assembly,</span><span style="color: #00b0f0;"> </span>illegal, null,
void and of no legal effect.<br /><span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">d)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A Declaration that the holding and or continuation of
proceedings of the National Assembly on December 29, 2021 with the use of a
replacement Mace without any approved Motion to do so <span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">is <i>ultra vires</i> the
Constitution, Common Law, </span>the constitutional values of the Rule of Law, Democracy,
and Inclusive Governance, <span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">unwritten constitutional principles of the Rule of Law, the
Standing Orders of the National Assembly,</span><span style="color: #00b0f0;"> </span>illegal,
null, void and of no legal effect.<br /><span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">e)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A Declaration that the enactment of the Natural Resource Fund
Act No. 19 of 2021 by the Parliament of Guyana December 29, 2021 in the absence
of the Mace is <i>ultra vires</i> the Constitution, Common Law, the
constitutional values of the Rule of Law, Democracy, and Inclusive Governance, unwritten
constitutional principles of the Rule of Law, and the Standing Orders of the
National Assembly, illegal, null, void and of no legal effect.<br /><span style="color: #191919; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">f)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">A Declaration that
the Second Named Applicant possesses a fundamental human right to political
participation and that aforesaid fundamental human right encapsulates the
opportunity to take part in the conduct of public affairs of Guyana which is guaranteed
by Article 154A of the Constitution and Article 25 of the Covenant of Civil and
Political Rights.<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">g)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 25;">A
Declaration that in accordance with Article 154A of the Constitution which
mandates that Human Rights enshrined in International Conventions set out in
the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution shall be respected and upheld by the
Executive, consequently the Executive </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">in designing
and formulating a Natural Resource Fund policy for Guyana is required and
obligated by the Constitution and Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
to engage in consultation with the Stakeholders and Citizenry of Guyana.</span></div><p>
</p><p> A trial is scheduled for September 12, 2022.</p><div><div><a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/2022FDA902_LOO_AUBREYNORTON.pdf" target="_blank">Aubrey Norton v. Attorney General et al</a> No. 2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-902, the issues here revolves around the appointment of Pastor Patrick Findlay as Chair of the Police Service Commission and the appointment of the Integrity Commission without meaningful consultations with the Leader of the Official Opposition Aubrey Norton and whether the Police Service Commission was properly constituted. An added issue was the application of the de facto doctrine. The Chief Justice ruled that the appointment of the Chairman of the Police Service Commission and the members of the Integrity Commission by the Executive President was Constitutional. The Police Service Commission is not properly constituted the Chief Justice found. She applied the de facto doctrine to protect all decisions made by the Commission inclusive of promotions.</div><div><div>Norton was represented by Roysdale Forde, SC and Attorney-at-Law Selwyn Pieters.</div><div>Appearing on behalf of the State was Attorney General Anil Nandlall with Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, and other lawyers from the Attorney General’s Chambers.</div></div><div>Darsham Randhani appeared for the Police Service Commission</div><div>C.V. Satram appeared for the Integrity Commission.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/2022FDA705_JONES.pdf" target="_blank">Christopher Jones v. Attorney General and Clifton Hicken</a> No. 2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-705 - The Chief Justice of Guyana heard arguments on whether the president engaged in an overreach in violation of 211 of the Constitution when he appointed Clifton Hicken as acting Commissioner of Police using the Doctrine of Necessity. On the application of the doctrine of necessity, she held that "....while the necessity in this instance was not spawned out of a national crisis such as a coup as evidenced in Mitchell and similar cases, this is a case of a necessity not to cure an illegality but to ensure that the unexpected lacuna that resulted in an impossibility to comply with art 211 did not result in a situation that would have left the Guyana Police Force, and therefore the nation, without a Commissioner."</div></div><div>Madam Chief Justice Roxane George found the doctrine of supervening impossibility applies in Jones v. AG and Hicken: "I consider it disingenuous of the applicant to plead what in effect is a want of action by the non-governmental members of the National Assembly to elect the Leader of the Opposition, (which at March 30, 2022 stood at three months) which office hold is necessary for consultation on a number of posts and commissions, including the appointment of the Commissioner of Police and the Police Service Commission, and then use such a state of affairs to plead an unconstitutionality of action by the President in not engaging in meaningful consultation as required by art 211. There could be no disregard of and thereby a breach of the requirement for meaningful consultation when it was impossible to so engage. The applicant therefore is relying on an impossibility to ground a claim of unconstitutionality."</div><div>An appeal of this decision was filed in the Court of Appeal.</div><div><div>Jones was represented by Roysdale Forde, SC and Attorney-at-Law Selwyn Pieters.</div><div>Appearing on behalf of the State was Attorney General Anil Nanbdlall with Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, and other lawyers from the Attorney General’s Chambers.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-994-SARABO-HALLEY_ENDORSEMENT.pdf" target="_blank">Tabitha Sarabo-Halley -vs- The Attorney General of Guyana</a> 2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-994 before The Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge - this matter deals with the suspension of 8 APNU/AFC Members of Parliament. The Privilege Report regarding Opposition APNU/AFC MPs Chief Whip Christopher Jones, Ganesh Mahipaul, Sherod Duncan, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Annette Ferguson, Vinceroy Jordan, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley and Maureen Philadelphia was adopted by the House on August 21, 2022.</div><div>This case raises significant issues of constitutional law and policy, administrative law and matters of public importance particularly where, as here, quarter of the Opposition Bench has been suspended leaving over 60,000 Guyanese voters without their representatives in the National Assembly of this Court does not intervene. Further, there are individual, collective and public interest consequences of the decision of the National Assembly. </div><div>The Judge did not grant a conservatory order and set dates for steps to be completed in the proceedings with the view to a hearing on November 01, 2022:</div></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90pt; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -90pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>i.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">leave to the No. 1 Respondent
to file a NOA to strike out the Fixed Date Application (FDA) on or before the <b>29th
August 2022</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90pt; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -90pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>ii.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">leave to the No. 2 Respondent
to file an NOA to strike out the No. 2 Respondent from the proceedings on or
before the 29th August 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90pt; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -90pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>iii.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">leave to Applicants to file
Affidavit in Answer to NOAs from No 1 and 2 on or before the 19th September
2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90pt; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -90pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>iv.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Respondents to file Affidavits
in Answer to the Notice (NOA) of Application for Conservatory Orders on or
before the 19th September 2022 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90pt; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -90pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>v.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Applicants to file their
Affidavits in Reply, if necessary on or before the 3rd October 2022;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 90pt; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -90pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>vi.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">No. 1 and No. 2 Respondent to
file Affidavit in Reply if necessary, on or before the 3rd October 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90pt; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -90pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>vii.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">written submissions on all four
NOA’s to be filed and exchanged on or before the 12th October 2022;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90pt; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -90pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>viii.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">matter fixed for the 1st
November 2022 at 9:30 hrs. for oral arguments on all four NOA’s.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div>Sarabo-Halley is represented by Roysdale Forde, SC and Attorney-at-Law Selwyn Pieters.</div><div>Appearing on behalf of the State was Attorney General Anil Nandlall with Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, and other lawyers from the Attorney General’s Chambers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Vinceroy Jordan v. Attorney General - this is a challenge President Irfaan Ali’s failure to act on the written consultation with the Opposition Leader on making permanent the appointments of Chancellor and Chief Justice. This matter is before The Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge.</div><div><br /></div><div>PSC and Slowe v. The Secretary of the Police Service Commission et al - The Full Court denied Leave to Appeal to the Court of Appeal in the Police Service Commission matter: <span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FCA-%2018_AGandPSC_FullCourt.pdf" style="color: #2288bb; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Attorney General et al vs The Police Service Commission</a> </span>2022 HC DEM CIV FCA 18. This case being heard before the Honourable Mr. Justice Gino Persaud involves the unconstitutional suspension of the Chairman Paul Slowe and Commissioners by His Excellency Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the failure to government of Guyana to recognize the promotion of 132 senior police officers from Inspector to Assistant Commissioner made by the said Commission. This case was adjourned to September 20, 2022 to allow the parties to study <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/2022FDA902_LOO_AUBREYNORTON.pdf" target="_blank">Aubrey Norton v. Attorney General et al</a> No. 2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-902 and its application to this case.</div><div><div>Mr. Paul Slowe was represented by Selwyn Pieters, Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt</div><div>The Attorney General was represented by Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, Chevy Devonish, and Arti Outar</div></div><div>Darshan Ramdhani, Q.C. appears for the PSC</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://ccj.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022_CCJ_15_AJ_GY.pdf" target="_blank">Bharrat Jagdeo v. Monica Thomas et al- CCJ- GYCV2022/002</a> before the Caribbean Court of Justice on the issue of whether the Court of Appeal had jurisdiction to hear and determine an appeal against the decision of the Honourable Madam Justice Roxanne George (Ag. Chief Justice) on 18th January 2021 dismissing Election Petition No. 99 of 2020 (“the Petition”) on the ground that there had been late service upon the Fourth Respondent who was a necessary party to the Petition. The appeal was allowed and the decision of the Court of Appeal set aside without costs. The Court affirmed the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court. It went on to say that there are only three grounds upon which the COA could have claimed jurisdiction to hear an appeal of the dismissal of the elections petition none of which was present in this case.</div><div><br /></div><div>COA-CA-66-2021: Claudette Thorne & Heston Raymond Bostwick v. Keith Lowenfield et al is before the Court of Appeal and is an appeal against the <a href="https://youtu.be/ZDKADBE4_u0" target="_blank">decision of the Honourable Madam Justice Roxanne George (Ag. Chief Justice) of April 26, 2021</a> dismissing Election Petition No. 88 of 2020. Her failure to render her "full (written) reasons" more than 16 months after promising to release it shortly is being argued as a denial of the right to a fair trial in contravention of Article 148 of the Constitution.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-71554205127907176472022-07-14T17:55:00.003-04:002022-09-02T00:08:39.250-04:00Full Court denied Leave to Appeal to the Court of Appeal in the Police Service Commission matter<p> <i><span class="userContent" style="font-family: times;">By <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a> B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span></i></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><span class="userContent"><span><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span><br /><span><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span><br /><span><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pieterslaw/" target="_blank">Pieters Law Office</a></i></span><br /><span><i>Created July 14, 2022</i></span></span><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Full Court denied Leave to Appeal to the Court of Appeal
in the Police Service Commission matter: <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FCA-%2018_AGandPSC_FullCourt.pdf" target="_blank">Attorney General et al vs The PoliceService Commission</a> 2022 HC DEM CIV FCA 18</b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Georgetown, Guyana – July 15, 2022 - The Full Court of the
Supreme Court of the Judicature today (Honourable Madame Justice Priya
Sewnarine-Beharry and The Honourable Madame Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln) denied
leave to appeal to the Attorney General of Guyana, Commissioner of Police, and
the Honourable Prime Minister in a case involving adding Paul Slowe as a party
to the Police Service Commission case involving the unconstitutional suspension
of the Chairman Paul Slowe and Commissioners by His Excellency Mohamed Irfaan
Ali and the failure to government of Guyana to recognize the promotion of 132
senior police officers from Inspector to Assistant Commissioner made by the
said Commission. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Justice Gino Persaud initial substituted Mr. Slowe in the
stead of the Police Service Commission. After determining that the issues
raised in this case are matters of public interest, he determined that he would
not strike out the claim as urged by the Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandlall
. He then substituted Mr. Paul Slowe as the Applicant and ordered rubric shall
be amended accordingly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Attorney General then appealed to the Full Court. The
Full Court found that there was no basis to strike out the proceedings. It also
found that Mr. Slowe, who appointment is alleged to have been wrongfully
terminated had an interest in the matter and should be a party to the
proceedings. The Court then added Mr. Paul Slowe as a party. It reasoned in a
decision of May 25, 2022 that “We fully agree with the learned trial judge’s
reasoning as to why Paul Slowe is an interested party and should be added.
However, we do not find that it was necessary to substitute Mr. Slowe in place
of the PSC which remains an existing constitutional body albeit unable to
properly function in the absence of appointed members. Based on the reasoning
of the learned trial judge Mr. Slowe should be added as a party in his own
right. Apart from the court’s power to hear from any person with a sufficient
interest in judicial review proceedings [CPR 56.04] the court has a general
power to add a party at any stage of the proceedings [CPR 19]. The addition of
an interested party saves time and costs.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Attorney General subsequently filed an application for
leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal on July 06, 2022 submitting that “this
matter is a public interest litigation and is of high public and constitutional
importance.” In that Application the Attorney General claimed that “The addition
of Paul Slowe as an Applicant in these proceedings has serious ramifications
not only for the determination of the substantive matter herein, but as well,
for the filed and pending interlocutory applications in this matter, including
the Urgent Notice of Application for Injunctive Relief against the Police
Service Commission… and the Notice of Discontinuance filed on behalf of the
police Service Commission.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Full Court rejected the submissions that the addition of
Paul Slowe as a party to the litigation, in which he has an interest, raises
matters of public importance and significance such that leave to appeal should
be granted. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Court ruled today (July 14, 2022) that it has “the right
and a discretion to add any party to a proceeding whether by an application or
of its own motion. That is not an issue that in the Court’s view raises any
serious issues of law. This area of law of the Court deciding to add a party,
an interesting party, is not an area of law in dispute nor does it raise any
issue any of great public import in terms of the adding Mr. Slowe as a party.
Having regard to those facts and having regard to the entirety of this Court’s
decision, we are not of the view that the application of the Attorney General’s
Chambers to appeal or for leave to appeal, we are not of the view that the
grounds of appeal really raise any grounds that are of merit and therefore we would
refuse leave to appeal and the application for a stay.” Costs was awarded of
$75,000.00 to Mr. Slowe to be paid by July 29, 2022.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Paul Slowe was represented by Selwyn Pieters, Dexter
Todd and Dexter Smartt<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Attorney General was represented by Mohabir Anil
Nandlall, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, Chevy Devonish, and Arti Outar</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-22517645626889717302022-04-21T03:06:00.004-04:002022-04-23T07:54:14.944-04:00Legal Opinion on Appointment of the Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, in Guyana under the Common Law Doctrine of Necessity<p> </p><br /><span><i><span class="userContent" style="font-family: times;">By <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a> B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span><span class="userContent" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></i></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><span class="userContent"><span><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span><br /><span><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span><br /><span><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pieterslaw/" target="_blank">Pieters Law Office</a></i></span><br /><span><i>Created April 2022</i></span></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
am pleased to provide my opinion and overview of the issues of surrounding the
recent appointment of Mr. Clifton Hicken as acting Commissioner of Police by
His Excellency Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana. My opinion letter is
divided into five categories:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I. Assumptions and Qualifications<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">II. Relevant Facts<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">III. Issues and The Law<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">IV. Conclusions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">V. Recommendations and Comments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ASSUMPTIONS
AND QUALIFICATIONS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
have been asked to advise on whether </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the President of
Guyana can appoint an Acting Commissioner of Police (COP) using the common law
doctrine of “Necessity” in the absence of abiding by the law stated under the
Constitution,<a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/Downloads/Legal%20Opinion%20re%20COP%20Guyana%2020042022%5b4735%5d%20(Slowe%20edits).docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
a sitting Leader of the Opposition and in the absence of a constitutionally
appointed Police Service Commission.</span><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In
rendering my opinion, I have assumed the
following:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 90pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -90pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>i.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to
us (whether originals or copies), and the conformity to original documents of
all documents submitted to us as copies, whether facsimile, photostatic,
certified or otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 90pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -90pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>ii.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">the
accuracy, completeness and truthfulness of all statements, allegations,
recollections and interpretations contained in all submitted material. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After
considering documents and the facts provided, the relevant statutes and case
law, my advice is as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 54pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">i)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The common law doctrine
of necessity was not available in the circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 54pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ii)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Articles 211(1) and/or
211(2) of the Constitution was in fact breached as the processes under it were
disregarded to allow for an improper appointment.</span></p><div style="font-style: italic;"><div id="ftn1">
</div>
</div></div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>CONCLUSION</b></h2><div><br /></div></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span>59.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The factual context including the social, political and legal context had significant bearing on the conclusion I have reached in this matter.<br />60.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The President of Guyana cannot rely on the Doctrine of Necessity as case law has supported protection and preservation of a country’s Constitution. While the Constitution of Guyana is silent as to the processes to undertake in the absence of constitutional office holders imperative to such an appointment process contemplated in Article 211 of the Constitution, the evidence reveals that the President had no interest in consulting with the Leader of the Official Opposition whilst one was in place between August 2020 and January 2022 and his unconstitutional actions in suspending the Police Service Commission as autocratic, therefore the resort to the doctrine of Necessity in making this appointment, in the absence of a functioning Police Service Commission and the vacancy of the Leader of the Opposition, was opportunistic, ill-advised, in bad faith and not captured by circumstances that would support the invocation and use of the doctrine of necessity to make the appointment of acting Commissioner of Police.</p><div><span style="font-family: times;"><div style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: small;"><br /></div><div><h1 style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><b>RECCOMMENDATIONS AND COMMENTS</b></h1><div style="font-size: small;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">61.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The appointment is manifestly ultra vires Article 211 (2) of the Constitution, unlawful, illegal, premature and of no legal force, import or effect. Given the unconstitutional appointment has been made, in the absence of a resignation, it is for a Court of competent jurisdiction to adjudicate. An application in the nature of judicial review would be recommended in the circumstances.<br />62.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>These matters as past history would dictate are complex, time—consuming, expensive and uncertain.</p></div><div style="font-size: small; font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: small; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal;">A full copy of the Legal Opinion is here </span><a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/LO_HickenAppointment_2022_04_20.pdf" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal;" target="_blank">Link</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal;"> </span></div></span></div>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-45712637365989216822022-03-10T01:37:00.002-05:002022-05-30T02:18:15.478-04:00The Police Service Commission v. Secretary, Police Commission (1004/2021-FDA - jurisdictional ruling to strike out application<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Century Schoolbook, serif;"><b><u>The Police Service Commission v. Secretary, Police Commission (1004/2021-FDA</u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Century Schoolbook, serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Century Schoolbook, serif;"><b>[Before The Honourable Mr. Justice Gino Persaaud</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;">Appearances:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;">Chevy Devonish for the 2nd to 5th named Respondents</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;">Selwyn Pieters, Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt for the Police Service Commission</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;">Dated: March 09, 2022]</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">THIS IS AN ORAL
RULING CONTAINING A SUMMARY OF THE REASONS FOR MY DECISION. A FULL JUDGMENT
WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE PARTIES SUBSEQUENTLY</span></u></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">1.</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Before I delve
into the ruling proper, it is appropriate at this stage to remind everyone that
this is not a ruling on the merits of the substantive case challenging the
legality of the suspension of members of the PSC by His Excellency, the
President. This is a ruling on a second interlocutory application by the AG to
strike out the substantive case on the ground that after it was filed, the
three-year term of the Commissioners came to an end on 8 August, 2021 and
consequently the named Applicant cited in the rubric of these proceedings – the
Police Service Commission – cannot continue the litigation. In other words, it
was contended that the litigation is automatically at an end because the term
of office of the suspended Commissioners is also at an end.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">2.</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I wish to say
from the outset that the suspended Commissioners were not properly advised to
institute these proceedings on 16 July, 2021 in the name of the Police Service
Commission given the fact that they were suspended and they were also obviously
aware that the end of their three-year term was imminent. They should have
filed as individuals stating their capacities albeit a suspended one. The issue
of whether this was fatal or not will be addressed later.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">ISSUES</span></u></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">a.</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 7pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Whether the
suspended commissioners have an interest in the matter which survives the
duration of their three-year term which is at an end.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="a">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 12pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The
public interest issue - whether in the public interest the substantive
issue of the legality of the suspension of the commissioners should be
heard and determined on its merits being a matter of public interest. Does
it “<i>cry out for judicial imprimatur</i>”? Or does it remain perpetually
suspended like the suspended Commissioners – a sword of Damocles - never
to be adjudicated upon simply because of the inescapable fact that the
life of the Commissioners came to an end after filing these
proceedings. </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 12pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Whether
the former Chairman, Paul Slowe who swore the Affidavit in Support of the
FDA has a sufficient interest and the locus standi to continue the
proceedings and be substituted as the Applicant in the place and stead of
the Police Service Commission.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Factual
Background:</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">3. On the 15<sup>th</sup> September,2021,
the Applicant /Fifth Named Respondent filed a Notice of Application with
supporting affidavit seeking “<b>An Order to strike out Fixed Date Application
2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-1004”</b> on the following grounds:</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">
i. The Police Service Commission, being vacant cannot lawfully continue to
maintain the legal proceedings filed herein; and</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">
ii. The Attorneys- at - law for the Respondent /Applicant have no
authority in law to continue to pursue the Fixed Date Application herein.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">4. The Applicant
avers that it is not disputed that on the 8th August,2021 the office of each
appointed member of the Police Service Commission, that commenced the legal
proceedings herein, became vacant as they were each appointed by Instrument of
Appointment on the 9th August,2018.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">5. The Police
Service Commission has not yet been constituted.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">6. Counsel for
the Applicant cited several cases in support of its contention that the Police
Service Commission, being vacant, cannot lawfully continue to maintain the
legal proceedings filed herein: <b><i>Banque Internationale De Commerce De
Petrograd v. Goukassow</i> [1923] 2 K.B. 682; <i>Elijah Sikona &
George Pariken Narok on Behalf of Trusted Society of Human Rights Alliance v.
Mara Conservatory & 5 others</i> [2014] Eklr; Civil Case No.37
of 2013; F<i>ort Hall Bakery Supply Company v. Frederick Muigai Wangoe
(1959) </i>EA 474.</b></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> Respondent’s
Submissions</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">7. The
Respondent contends that this is a challenge by way of judicial review by the
Chairman and Members of the Police Service Commission on the issue of whether
the decision of the President to suspend them was unlawful and unconstitutional.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">8. The
Respondent submits that the legal proceedings were instituted by the Police
Service Commission during the tenure of the Commission.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">9. Counsel for
the Respondent cited the case of <b><i>Rajendra Jaigobin v. Attorney
General of Guyana</i> 2017-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-1177 </b>where Jaigobin
instituted a matter in the court with the AG as Respondent but before the
completion of the matter, the life of the Commission expired. In that case,
Chief Justice Roxane George (ag) in considering whether to strike out the matter
on academic interest stated at paragraph 2 of her decision that:</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“However, I am
of the view and hold that the issue before me is not merely academic because
the life of the Commission has ended. It is an issue that cries out for
judicial imprimatur because of the serious implications if a ruling is not
made. It is a case, to my mind, that involves an important issue in public law
that has arisen before, and which could arise again. It has to be clarified
whether or not a letter of this nature in this case, is within the bounds of
the Constitution and therefore lawful. Precedent for the future must be
established.”</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">However, in that
case the Commission was not a party to the proceedings so the issue of whether
the life of the Commission had ended was not germane to the issues at hand.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">10. The
Respondent submits that the termination of these legal proceedings will result
in Constitutional Matters of public interest being left unaddressed and create
room for Constitutional violations by the Executive arm of Government.
Reference was made to the case of <b><i>McEwan et al v. The Attorney
General of Guyana </i>[2018] CCJ 30 (AJ), (2019) 94 WIR 332</b>, where
President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Mr. Justice Adrian Saunders
stated:</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“In
constitutional proceedings, courts should adopt a liberal approach in affording
standing to individuals and entities. It is in the public’s interest to ensure
that the Constitution is properly interpreted and applied and the rule of law
is vindicated.”</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> </span></u></b><b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Analysis – Lis and substitution of party</span></u></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">11. When this case was argued, I specifically requested the Attorneys on
both sides to look for case law in which a constitutional body or a statutory
body had commenced judicial review proceedings and its life subsequently came
to an end during the hearing of the matter. Unfortunately, both sides indicated
they were unable to find any such cases. This makes it a novel point which has
not probably been adjudicated upon in Guyana.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">In considering this issue I have found assistance from the following
cases.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">No Lis</span></u></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> <b><u>between the parties to a
claim for judicial review</u></b></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">12. In Trinidad, the C.A. in the matter of <i>Dr. Myron Wing-Sang
Chin, Farrell (in their capacities as the Commissioners of the COI into the
construction of the Las Alturas Towers) v Noel Garcia, AG (CA# P-342/2017)</i> delivered
on 16 January, 2019 reaffirmed the existing principle of public law that there
is no “<b><i><u>lis</u></i></b>” between the parties to a claim for judicial
review. Justice of Appeal Mendonca at para. 14 stated:</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">It is correct to say that in judicial review proceedings there is
no <b><u>lis</u></b> between the parties. Judicial review proceedings
are directed at the <b><u>decision</u></b> and <b><u>not the
parties</u></b>. As was said in <b>Gilharry v. Transport Board et al BZ
2012 CA 10</b>, “<b>what is vulnerable [in judicial review proceedings] is the
decision and not the decision maker” it is the “process by which the courts
exercise a supervisory jurisdiction over the activities of public authorities
in the field of public law”.</b></span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">13. In the case of<b> <i>R v Stratford-on-Avon District Council and
another, ex parte Jackson - [1985] 3 All ER 769</i> </b>it was held that,</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">In judicial review proceedings there is no true lis inter partes or suit
by one person against another: see R v Secretary of State, ex p Hackney London
BC </span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">14. In the case of<b> </b><i>R v Secretary of State for the
Environment, ex parte Hackney London Borough Council and another - [1983] 3 All
ER 358 </i>it was stated at page 367 that,</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Moreover, we do not think that there is in judicial review proceedings any
true <b><u>lis</u></b> between the parties…</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">…the court “is not finally determining the validity of the tribunal's
order as between the parties themselves” but “is merely deciding whether there
has been <b><u>a plain excess of jurisdiction or not</u></b>”. They are a
special class of remedies designed to maintain due order in the legal system,
nominally at the suit of the Crown, and they may well fall outside the ambit of
the ordinary doctrine of res judicata.</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">15. In the case of <i>Chief Constable of North Wales Police v Evans</i> [1982]
3 All E.R. 141 at p. 143 per Lord Halsham stated.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The remedy by way of judicial review is directed at the decision-making
process itself rather than at the parties who made it.</span></u></i></b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> Its purpose “<b>is to protect the individual against an abuse of
power by a wide range of authorities, judicial, quasi-judicial, and
administrative to ensure (he) is given fair treatment by the authority, to
which he has been subjected </b>…”</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">CONCLUDING ANALYSIS</span></u></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">16. I find that the issues raised in this case are matters of public interest.
In light of the public interest and the authorities reviewed above which
establish <i>that in judicial review proceedings there is no <b><u>lis</u></b> between
the parties and the fact that judicial review proceedings are directed at
the <b><u>decision</u></b> and <b><u>not the parties</u></b> </i>I
am of the considered view that the substantive issue of the legality of the
suspension of the commissioners should be heard and determined on its merits
being a matter of public interest. Judicial review is also concerned
with <i>deciding whether there has been <b><u>a plain excess of
jurisdiction or not</u></b></i> – whether a decision is lawful or not,
whether a decision is ultra vires or not. This cannot be automatically
dissolved or whittled away with the end of the tenure of the Commissioners.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">17. To hold otherwise would be to leave the legality of the suspension
hanging - never to be adjudicated upon simply because of the inescapable
fact that the life of the Commissioners came to an end after filing these
proceedings. This does not seem to me either logical or fair but rather an
affront to fairness, natural justice, access to justice and indeed the rule of
law. Justice of Appeal Mendonca in the Trinidad COI case cited above
correctly relied on <b><i>Gilharry v. Transport Board et al BZ 2012 CA 10</i></b><i>,“<b>what
is vulnerable [in judicial review proceedings] is the decision and not the
decision maker” it is the “process by which the courts exercise a supervisory
jurisdiction over the activities of public authorities in the field of public
law”.</b></i></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">18. A hearing
and determination would serve to bring clarity to the role of the Executive in
such instances and ensure that the constitutionally-granted autonomy of the PSC
remains protected. In the words of the Honourable Chief Justice Roxane George
in <b><i>Rajendra Jaigobin</i></b> supra, where she states at
paragraph 2 of the decision: “...<i>It is an issue that cries out for judicial
imprimatur because of the serious implications if a ruling is not made...”</i></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Substitution of party</span></u></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">19. I now turn to the issue of whether the former Chairman, Paul Slowe
who swore the Affidavit in Support of the FDA has a sufficient interest and
locus standi to continue the proceedings and be substituted as the Applicant in
the place and stead of the Police Service Commission.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">20. In the Trinidad COI case cited above the CA were of the view that
the court has an inherent jurisdiction to substitute a party in judicial review
proceedings where appropriate. At para
18, </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">As there are parties in judicial review proceedings, it should come as
no surprise that courts have made orders for their substitution. For example,
in <b>Civil Appeal No. 109 of 1985 Sooknanan v. The Conservator of Forests
et al TT 1986 CA 14 </b>the Court of Appeal held that the Attorney General
was not a proper party to the judicial review proceedings before it and ordered
that he be substituted with the proper respondents, namely the Conservator of
Forests and the Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Food Production.</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Also, at para.
19, </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The concept of substitution of parties is therefore not unknown in the
context of judicial review proceedings.</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">21. At para 26 JA Mendonca cited the case of <b>River Thames
Society and Lady Berkeley v First Secretary of State and Ors [2006] EWHC 2829
(Admin) </b>and stated, </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 36pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The Judge, however, was of the view that if a claimant could never be
substituted in public law cases there can be clear injustice.</span></u></i></b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> He noted that there have been many cases where there have been
substitutions in similar circumstances as the case before him. He therefore
concluded that while Part 19 is inapplicable to the judicial review
proceedings, <b>the court had an inherent jurisdiction to make the
substitution…</b></span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">22. I’m therefore of the view that </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">the former Chairman, Paul Slowe who swore the
Affidavit in Support of the FDA has a sufficient interest since he is directly
affected together with the locus standi to continue the proceedings and the
Court can properly under its inherent jurisdiction order that he be substituted
as the Applicant in the place and stead of the Police Service Commission to
facilitate the just and effective resolution of the matters in dispute before
the Court.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> <b><u>DISPOSITION</u></b></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">23. In the circumstances, the NOA filed by the AG is dismissed. No order
as to costs since it is a matter of public interest. It is hereby ordered that
Paul Slowe be and is hereby substituted in the place and stead of the Police
Service Commission as the Applicant herein. The rubric shall be amended
accordingly to reflect today’s order of court. The AG shall file an
Affidavit in Defence by 6 April, 2022 with permission to the substituted
Applicant to file an Affidavit in Reply, if necessary, by 20 April. The parties
shall simultaneously file, serve and email written submissions by 4 May. A date
shall be fixed for oral addresses.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm 18pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Century Schoolbook",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">This decision was upheld by the Full Court <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/AG_v_PSC_25052022.pdf" target="_blank">Attorney General of Guyana and Prime Minister of Guyana et al v. Police Service Commission and Paul Slowe </a> 2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FCA- 18</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-88790578735520403862022-01-02T17:27:00.001-05:002022-01-02T17:27:14.529-05:00Law Talk with 16 year old Kai Marshall and Lawyer Selwyn Pieters<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/zAIlAw3KC1A" frameborder="0"></iframe>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-52256655399886954162021-12-27T06:08:00.030-05:002023-06-07T19:35:29.990-04:00Selwyn Pieters Law Office Litigation Year in Review 2021: Staying Resiliant in the face of COVID19 and Pervasive Anti-Black Racism<p> </p><br /><span><i><span class="userContent" style="font-family: times;">By <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a> B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span><span class="userContent" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></i></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><span class="userContent"><span><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span><br /><span><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span><br /><span><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pieterslaw/" target="_blank">Pieters Law Office</a></i></span><br /><span><i>Created December 27, 2021</i></span></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><i>Updated: January 02, 2022<br /></i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">Remembering 2021: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was an interesting litigation year with law being practised in three countries, in several practice areas, with highs, lows, speed bumps, potholes (pun intended), falls and in-betweens. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">My work have covered a large number of clients and a wide array of legal areas, particularly, human rights law (racial discrimination, systemic discrimination, racial profiling, racial context to criminal law), civil litigation, Constitutional Law/Charter issues, criminal law, police law, Guyanese Constitutional law, as well as a variety of forms of administrative law</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">. I have been ably assisted by Thoby King who, upon completing his Articles of Clerkship, continues to provide legal services to my clients on a part-time basis.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><div class="MsoNormal"><span><h1 style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Legal Publication</span></b></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">Civil Practice and Procedure in Ontario: Co-authored chapter on Rule 33 of Ontario’s Rules of Civil Procedure, which concerns orders to attend medical examinations. This project involved extensive case research and writing. The book was published on September 8, 2021. See, Selwyn A Pieters and Thoby King, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Discovery, <a href="https://canlii.ca/t/tbgl" target="_blank">Rule 33 - Medical Examination of Parties</a> in Civil Procedure and Practice in Ontario, Noel Semple (ed.), Canadian Legal Information Institute, 2021 CanLIIDocs 2025.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><br /></div><h1 style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Speaking Engagements and Presentations</span></b></h1><div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">January 30, 2021, Black Pre-law Conference, Peter A. Allard School of Law, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">University of British Columbia</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Community advocacy regarding noose found at Michael Garron Hospital construction site</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">February 05-06, 2021, Participated as a Judge in the <span style="color: #484848; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://www.blsacanada.com/isaac-moot" target="_blank">Julius Alexander Isaac Moot</a> hosted by </span><span style="color: #484848;">The Black Law Students’ Association of Canada (BLSA Canada) .</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #484848;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #484848; font-family: times;">February 17, 2021, Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History and BLSA Osgoode panel discussion with three Black legal professionals: Selwyn A. Pieters, Asha James, and Justice Lori Anne Thomas, on how Black Resistance has manifested through their journeys.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">April 22, 2021: “<a href="https://youtu.be/27I8bo-RR7E" target="_blank">COVID-19 and Police Racial Profiling in Ontario</a>”, Regent Park Parent Conference Workshop Series.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">May 31, 2021, <a href="https://youtu.be/3Jzf0RJhkcI" target="_blank">Press Conference of Paul Slowe</a> Chairman of the Police Service Commission (Guyana)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">June 11, 2021: “<a href="https://canlii.ca/t/t92k" target="_blank">Access to Administrative Justice for Community Users: A Litigator’s Perspective</a>” at National Roundtable on Administrative Law: All the Voices We Don’t Hear, hosted by the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">July 28, 2021, <a href="https://youtu.be/DKnIQG_Wa1g" target="_blank">Healing the Leaders</a>, Toronto Centre of Community Learning & Development.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">September 15, 2021 Selwyn A Pieters and Thoby King, <a href="https://canlii.ca/t/tc0w" target="_blank">Workplace COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: Can Non-Unionized Employees in Ontario be Fired for Non-Compliance?</a>, CanLII Authors Program, 2021 CanLIIDocs 2230</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">October 4, 2021, Physicians for Human Rights Research Presentation on "Excited Delirium"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">November 8, 2021, <a href="https://twitter.com/LAWSProgram/status/1457765747434917888/photo/1" target="_blank">Law in Action Within Schools (LAWS</a>) careers workshop for grade 10 students at Central Technicao School</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">November 10, 2021, Grappling with Racial Bias in the Inquest Context, Presiding Inquest Officers.</span></div><div style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">November 23, 2021, <a href="https://youtu.be/hSLGJX3iYTg" target="_blank">Litigating Racial Bias</a>, Faculty of Law, Queen's University.</div><div style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">November 27, 2021, panel discussion "Building resilience and community, one person at a time" Toronto Centre of Community Learning & Development.</span></div></span></div><h1 style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Constitutional and Public law</span></b></h1></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>I was</span><span> </span><span>counsel for the CityPlace Residents’ Association in </span><a href="https://canlii.ca/t/jjc3d" target="_blank">City of Toronto v. Attorney General for Ontario</a> 2021 SCC 34: This Supreme Court of Canada case concerned the City of Toronto’s constitutional challenge to the Provincial Government’s reconfiguration of municipal electoral boundaries during the municipal election of 2018. Our client was the CityPlace Residents’ Association, which intervened on the side of the City at the Supreme Court. The decision was a 5-4 majority for the Ontario government. CPRA's submissions on electoral listening was adopted by Abella J. and the minority (dissenting opinion). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">Previous summary of the case: I acted in this case at the lower leveels of Court as <span>co-counsel for Rocco Achampong in Toronto (City) v. Ontario (Attorney General) (C65861) where Justice Edward Belobaba of Ontario Superior Court of Justice overturned Bill 5, Better Local Government Act that dramatically changed the composition of City Counsel mid-way through the 2018 municipal elections. See, <a href="http://canlii.ca/t/httrh" target="_blank">City of Toronto et al v. Ontario (Attorney General)</a>, 2018 ONSC 5151 stay granted <a href="http://canlii.ca/t/hv54t" target="_blank">Toronto (City) v. Ontario (Attorney General)</a>, 2018 ONCA 761.</span><span class="reference" face=""open sans" , "myriad web" , "verdana" , sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span>The appeal was heard on the merit by a five member panel of the Court of Appeal and the Court in a majority decision overturned the decision of the Superior Court and restored the status quo in favor of cutting City Council. See,<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/j2j5f" target="_blank">Toronto (City) v. Ontario (Attorney General)</a>, 2019 ONCA 732. Mr. Achampong did not participate in the appeal. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://canlii.ca/t/jhll5" target="_blank">Knox College, University of Toronto</a>, 2021 CanLII 75429, this matter involved an appeal to the PO-4176 - Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario in respect to the denial of email and other records held by the Toronto School of Theology and Knox College related to the appellant’s Doctor of Theology studies. In its decision the adjudicator concludes that records responsive to an individual’s request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act regarding his doctoral studies in Theology at Knox College and the Toronto School of Theology are not in the University of Toronto’s custody or under its control. As the requester has no right of access to the responsive records under section 10(1) of the Act, the adjudicator dismisses the appeal.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><h1 style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Guyana Criminal and Constitutional Law</span></h1><h2 style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">I have been heavily involved in a
sequence of legal matters in Guyana relating to the Police Service Commission
(PSC) and the Guyanese government’s attempt to influence promotions of senior
police officers and to attack the PSC. These matters have not yet been resolved. Namely:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin-left: 35.7pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>May 31, 2021 submissions of Paul Slowe, PSC Chairman and Commissioner
Clinton Conway in response to a May 19, 2021 Show Cause Notices served on
them from the Office of the Prime Minister, including a supporting affidavit of
Paul Slowe with extensive exhibits and a brief of documents.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin-left: 35.7pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Joint submissions
of all PSC members in response to a second round of Show Cause Notices dated
June 1, 2021, including another affidavit of Paul Slowe and another brief of
documents. Submissions were filed June 8, 2021. <o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="margin-left: 35.7pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;">Arrest, detention and s</span></span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">eizure of electronic
devices of A. H., a Police Sergeant, on the false allegation that he leaked the Report to the Police Service Commission into sexual harassment allegations against </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Senior Superintendent Karimbaksh </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -17.85pt;">prepared by Assistant Commissioner of Police Simon McBean to Sherod Avery Duncan </span></div>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin-left: 35.7pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->After the purported suspension of the members of
the PSC by the President on June 16, 2021, letter to the President regarding the purported suspensions ( June 28, 2021).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin-left: 35.7pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Fixed Date
Application and accompanying documents on behalf of the Commission seeking
judicial intervention in the promotion of senior ranks. This matter is engaging the attention of the Supreme Court of the Judicature (Gino Persaud J.) <o:p></o:p><span style="text-indent: -17.85pt;"><b>The Police Service Commission v. Secretary, Police Commission (1004/2021-FDA)</b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin-left: 35.7pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -23.8px;">·</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -23.8px;"> </span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif; text-align: left;">Appeared in person at the Magistrate's Court in Georgetown, Guyana, on October 15, 2021, before Principal</span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -23.8px;"> Magistrate, Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus for arraignment and bail hearing for former </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Paul Slowe on charges of </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"> sexual assault x 3 and conspiracy to defraud the Guyana Police Force (GPF)</span></span><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -17.85pt;">. Successfully secured bail. There is also a video of the </span><a href="https://youtu.be/tBvsYHhlyyY" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -17.85pt;" target="_blank">conduct </a><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -17.85pt;">of the SOCU police officers that day as they attempted to detain, arrest and pass Mr. Slowe down the "chute." See also, </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><a href="https://guyanachronicle.com/2021/05/22/slowe-to-vigorously-defend-fraud-sexual-assault-charges/" target="_blank">Slowe to ‘vigorously defend’ fraud, sexual assault charges,</a> Guyana Chronicle, May 22, 2021; </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/10/16/news/guyana/slowe-granted-bail-on-conspiracy-to-defraud-sexual-assault-charges/" target="_blank">Slowe granted bail on conspiracy to defraud, sexual assault charges</a>, Stabroek News, October 16, 2021.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin-left: 35.7pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left; text-indent: -17.85pt;">I was also retained in the case where</span><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left; text-indent: -17.85pt;"> Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels was reassigned to the Ministry of Home Affairs as the Assistant Coordinator of People Smuggling. </span><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left; text-indent: -17.85pt;">See, </span><a href="https://villagevoicenews.com/2021/04/24/samuels-removed-as-prisons-director/" style="font-family: times; text-align: left; text-indent: -17.85pt;" target="_blank">Samuels Removed as Prison Director,</a><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left; text-indent: -17.85pt;"> Village Voice, April 24, 2021. In this case no ligitation was initiated.</span></p></span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Civil Litigation</span></span></b></h1></span></span></b></h1><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://canlii.ca/t/jlg97" target="_blank">Lee and Willson v Agnelo, Agnelo and Thompson</a> (SCJ File no. CV-21-00658765-0000): This is an ongoing file involving a dispute between neighbours over driveway access as well as alleged racial profiling and discrimination of our clients by the plaintiffs. The Plaintiffs recently filed for an Interim Injunction against my clients. The application for an Interim Injunction was dismissed. The Plaintiff did not meet the test of a strong prima facie case nor did they meet the traditional test for injunction. In her reasons for judgment The Honourable Madam Justice P. Tamara Sugunasiri wrote:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">[26] .....I am using this opportunity to add to the growing body of caselaw that anti-Black racism need not be overt nor intended, in order to harm.</span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">[27] Anti-Black racism is a reality in our society arising from centuries of stereotyping, negative messaging and negative imaging. As the Ontario Court of Appeal has recognized: “For some people, anti-black biases rest on unstated and unchallenged assumptions learned over a lifetime. Those assumptions shape the daily behaviour of individuals, often without any conscious reference to them." While much of the jurisprudence on anti-Black racism arises in the criminal context, it is impossible to imagine that civil disputes are completely immune from such influences. Often it can only be inferred from circumstantial evidence, which has its own pitfalls. The challenge for another day will be to determine if, and to what extent, unconscious anti-Black racism impacts on the equities of this case.</span></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span><div class="MsoNormal"><span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Yeates et al. v. Karol et al.</i>; CV-15-540974, This was a claim involving Nuisance, Breach of Contract, Personal Injury, Negligence, and Property Damage arising out of a a construction dispute between neighbours.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Criminal Law</b></span></h1></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><a href="http://selwynpieters.com/Roberts2021ONSC8401.pdf" target="_blank">R. v. Vaughan Oscar Roberts</a> </i>- Mr. Roberts is charged with second degree murder of Jason Wagar, attempted murder of Michael Muchmore, possession of a restricted weapon, possession of a loaded restricted firearm without an authorization or licence, without lawful excuse point a firearm at another person, use of a firearm in the commission of an indictable offence, and discharge of a firearm with intent to endanger the life of Michael Muchmore. These charges arise from an incident that occurred on August 12, 2021, at 15 Fergus Street, in the City of Kingston. A bail hearing was held in this matter and a publication ban requested by the Crown Attorney was resisted by Mr. Roberts: <a href="https://canlii.ca/t/jl6vs" target="_blank">R. v. Roberts</a>, 2021 ONSC 8116 (SCJ). Mr. Roberts was released on bail the Judge having found that "Considering the totality of the evidence presented, including the racial context, the qualities of the sureties, the terms of the proposed plan of supervision, the lack of a criminal record, and the most recent outbreak at the Quinte Detention Centre, I am of the opinion that detention is not necessary in order to maintain confidence in the administration of justice." <a href="https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2021/2021onsc8401/2021onsc8401.html" target="_blank">R. v. Roberts</a>, 2021 ONSC 8401. See also, Attempted murder added to charges in Kingston shooting globalnews.ca, August 13, 2021; <a href="https://www.thewhig.com/news/local-news/murder-suspect-seeks-bail-declines-publication-ban" target="_blank">Murder suspect seeks bail, declines publication ban</a> The Whig.com October 26, 2021; <a href="https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/10541816-judge-grants-bail-to-black-ajax-man-facing-murder-charge-citing-very-strong-self-defence-argument-in-death-of-white-kingston-man/?fbclid=IwAR1QDP_5ohKJtQg9qJ-B_DPu0cSeI2aSeE1AwuIRofniGqLeTzGviTmRHec">Judge grants bail to Black Ajax man facing murder charge, citing 'very strong' self-defence argument in death of white Kingston man</a>,</span><span style="font-family: times;"> Toronto Star, December 17, 2021 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><a href="http://selwynpieters.com/Madison_sentencing.pdf" target="_blank"><i>R. v. Madison </i>2021 CarswellOnt 5084</a>, 171 W.C.B. (2d) 337 </span>Sentencing of Connor Madison: A sentencing hearing was held on March 30, 2021 for Mr. Connor Madison on multiple charges including aggravated assault and uttering threats. Mr. Madison is a 23-year old man of Metis heritage who stabbed another resident of a shelter and later threatened his mother and as well a Toronto Community Housing security officer, while out on bail. Mr. Madison was sentenced to 24 months for aggravated assault, two months consecutive, for threatening security officer and one month consecutive for threatening his mother, less 488 days' credit for time served.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><i>Preliminary inquiry of Connor Madison:</i> </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;">Mr.
Connor Madison was charged with second-degree murder in June, 2020 </span>in connection with stabbing death of Stephon Anton Knights-Roberts<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"> . His
preliminary inquiry was held from May 17 – 19, 2021 with a decision given
orally on May 27, 2021 committing him to trial. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 35.7pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><i>R. v. Clarke </i> Mr. Clarke was charged with aggravated assault for which he entered a plea to the lesser included offence of assault causing bodily harm. There was a joint position for <b>18 month conditional sentence</b> having regarding to mitigating factors in favor of the accused. The complainant, who orchestrated the confrontation with Mr. Clarke, sustained multiple stab wounds. One in the upper middle back area that was plugged at the scene by EMS and resulted in a collapsed lung. The stab wound to the left ear severed some nerves and plastic surgery was necessary to repair the damage. The treating physician indicated that there were lacerations to left parotid gland, which is located just under and in front of the left ear. Also, a laceration to the left temporal artery, located just in front of the left ear. The final stab wound was to the left anterior lower neck area 3-4 inches in length and which caused a hematoma. He was taken to surgery to rule out any injury to his trachea and esophagus. The complainant was first treated with a surgically placed chest-tube to his right chest. He also received a number of sutures to close the wounds to his ear, neck and back. The complainant spent a week in hospital prior to being discharged. He continues to have some lasting effects, including some nerve damage to his face due to the nerve damage caused by the severing of the nerves near his ear, as well as strained breathing due to the injury to his lung. Mr. Clarke as a result of my work served no jail time for this offence.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><i>R. v. Harry</i>, the complainant alleged that the accused assaulted her in the presence of her children, two of whom she alleged were ear witnesses and one of whom was present in the room. As a result of plea negotiations Justice Broderick granted the accused a conditional discharge. This means that he will not receive a criminal conviction and will not have a criminal record from this incident, but there will be a temporary record kept of the discharge. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><i>R. v. J.A. </i>mischief - this was a domestic matter in which the complalnant alleged that the accused broke her computer monitor. The charges were withdrawn.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://canlii.ca/t/j9sgq" target="_blank">R. v. Theriault</a>, 2020 ONSC 5784 - </span><span style="font-family: times;">Provided legal advice and assisted in the revision and editing of a Community Impact Statement for the sentencing of a White Police Officer who was involved in the assault and lost of an eye of Dafonte Miller, a Black teenager.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Domestic Violence - </i>cases involving domestic violence and interpersonal assaults / violence amongst spouses and friends with benefits increased astronomically during COVID and the resulting lock-down. We provided representation in criminal matters and regulatory matters arising out of such difficult matters that spawn charges that could include murder, aggravated assault, assault bodily harm, 267(C) assault/choking, CC 267 assault with a weapon, CC 266 assault, CC 279(2) forcible confinement, CC 267(A) assault with a weapon.</div></span><div><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Police Law (hybrid Human Rights)</span></b></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">We provided legal representation to clients in several cases involving police misconduct before the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) some of which resulted in findings of misconduct and disciplinary action.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">On April 15, 2020, the Court of Appeal released <a href="https://canlii.ca/t/j6f8f" target="_blank">Stanley v Office of the Independent Police Review Director</a>, 2020 ONCA 252 upholding in part<a href="https://canlii.ca/t/hwvx8" target="_blank"> Stanley v. Chief of Police of the Toronto Police Service</a>, 2019 ONSC 180. In this case Office of the Independent Police Review Director substantiated misconduct against Constable Christopher Howes with respect to his conduct during a search warrant entry in the Stanley family home. In this decision, the Court of appeal determined in para. 64-68 and 75-78, the following:</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">(a) The <a class="canlii legislationLink" href="https://www.canlii.org/en/on/laws/stat/rso-1990-c-p15/latest/rso-1990-c-p15.html" style="background-color: #f2f3f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #027abb; text-decoration-line: none;">Police Services Act</a><span style="background-color: #f2f3f4; color: #212529;">, RSO 1990, c P.15</span> trumps both common law and the SPPA,</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">(b) The OIPRD has the authority to make rules to govern its own practices and procedures,</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">(c) The OIPRD lacked explicit statutory power of reconsideration when the decision in question was made, but</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">(d) accepted that this newly acquired legal authority might be applied retrospectively to the Stanley family’s case if re-investigation is to be ordered.</span></div></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Leave to appeal this decision was subsequently dismissed by the Supreme Court of Canada on January 28, 2021: <a href="https://canlii.ca/t/jctt4" target="_blank">Office of the Independent Police Review Director v. Faye Stanley, et al</a>., 2021 CanLII 4697. <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/oiprd-supreme-court-stanley-family-1.5891613" target="_blank">Supreme Court won't hear police oversight case on Black family's allegations of brutality</a>, Canadian Press, January 28, 2021.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><div><br /></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><div class="MsoNormal">A significant proportion of those residing in homeless encampments in the City of Toronto belong to historically marginalized groups who are overrepresented among Toronto’s homeless population. They include people with disabilities, Black and Indigenous people of colour, people in receipt of social assistance and members of the LGBTQ community protected under the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990 c. H.9 and s. 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. See, <a href="https://canlii.ca/t/jb937" target="_blank">Black et al. v. City of Toronto</a>, 2020 ONSC 6398 and <a href="https://canlii.ca/t/jb46b" target="_blank">Sanctuary et al v. Toronto (City) et al</a>., 2020 ONSC 6207 </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In June and July 2021, the City has escalated its efforts to force homeless encampment residents to vacate public parks and to remove their belongings. It has issued Notices of Advice under Municipal Code c. 608 which regulates City parks and prohibits, inter alia, the erection of tents in parks (the “Parks By-law”). The City has issued Trespass Notices requiring the removal of tents and belongings and prohibiting people from being in parks overnight. It has conducted massive operations removing the occupants of the encampments.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">While the City’s enforcement of the Trespass Notice(s) is facially neutral, it is the above disadvantaged persons who are being forcibly removed by Police and City officials and further displaced.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The videos of the tactics of the Toronto Police in the past two encampment clearance at Lamport Stadium and Alexandra Park was disturbing for its wanton violence. OIPRD can do a systemic type of review similar to what was done on the Thunder Bay Police Service and make systemic recommendations. Our law firm has filed OIPRD complaints on behalf of two persons who alleged they were mistreated by Toronto Police officers.</div></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">I also provided Independent Legal Advice to police officers who experienced various forms of racism in the Toronto Police Service.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Of course, being a human rights advocate / lawyer comes with risks of harassment and retaliation from officers of the State: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-police-report-selwyn-race-desmond-cole-1.6234520" target="_blank">6 Toronto cops were found guilty of disparaging anti-racism advocates. The report was kept secret</a>, CBC Toronto, November 04, 2021; <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/8351742/toronto-police-officers-guilty-discreditable-conduct/" target="_blank">6 Toronto police officers found guilty of discreditable conduct online</a>, Global News, November 04, 2021.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="Indent1" style="margin: 0cm 0.3pt 0cm 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Human Rights Law<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><i>Selwyn </i>prticipated in the <a href="https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/ohrc-at-60" target="_blank">60th Anniversary </a>of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) by recounting his experience in the seminal and significant racial profiling/carding case of <a href="https://canlii.ca/t/fz590" target="_blank">Peel Law Association v. Pieters</a> 2013 CarswellOnt 7881, 2013 ONCA 396, 228 A.C.W.S. (3d) 204, 116 O.R. (3d) 81, 306 O.A.C. 314, 9 C.C.E.L. (4th) 233, [2013] O.J. No. 2695(Ont. C.A.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><i>2</i></span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>017-28096-I Walkes v. Reids Heritage Homes</i>, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario heard submissions on whether an expert affidavit from J David Hulchanski, PhD will be accepted into evidence and the expert qualified to provide evidence in this housing discrimination case. Dr. Hulchanski posited that “Given that the Black population of the region Fergus is part of is 526,000 (5.8% of the GGH, Table 1) researchers are correct to wonder what are the odds of an exceptionally small Black population of Fergus occurring and maintaining itself ‘naturally,’ and for so long (as of 2016), given the extensive ethnocultural diversity of the Toronto region, and much of Ontario and Canada? How is it that Fergus with 20,400 people, 8,150 households, in a county that has 3,300 Black residents, has a Black population of 100? These facts, given that they are from 2016, would alert most researchers to consider residential discrimination, in the form of racial steering and racial exclusion, as part of the explanation.” The Tribunal's decision is reported at <a href="https://canlii.ca/t/jf77t" target="_blank">Walkes v. Reid’s Heritage Homes</a>, 2021 HRTO 251. In this case we were also successful in a third party records application which compelled TD Canada to produce banking records to the Tribunal and the parties. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Holder: (File. No. 2020-43232-I) is a </i></span><span style="font-family: times;">Human Rights application </span><span style="font-family: times;">regarding racial and age discrimination and failure to accommodate disability-related needs. Employer is the Ministry of the Attorney General representing her employer the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. A significant issue has been the impact of a purported settlement of the Human Rights claim by the union. A preliminary hearing to determine the point was heard and a decision is pending. See also, </span><a href="https://canlii.ca/t/jc20r" style="font-family: times;" target="_blank">Ontario Public Service Employees Union (Holder-Regis) v Ontario (Attorney General)</a><span style="font-family: times;">, 2020 CanLII 97346 (ON GSB).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">Other cases worked on in 2021 include</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><i>N.M. as represented by litigation guardian
L.B. v Toronto Police Service Board </i>(File No. 2020-42533-I): </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;">Police
racial profiling and racialized use of force against a minor. A video of the 14 year old being hog tied by Toronto Police is on <a href="https://youtu.be/QoD5Wf51yIk" target="_blank">youtube</a>. See also, </span><a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/5796876/toronto-police-arrest-video/" target="_blank">Mother of teen says 'violent' Toronto police arrest has 'traumatized' her son</a>, Global News, August 21, 2019.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><i>Lamontagne v Metrolinx</i> (File
No. 2020-43455-I) and <i>Lamontagne v Metrolinx</i> (File No.
2020-43456-I):</span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"> </b><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;">Racial profiling and racialized use of force by GO Transit
special constables. The applicants alleged that they were singled out and treated differently because of their race and ethnicity: Black, African-Canadian, Males.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><i>Orlyn
Collins v Movati Athletics</i> (File No. 2020-40427-I): </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;">Racial profiling at
a gym. See, for example, </span><a href="https://canlii.ca/t/jbf0k" target="_blank">Collins v. Movati Athletic (Group) Inc</a>., 2020 HRTO 849, for a synopsis of what this matter was about.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><i>Chen v Toronto Police Service
Board</i> (File No. 2019-39271-I):</span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"> </b><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;">Racial profiling and racialized use of
force by police. Mr. Chen alleged that he was held and restrained by two police officers whilst a third officer assaulted him causing him physical injuries. This matter is still awaiting a hearing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><i>Burke v Toronto Police
Service Board, Chief of Police of the Toronto Police Service, Constable
Blacklaws</i> (File No. 2020-40412-I):</span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"> </b><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;">Racial profiling and racialized use
of force by police. Mr. Burke was detained and left in handcuffs. Toronto Fire had to attend and cut the handcuffs off.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>In the international law arena, I was </span><span>engaged as a local expert for the World Bank Group’s Women, Business and the Law project in their Violence against Women survey for Guyana.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Employment/Labour Law<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Selwyn represented several non-unionized employees in managerial positions in termination of employment matters where the dismissal was for cause and some without cause and without notice. The matter to be resolved and has been resolved in all of the cases litigated in 2021 was the length of the <u>notice period</u>, human rights damages, and other benefits, the employer was obligated to pay the employee in lieu of the notice, and having regard to other factors including bad faith termination.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Selwyn also provided advice to non-unionized employees on COVID19 vaccine mandates in their workplaces: See, for example, </span><span style="font-family: times;">Selwyn A Pieters and Thoby King, </span><a href="https://canlii.ca/t/tc0w" style="font-family: times;" target="_blank">Workplace COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: Can Non-Unionized Employees in Ontario be Fired for Non-Compliance?</a><span style="font-family: times;">, CanLII Authors Program,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Licencing / Professional Regulation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i>13315/HRLA Jon P Galvano v. Registrar under the Alcohol, Cannabis and Gaming Regulation and Public Protection Act, 1996</i> - this matter involved an application to revoke a horse racing licence. A determination of the matter was not made as the applicant died before the appeal could be heard.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><i>2595582
Ontario Inc. C.O.B. Yas Café and Lounge v York Region Public Health Unit</i> (Health
Services Appeal and Review Board, File No. 21-HPP-0012):</span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;"> </b><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;">this matter involved a </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;">c</span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;">hallenge to the Medical Office of Health’s order to close hookah lounges in York Region due to
COVID-19. At a Case conference, the impugned order was put in abeyance due to the
Province-wide lockdown that had come into effect in the interim. The matter was
subsequently resolved upon the stage 3 reopening of businesses including hookah
lounges. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><h1><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></b></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Banking Law</span></span></b></h1><span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;">TD Canada terminated my client's banking relationship including that of other family members without explanation on on the basis that it was "within our right to end our relationship with any customer, without giving detailed reasons, provided we have given reasonable notice of doing so." We were able to negotiate an extension of time for the client's use of her banking facilities including credit card.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;">BMO terminated and determined the mortgage of a client on the basis that its business activities are outside of the bank's "risk appetite. It provided one months notice of the termination. On the bais of our negotiation the Bank increased the notice period for withdrawal of its services from one month to about six months. Although it has shortened the time for the client to repay the term loan, the duration was still in accordance with what the courts have found reasonable.</span></div></span><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Inquests</span></b></span></h1></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: times;">Since January 2021 Selwyn has been appointed as one of ten Ontario lawyer Presiding Inquest Officers under the <i>Coroners Act</i>, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.37. The appointment comes as a result of a legislative change to the Coroners Act that allows a lawyer to preside at a Coroners Inquest. Until 2021, all presiding officers at Inquests were medically trained. The role is part-time and will complement Selwyn's litigation practice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Provincial Offences Act matters<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Sale or distribution by non-authorized cannabis retailer or permitted by landlord (ss.6, 7, 13 and 23 of the CCA). For charges of sale of cannabis under s. 6 of the CCA. I represented budtenders of unlicenced cannabis dispensaries who faced charges under s. 6 of the CCA. The City of Toronto prosecution and defence resolved these matters on the basis of a fine of $1000.00 and one-year probation, for the budtenders.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">Selwyn also represented clients in respect to charges under the Planning Act; Building Code; and Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-weight: 700;">Animal Law matters</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">Selwyn has represented the owner of a company </span><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">licensed to provide services including canine security and training and sale of trained dogs for security and other service purposes in litigation matters.</span></div></div></div>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-2467832715007866092021-11-28T13:41:00.002-05:002022-06-02T16:15:16.056-04:00Litigating Racial Bias 23112021<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/hSLGJX3iYTg" frameborder="0"></iframe>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-60922569312273761592021-08-30T17:24:00.004-04:002021-08-30T17:24:33.979-04:00Text of Police Service Commission Legal Arguments on Attorney General of Guyana Application to Strike Out the President as Respondent – Hearing before Justice Gino Persaud<p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Oral Argument <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delivered by Selwyn A. Pieters, B.A.,
LL.B., L.E.C.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Attorney-at-Law<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RE:</b> Guyana 2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-1004 – Attorney General’s
Application to Strike Out the President as Respondent – Hearing before Justice
Gino Persaud, August 30, 2021<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><u>Introduction<o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Good afternoon, Your Honour.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It is the position of the Police Service
Commission that His Excellency the President of the Cooperative Republic of
Guyana is indeed a proper and appropriate party in these proceedings, being
named in his official capacity in that office. <u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->For the reasons set out in our Reply submission
filed July 29, 2021, and these oral arguments which are being delivered today,
we humbly ask the Court to dismiss the Attorney General’s application and
proceed to consider the merits of the Fixed Date Application against all of the
named Respondents, including His Excellency the President.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 21.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><u>1. Why We Named His Excellency as a
Respondent <o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I would like to begin by simply explaining why
we chose to name His Excellency the President as a party to these proceedings.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In the Fixed Date Application, we seek a number
of orders to remedy what we submit is the unlawful suspension of the members of
the Commission by His Excellency on June 15/16, 2021, as well as the actions of
the Secretary to the Commission and the Commissioner of Police following the
said unconstitutional and unlawful suspensions.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The first of these orders sought, listed as
letter (a) on the first page of the Fixed Date Application, directly concerns
the actions of His Excellency on June 15/16, 2021 in sending the letters that
contained the purported suspensions. <u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level3 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->As we assert, His Excellency`s letters did not
abide by the requirements of Articles 225(6) and 210(3) of the Constitution,
and were therefore <i>ultra vires </i>and of no force or effect, and we have
asked for a declaration to this effect. <u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->This declaration sought is the reason that we
decided to name His Excellency as a respondent.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It was, after all, His Excellency and His
Excellency alone who ordered the said suspensions, under a power vested in him
through Article 210(3) of the Constitution. <u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We submit, of course, that His Excellency did so
in a manner that contravened the Constitution.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->But in any event, there is no question that this
was an action of the President in his official capacity, as indeed the Attorney
General’s submissions themselves appear to acknowledge at paragraph 11.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->So, in short, because the Fixed Date Application
specifically impugns an official action by His Excellency the President, and
because we seek a declaration that directly concerns the said Action, we respectfully
submit it is appropriate to name His Excellency the President as a Respondent,
alongside the four other named Respondents.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Your Honour, we also acknowledge that the naming
of His Excellency as a party in these proceedings is somewhat unusual. <u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->However, we submit that this fact simply
reflects the unusual and unprecedented nature of this case and of the actions
which we allege His Excellency and His Excellency’s government have taken
against the Commission: unconstitutional, undemocratic and violation of the
independence and automy of this Constitutional Service Commission<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Simply because there is no exact precedent for
this case does not mean that naming His Excellency is impermissible at law. <u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><u>2. His Excellency is Named in His
Official, Not Personal, Capacity<o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Your Honour, as we have indicated in our written
submissions, the crucial legal point is that the Fixed Date Application names
His Excellency in his official capacity, not his personal capacity.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The named party is “His Excellency the President
of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” not “Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.”<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->This is an absolutely crucial distinction to
make because Article 182(1) of the Constitution, relied on by the Attorney
General, prohibits only those proceedings “against him or her [the President] <i>in
his or her personal capacity</i>.”<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->This would appear not to include his official
and public capacity.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The drafters of the Constitution chose to
include the words “in his or her personal capacity”, and respectfully, we submit
that they did so because those words mean something.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In other words, we submit that it would be an
error to assume that, really, the drafters meant to say, “no proceedings should
be instituted against him or her FULL STOP.”<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->To illustrate this distinction in our written
submissions, we have given the example of an applicant in a British Commonwealth
country naming Her Majesty the Queen as a respondent to impugn official
government conduct.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I appreciate that there is some difference
between the Queen as a symbolic head of state who does not herself engage in
any acts of government, and naming a President who does participate in
government.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Nonetheless, we submit that, at the procedural
level of naming the party, what we have done is analogous to naming Her Majesty
the Queen in Right of Canada or Ontario or another government entity. Nothing
in law prohibits the naming of a HEAD OF STATE in his or her Capacity under the
Constitution of Guyana.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 21.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><u>3. The Role of the Attorney General
Does Not Preclude Naming His Excellency <o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The next point I would like to make is that,
while the Attorney General is the legal representatives of the Government of
Guyana, and is a necessary and appropriate party to these proceedings,<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->the said role of the Attorney General does NOT
preclude the naming of His Excellency the President.<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The Attorney General’s role in these proceedings
is set out in:<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Article 112 of the Constitution (which names him
as the “principal legal advisor to the Government of Guyana”);<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Section 10 of the <i>State Liability and
Proceedings Act</i> (which establishes that any claim against the state must be
brought against the Attorney General); and<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Rule 56.01(3) of the <i>Civil Procedure Rules of
2016</i> (which requires service on the Attorney General where a Constitutional
claim is made).<u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A review of these proceedings reveals that <u>none
of the law cited</u> prohibits or precludes the naming of His Excellency as a
party in his official capacity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->To claim that it does goes against the plain
meaning of these provisions. <u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><u>4. Other Grounds From Our Written
Submissions <o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Your Honour, I propose to address the remaining grounds
set out in our written submissions only briefly before I move on to make some
remarks about My Friend’s submissions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->First, we have submitted that, even if it is
true that the <i>State Liability and Proceedings Act</i> can be interpreted in
the broad way that the Attorney General has done, that statute cannot preclude
any application grounded in the Constitution rather than in any statute or the
common law, such as our Fixed Date Application. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->This is a simple consequence of the fact that
the Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana, and so cannot be constrained or
undermined by a mere statute. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Therefore, it is submitted that His Excellency
can be named notwithstanding the <i>State Liability and Proceedings Act</i>, <u>whatever
its application in other non-Constitutional cases</u>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Second, it cannot be emphasized too strongly
that <u>His</u> Excellency the President is bound by the laws and Constitution
of Guyana and is not above those laws or that Constitution. <u>He is a servant
of the Constitution and Subordinate to it. See, for example, articles 93 and
180.</u><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->No person is above the Constitution or the law,
and this includes His Excellency, notwithstanding his status as Head of State. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->His Excellency’s subjection to the Constitution
is not something that exists only in theory. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Rather, individuals and organizations must be
able to hold His Excellency accountable in a court, and the ability to name His
Excellency as a party to proceedings, such as this one, is an important part of
that system of accountability. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><u>5. Responses to the Attorney General’s
Submissions <o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Your Honour, I will now briefly address the
submissions of My Friend the Attorney General in support of his application to
strike His Excellency as a respondent. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My Friend begins by providing the history of
presidential and Crown immunity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In response to this, I will simply indicate that
we are not in medieval England and we are not in colonial British Guiana. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We are in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in
2021 and the applicable laws are those that we have on the books today.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Old doctrines such as the idea that “the king
can do no wrong,” cited in My Friend’s submissions, have surely been rejected
altogether by the people of Guyana who have determined, through our history and
the drafting of our Constitution, that no person is above the law. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My Friend also refers to a number of cases from
other jurisdictions such as Sri Lanka and India to support his interpretation
of our Constitution. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->To this, I will point out that these cases come
from different countries with different constitutional orders, history,
different traditions, foreign to our own,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and should not be followed as if they addressed the Constitution of
Guyana. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->For instance, the Indian Constitution at Article
361(1), referred to in the case of <i>Rameshwar Prasad and Other v Union of
India and Another</i><a href="file:///C:/Users/Selwyn/Downloads/Pieters%20PSC%20Oral%20Submissions%20Naming%20the%20President.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><i>
</i>and quoted at paragraph 18 of my friend’s submissions, states that the
President:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 144.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">“shall not be answerable to any court for the exercise and
performance of the powers and duties of his office or for any act done or
purporting to be done by him in the exercise and performance of those powers
and duties.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->No such provision or language exists in the
Constitution of Guyana. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->As far as the rationale for presidential
immunity is concerned, addressed at paragraphs 32 – 39 of My Friend’s
submissions, I will simply submit that there is no risk whatsoever that these
proceedings will hinder His Excellency in fulfilling the lawful functions of
his office, or constitute an undue distraction from that office simply because
His Excellency is a named party. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u>The Attorney General in para 38 of his
written submissions submits that “Article 182 (1) of the Guyana Constitution,
like similarly worded provisions of the Commonwealth Constitutions, shares the
essence and underlying spirit of these provisions, that is, to allow His
Excellency, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to perform the
high functions of his office as Head of State, Head of Government and the
Supreme Executive Authority and not to be distracted by being named in legal
proceedings, either officially or personally.” <b>Distraction is not a
sufficient basis to support a claim that the President cannot be named as a
party to this proceeding.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We note
that the President who has unconstitutionally interfered in the independent
process of the PSC, unconstitutionally suspended the PSC, has not explained how
being named in this judicial process initiated as a result of his own
unconstitutional conduct would significantly distract him from his ability to
carry out the duties of the President. particularly, where, as here, he is
represented by the MAGLA.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Selwyn/Downloads/Pieters%20PSC%20Oral%20Submissions%20Naming%20the%20President.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></u></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
</u>His Excellency has the very able representation of My Friend the Attorney
General and these proceedings will not take up any more of His Excellency’s
time if he is named than if he is not. <u>Distraction does not implicate the
Constitution. </u>See, Trump v. Vance 591 U.S. ____ (2020)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->With respect to the Guyanese cases relied on by
My Friend, my submissions are as follows:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->First, in the case of <i>Baird v Public Service
Commission and the Attorney General</i>, it is clearly articulated in the very
text quoted in My Friend’s submissions that the immunities under Article 182 of
the Constitution “attach <i>personally</i> to the President”, making him “<i>personally
</i>immune from the curial processes.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->There is no question that His Excellency enjoys
immunity to civil actions <i>in his personal capacity</i>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The question is whether this also implies a
further immunity in his <i>official, public capacity</i>. We submit that it
does not. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My Friend also places reliance on a short piece
of <i>obiter dicta </i>from the 1991 Guyana case of <i>Kent Garment Factory v
The Attorney General and the Minister of Trade and Tourism</i>.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Selwyn/Downloads/Pieters%20PSC%20Oral%20Submissions%20Naming%20the%20President.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->As we have outlined at paragraphs 26 – 30 of our
Reply, that case concerned an entirely different fact situation involving, not
the President, but the Minister of Trade and Tourism, and considered a
challenge, not to any official conduct of that Minister, but to the refusal of
an import license by an official in his ministry. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We submit therefore that <i>Kent Garment Factory</i>
can be easily distinguished from the present case. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I reiterate, in any event, that it addressed the
question of naming the said Minister only in passing and entirely by way of <i>obiter
dicta</i>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We therefore submit that <i>Kent Garment Factory
</i>has no application to the present case. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Third and finally, My Friend relies on the 2019
case of <i>DIPCON Engineering Services Limited v The Attorney General of Guyana
and the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana</i>.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Selwyn/Downloads/Pieters%20PSC%20Oral%20Submissions%20Naming%20the%20President.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In that case, as in this one, the Applicant
named “the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana” as a Respondent
and, as My Friend has pointed out, the Court concluded that it could not do so.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Your Honour, our submission with respect to the <i>DIPCON
</i>case is simply that it was not well-founded in law, and in particular that
the Court in that case made the error of following several foreign judgements
without acknowledging the differences between our Constitution and the
Constitutions under which these foreign cases emerged. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Specifically, the Court relied almost entirely on
cases from Uganda, Sri Lanka, India, and Botswana, with some further reference
to the American jurisprudence. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->However, the constitutions considered in each
and every case clearly established that the president in question could not be
named in his personal <i>or official </i>capacity, unlike the Constitution of
Guyana. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->For instance, Article 98(4) of the Constitution
of Uganda, quoted at paragraph 25 of <i>DIPCON</i>, says simply, “While holding
office, the President shall not be liable to proceedings in any court.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Similarly, the Sri Lankan Constitution, quoted
at paragraph 30 of <i>DIPCON</i>, expressly provides immunity “in respect of
anything done or omitted to be done by him either in his official or private
capacity.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->As for the Indian Constitution, I have already
explained that it, too, expressly provides immunity for the official conduct of
the President, which Guyana’s Constitution does not. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Interestingly, the Court in <i>DIPCON</i>
acknowledged that, for Botswana, Article 41 of that country’s Constitution
allowed the President to be sued in his official capacity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Your Honour, we acknowledge that the <i>DIPCON </i>case
is perhaps alone in directly addressing the question of whether or not the
President can be named as a respondent in this Court. <u>But we say this
decision is an outlier and should be followed by you.</u><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->So to reiterate, <u>the lack of specific mention
of official capacity means that this is possible and our authority is the
Constitutional provision that prohibits suing in the private name or capacity
of His Excellency. To be clear, what the constitution does not prohibit cannot
be said to be prohibited by common law or case law from other jurisdictions</u>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We submit that that the <i>DIPCON</i> case was
not correctly decided and that this honourable Court should decline to follow <i>DIPCON
</i>to the extent that it indicates a president cannot be named in his official
capacity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><u>Conclusion<o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In closing, Your Honour, the Police Service
Commission maintains that His Excellency the President has been properly named
as a respondent in his official, public capacity as President, given that the
Fixed Date Application directly challenges an official action by the President in
that office. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo7; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Nothing in Guyana’s Constitution, or in the <i>State
Liability and Proceedings Act</i>, or in any other statute or regulation in
Guyana, and nothing in the history of presidential immunity or the
jurisprudence of any other country, precludes the Police Service Commission’s
naming of His Excellency the President in his official capacity in this Fixed
Date Application. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo7; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The Police Service Commission submits that the
Attorney General’s interpretation of the law runs <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level3 lfo7; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->contrary to the plain meaning of the
Constitution and the statutes relied on, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level3 lfo7; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->contrary to the spirit and purpose of
presidential powers, privileges and immunity, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level3 lfo7; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->and contrary to the supremacy of the
Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 72.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo7; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We therefore humbly ask the court to dismiss the
Attorney General’s application to strike His Excellency as a party. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Thank you, Your Honour. Subject to any questions
from the Court, those are our submissions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpFirst"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Selwyn/Downloads/Pieters%20PSC%20Oral%20Submissions%20Naming%20the%20President.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
[2006] INSC 35 (24 January 2006).<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpMiddle"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Selwyn/Downloads/Pieters%20PSC%20Oral%20Submissions%20Naming%20the%20President.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
In any event, as alluded to in our submissions on the show cause hearing,
Article 93 of the Constitution provides as well that he can be impeached! If
there is any distraction, that distraction is from his own unconstitutional
action that may well trigger impeachment. But that is not an issue for the
Court, it is for the legislature.<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpMiddle"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Selwyn/Downloads/Pieters%20PSC%20Oral%20Submissions%20Naming%20the%20President.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
(1991) 46 WIR 177.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpLast"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Selwyn/Downloads/Pieters%20PSC%20Oral%20Submissions%20Naming%20the%20President.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
2019-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-1148. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div><br /><p></p>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-75847528478285636832021-07-29T18:58:00.004-04:002021-07-29T18:58:31.434-04:00PSC V SECRETARY OF THE PSC ET AL, APPLICANT’S REPLY TO THE NOTICE OF APPLICATION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO STRIKE OUT THE THIRD NAMED RESPONDENT<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 10.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MR. SELWYN A. PIETERS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 10.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MR. DEXTER TODD &<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 10.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MR. DEXTER SMARTT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 10.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 10.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">…..<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 10.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 98%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 71.0pt; text-align: right; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 98%;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk74653393"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">IN
THE HIGH COURT
OF THE SUPREME
COURT OF JUDICATURE OF
GUYANA<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">CONSTITUTIONAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2021-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-1004</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">BETWEEN:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.3pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><a name="_Hlk76639438"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION</span></b></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Applicant<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 21.3pt; mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">and
-<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 21.3pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 7.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: 7.0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.25pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">SECRETARY, POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 7.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: 7.0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.25pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 7.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: 7.0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.25pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 7.0cm; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: 7.0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.25pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 7.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: 7.0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.25pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
COOPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 7.0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -21.25pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 7.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: 7.0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.25pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">THE HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER OF THE
COOPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 7.0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -21.25pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 7.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: 7.0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.25pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE COOPERATIVE
REPUBLIC OF GUYANA </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Respondents<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></u></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></u></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">APPLICANT’S REPLY
TO THE NOTICE OF APPLICATION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO STRIKE OUT THE THIRD
NAMED RESPONDENT</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p><h1 style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-text-indent-alt: -36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">I.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Overview<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The Attorney General of the Cooperative Republic
of Guyana (hereinafter “the Attorney General”), fifth Respondent in the underlying
Fixed Date Application (hereinafter “the Fixed Date Application”) of the
Applicant Police Service Commission (hereinafter “the Commission”), filed an
application on July 27, 2021 under Rule 19.02(3) of the <i>Civil Procedure
Rules of 2016</i> for a declaration that the third named Respondent, namely His
Excellency the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (hereinafter
“His Excellency”) is not a proper party to these proceedings, and an order that
His Excellency be removed accordingly. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The grounds given for the Attorney General’s
Application are, <i>inter alia</i>, Articles 89, 112, and 182 of the
Constitution and section 10 of the State Liability and Proceedings Act. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->It is the Commission’s position that His
Excellency is indeed a proper party to these proceedings given the relief
sought in the Fixed Date Application and in particular the sought declaration
that the purported suspensions of the Chairman and members of the Commission,
ordered by His Excellency in his capacity as President pursuant to Article
225(6) of the Constitution, are of no force or effect. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->None of the statutory or Constitutional
provisions or legal principles referred to in the Attorney General’s
Application provide a proper basis for removing His Excellency as a Party. He is
a necessary or proper party in this application having regard to his actions in
respect to what is alleged here to be the unlawful and unconstitutional suspension
of the full Police Service Commission, a Constitutional Service Commission. The
Attorney General’s Application should therefore be dismissed. <o:p></o:p></p><h1 style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-text-indent-alt: -36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">II.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The Attorney General’s
Application <o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The crux of the Attorney General’s Application
is the claim, at page 5 of the Notice of Application, that “the law is clear
that no action, whether criminal or civil, shall be instituted against His
Excellency the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana whilst he holds
the office of President.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The constitutional grounds given for this
assertion are His Excellency’s status as Head of State under Article 89 of the
Constitution as well as the provision in Article 182(1) of the Constitution
that “no proceedings, whether criminal or civil, shall be instituted against
him or her <i>in his or her personal capacity</i> in respect thereof either
during his or her term of office or thereafter.” (Emphasis added.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The Attorney General’s Application further cites
the Attorney General’s role as principal legal advisor to the Government of
Guyana pursuant to Article 112 of the Constitution and the requirement under section
10 of the State Liability and Proceedings Act that “any claim by or against the
State shall be brought by or against the Attorney General…”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Finally, the Attorney General relies on a brief
excerpt of <i>obiter dicta </i>from the case of <i>Kent Garment Factory v. the
Attorney General and Others</i> (1991) 46 WIR 177<a href="file:///C:/Users/Selwyn/Downloads/Response%20to%20AG%20Application%20Pieters%20Edits.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
which endorsed the assertion that proceedings against the State are required to
be brought against the Attorney General, and that the Minister in question in
that case was not an appropriate party. <o:p></o:p></p><h1 style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-text-indent-alt: -36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">III.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Law and Argument <o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The Commission submits that the legal basis
given for the Attorney General’s Application is incorrect and grounded in an
overbroad and faulty interpretation of the immunities granted to His Excellency
under the Laws of Guyana. No provision of the Constitution or any statute
establishes that the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana cannot be
named in his official capacity as a party to an application pursuant to the Constitution.
He is in not different position that Her Majesty the Queen (of the United
Kingdom) or the President of the United States of America, in so far as his
role under the Constitution is concerned.<o:p></o:p></p><h2><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">(a)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The Fixed Date Application
Names His Excellency in his Official, not Personal, Capacity<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->10.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->The
Fixed Date Application names His Excellency in his official capacity as
President, not in his personal capacity. The named party is “His Excellency the
President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana”, not “Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali”
personally or in his personal capacity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->11.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Thus,
naming His Excellency in his official capacity is not contrary to Article
182(1) of the Constitution, which prohibits proceedings “against him or her <i>in
his or her personal capacity</i>,” but not in his <i>official </i>capacity. Article
182 in its totality must be read in accordance with the distinction between the
President’s personal and official capacity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->12.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->It
bears noting at this point some comments from the Ontario Court of Appeal in <i>McAteer
v. Canada (Attorney General)</i>, 2014 ONCA 578 that is apposite here:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS" style="margin-left: 70.85pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->13.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->[51] However, as Canada developed as an
independent federalist state, the conception of the Queen (commonly referred to
as the Crown)[3] evolved. Unlike the unitary role of the Crown at the height of
the British Empire, its role in Canada is divided into three distinct roles.
First, the Queen of Canada plays a legislative role in assenting to refusing
assent to, or reserving bills of the provincial legislature or Parliament – a
role that is performed through the Governor General and the Lieutenant
Governors. Second, the Queen of Canada is the head of executive authority
pursuant to sections 9 and 12 of the Constitution Act, 1867. Third, the Queen
of Canada is the personification of the State, i.e., with respect to Crown
prerogatives and privileges: Laskin, at pp. 119-20. “The law and learning of
Crown privileges and immunities came to the colonies as received or imposed
English law, and through section 129 of the British North America Act [which
continues the laws in force in Canada, Nova Scotia or New Brunswick at the date
of Union] they were absorbed in the Canadian federation.” Laskin, at 120. Thus, English constitutional law, which had
gradually subjected nearly all royal prerogative power to parliamentary
sovereignty, made its way into Canada.[4] Moreover, the Crown may for some
purposes fall within provincial power under s. 92 of the Constitution Act,
1867, and for other purposes fall within federal power under s. 91. For the
purposes of Canadian federalism, the Crown therefore cannot be viewed as a
single indivisible entity: Laskin, at p. 119. The Crown is “separate and
divisible for each self-governing dominion or province or territory”: R. v.
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, ex parte Indian
Association of Alberta, [1982] Q.B. 892, at 917 (Eng. C.A.), per Lord Denning.</p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->13.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Naming
the President in his public, official capacity, rather than his personal
capacity, is procedurally analogous to a lawsuit in a Commonwealth country
naming Her Majesty the Queen as respondent, as is common practice, to challenge
not the personal actions of the Queen, but the official actions of her representatives
in government. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->14.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->If
the drafters of the Constitution had intended to block all proceedings against
His Excellency altogether, irrespective of the capacity in which the President
is named, the said drafters would have had no need to include in Article 182(1)
the words “in his or her personal capacity” and would not have done so. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">It follows that
Article 182(1), properly understood, bars only those proceedings that name His
Excellency in his private rather than public capacity. No provision of the Constitution
bars the naming His Excellency as a party to these proceedings in his official and
public capacity as President. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p><h2><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">(b)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The Role of the Attorney
General Does Not Preclude Naming His Excellency <o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->15.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Moreover,
the role of the Attorney General as representative for the State is not a bar
to naming His Excellency as a respondent in his official capacity. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->16.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->The
Attorney General correctly indicates in his Notice of Application that he is
the principal legal advisor to the Government of Guyana pursuant to Article 112
of the Constitution, and further that, according to section 10 of the State
Liability and Proceedings Act, “any claim by or against the State shall be brought
by or against the Attorney General.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->17.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Related
to these provisions is the requirement under Rule 56.01(3) of the <i>Civil
Procedure Rules of 2016 </i>that, “Where the proceeding is for relief under the
Constitution, it must be served on the Attorney General.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS">18.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->In
accordance with all of these provisions, the Attorney General was named as a
Respondent to the Fixed Date Application as appropriate and required by law. It
is anticipated that the said Attorney General will act throughout these
proceedings as representative and advisor for His Excellency. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS">19.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->However,
neither the Constitution nor the State Liability and Proceedings Act nor the
Civil Procedure Rules state, nor is it implied, that the President is
vicariously immune simply because the Attorney General is a necessary party.
None of these provisions articulate a requirement that <i>only </i>the Attorney
General may be named where an act of the State, including and act of the
President, is in question. Such a rule would need to be explicitly stated in
the statute or Constitution. The Attorney General’s assertion is contrary to
the plain language of these provisions. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->20.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->As
stated above, the reason for naming His Excellency as a Respondent was the
relief sought in the Fixed Date Application, including a declaration that the
purported suspensions of the Chairman and members of the Commission from
performing the functions of office were contrary to the Constitution and of no
force or effect. The said purported suspensions were ordered by His Excellency
in a series of letters dated June 16, 2021. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->21.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->It
is submitted that, because the Fixed Date Application directly concerns the
actions of His Excellency in his official capacity as President, His Excellency
remains an appropriate named Respondent in addition to the Attorney General. <o:p></o:p></p><h2><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">(c)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The State Liability and
Proceedings Act Has No Application to Constitutional Applications<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->22.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->It
is further submitted that the State Liability and Proceedings Act, whatever its
reach in other areas of law, can have no application to shield the President in
the context of Constitutional Applications such as the Fixed Date Application. To
hold otherwise would allow the State Liability and Proceedings Act, an ordinary
statute, to constrain and undermine the Constitution of Guyana and in effect to
usurp its proper role as Guyana’s supreme law. No such interpretation is
tenable in accordance with the rule of law. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->23.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->The
Guyanese Constitution, unlike certain other jurisdictions including Trinidad
and Tobago, does not incorporate the State Liability and Proceedings Act into
the Constitution or imbue its contents with constitutional significance.
Therefore, to the extent that rules and obligations under the Constitution are
at odds with any provisions of the said Act which purport to limit liability,
it is the Constitution that must prevail in any case. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->24.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->It
should be noted that section 10 of the aforementioned Act, relied on by the
Attorney General, begins, “<i>Except as otherwise provided </i>in any written
law before the commencement of this Act, not being any provision of a written
Law repealed by this Act…” (Emphasis added) This language clearly anticipates
carveouts at law to the provision’s general application with respect to legal
proceedings against the state. This would necessarily include carveouts by the
Constitution itself. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->25.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Accordingly,
section 10 of the abovementioned Act cannot be interpreted to bar proceedings
concerning the official actions of state actors that are in violation of the
Constitution, even if the provision may be read to prohibit naming those
parties in ordinary civil actions. To the extent that the Attorney General’s
Application relies on such an interpretation, it is faulty. <o:p></o:p></p><h2><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">(d)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The Cited Case of </span><i><span lang="EN-US">Kent Garment Factory v. The
Attorney General and Others</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> (1991) 46 WIR 177 Has
No Application to This Case <o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->26.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->As
noted above, the Attorney General relies on the Guyana Court of Appeal case <i>Kent
Garment Factory v. The Attorney General and Others</i> (1991) 46 WIR 177 to
support the assertion that His Excellency may not be named as a respondent in
his official capacity. In particular, the Attorney General relies on the
statements in that case that “the Minister could not be sued in his official
capacity” and subsequently, “I do not propose to dilate on these submissions
except to say that I fully agree with them.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->27.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->In
the facts of <i>Kent Garment Factory</i>, garment manufacturers were refused an
import license and subsequently brought an application naming the Minister of
Trade and Tourism as well as the Attorney General as respondents. They sought a
declaration that the said refusal by the Minister in question was arbitrary and
unlawful and an order compelling the competent authority to extend the
manufacturers’ license. The application was dismissed. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS">28.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->The
passage cited from <i>Kent Garment Factory </i>in the Attorney General’s
Application is clearly <i>obiter dicta </i>and had no bearing on the holding of
that case. Furthermore, no provision <a name="_Hlk78400201">in the Law of
Guyana </a>was given in support of the assertion in this passage, nor any
support at law except for the century-old English cases of <i>Raleigh v Goshen</i>
[1898] 1 Ch 73 and<i> Hosier Bros v Earl of Derby</i> [1918] 2 K B 671. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS">29.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Moreover, the Court stated immediately after the passage
quoted, “And further, a perusal of the affidavit in support of the motion
reveals that no complaint had been made against any action taken by him [the Minister]
personally.” This case, unlike <i>Kent Garment Factory</i>, involves a
challenge to the actual actions of the named party, namely His Excellency, in
his official capacity as President. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->30.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->A
review of the <i>Kent Garment Factory </i>case reveals that it does not provide
authority to support the proposition that His Excellency may not be named as a
respondent in his official capacity in an application that challenges his own
official actions. <o:p></o:p></p><h2><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US">(e)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">His Excellency is Not Above the
Law or Constitution <o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->31.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->His
Excellency, notwithstanding his status as Head of State, is not above the
Constitution or the law. This much is a necessary corollary of the rule of law
and the fundamental principle of Constitutionalism. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->32.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Article
8 of the Constitution states: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 2.0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">8. This Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana and,
if any other law is inconsistent with it, that other law shall, to the extent
of the inconsistency, be void. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->33.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->In
light of the Constitution’s status as the supreme law of Guyana, the power of
public litigants to seek recourse against the President for direct violations
of the Constitution has special importance for the rule of law. To the extent
that there is any ambiguity in the law regarding proceedings against the
President in his official and public capacity for alleged violations of the
Constitution, it is submitted that this Honourable Court should hold in favour
of allowing such proceedings as a necessary aspect of Constitutionalism. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->34.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Chief
Justice Roxane George emphasized the need for judicial authority to enforce the
Constitution as against the actions of the President in <i>Zulfikar Mustapha v.
Attorney General</i>, 2017-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-1643 at pp. 13-14: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS" style="margin-left: 49.65pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: .05pt;">Importantly, though, not only is there an absence of an ouster clause in
this case, but any suggestion that, owing to the immunity of the President
under Article 182(1) of the Constitution, the actions of the President are
beyond the reach of judicial direction has been answered in the negative in <i>Gaskin</i>
relying on the authorities cited therein. Support for this position was
garnered from the Privy Council in <i>The Attorney General v Dumas </i>TT 2017
PC 4. Also, in <i>The Attorney General et al v Joseph and Boyce </i>[2006] CCJ
3 (AJ) (paras 20-21), Justice Wit, stated that “[t]he multi-layered concept of
the rule of law establishes, first and foremost, that no person, not even the
Queen or her Governor-General, is above the law.” Then His Honour while
referring to the Barbados Privy Council which determines the prerogative of
mercy in death penalty cases made observations that can be considered to be of
general application. His Honour noted that however eminent the members of that
body may be, their executive functions are discharged under the Constitution
and therefore cannot go unchecked by the courts. Justice Wit further stated
that “[b]oth the executive acceptance of judicial scrutiny and judicial respect
for executive discretion are required under the rule of law and flow from the
separation of powers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->35.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Accordingly,
it is open to this Honourable Court to issue orders binding on His Excellency
including declarations with respect to the actions of His Excellency in his
official capacity, as sought in the Fixed Date Application. This is true
whether or not His Excellency may be named as a party. <o:p></o:p></p><h1 style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-text-indent-alt: -36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">IV.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Hearing of This Application <o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->36.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->The
Attorney General’s Application includes the proposal that the said Application
be heard in writing. The Commission agrees that the discrete issue articulated
in the Attorney General’s Application should be heard in writing and does not
require an oral hearing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><!--[if !supportLists]-->37.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Further,
the Commission humbly asks that this Honourable Court hear the Attorney
General’s Application in writing in advance of the hearing date for the Fixed
Date Application scheduled for Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. due to
the extremely time-sensitive nature of the said Fixed Date Application. As
stated in the Fixed Date Application, the term of the current members of the
Commission concludes August 9, 2021, which date is rapidly approaching. <o:p></o:p></p><h1 style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-text-indent-alt: -36.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">V.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">Conclusion <o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS">38.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->It
is submitted that His Excellency has been appropriately named as a party in his
official and public capacity in the Fixed Date Application and that such naming
is not prohibited by any provision of statute or the Constitution or any other
rule or principle of the Laws of Guyana. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS">39.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->In
light of the above, the Commission humbly asks that this Honourable Court dismiss
the Attorney General’s Application and proceed to consider the merits of the
Fixed Date Application against all of the </p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="NUMBEREDPARAS"><o:p> </o:p></p><p>
</p><div><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Selwyn/Downloads/Response%20to%20AG%20Application%20Pieters%20Edits.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The citation given in the Attorney General’s Application is </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">41 WIR 177. This appears
to be incorrect.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
</div>
</div>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-65928811621130853962021-06-29T09:21:00.003-04:002021-06-29T09:25:32.022-04:00Your Excellency’s Attempt to Suspend Mr. Paul Esmond Slowe, CCH, DSM, JP, Chairman, and Commissioners Mr. Michael Somersall, CCH, DSM, JP, Mrs. Claire Alexis Jarvis, Mrs. Vesta Adams and Mr. Clinton Andrew Conway of the Police Service Commission<p> </p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">June 28, 2021<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>by
whatsapp and email<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Office of the President <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Shiv Chanderpaul Drive & South Road<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Dear Excellency, President Ali,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><b>RE: Your Excellency’s Attempt
to Suspend Mr. Paul Esmond Slowe, CCH, DSM, JP, Chairman, and Commissioners Mr.
Michael Somersall, CCH, DSM, JP, Mrs. Claire Alexis Jarvis, Mrs. Vesta Adams and
Mr. Clinton Andrew Conway of the Police Service Commission<o:p></o:p></b></p>
</div>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">I write
on behalf of my clients Mr. Paul Esmond Slowe, CCH, DSM, JP, Chairman, and
Commissioners Mr. Michael Somersall, CCH, DSM, JP, Mrs. Claire Alexis Jarvis, Mrs.
Vesta Adams, and Mr. Clinton Andrew Conway of the Police Service Commission (“the
Commission”) in response to your letters to each of the aforementioned dated
June 16, 2021. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">In each
of your letters, Your Excellency states that you have been advised by Prime
Minister The Honourable Mark Anthony Phillips, MSS, to initiate an
investigation into the question of the Commission members’ removal from office,
and to suspend them “from performing the functions of that office with
immediate effect pending those investigations.” You attach two letters from the
Prime Minister, both dated June 15, 2021, reiterating the allegations contained
in the Show Cause Notices of May 19, 2021 and June 1, 2021 and containing the aforementioned
advice. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">You further
state in your letters to the members of the Commission that you have accepted
the Prime Minister’s advice “and shall establish a tribunal in the manner
prescribed by Article 225”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
to inquire and report on the matter of the proposed removal, and that the
members of the Commission “are hereby suspended with immediate effect from
performing the functions of [office] pending the establishment of the
aforementioned tribunal.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">You have
also been publicly quoted as saying “I’m following the Constitutional process
that is outlined in dealing with these matters, and that’s all I am doing. I
have no intention of breaching the Constitutional process. There is a
Constitutional process in which to deal with all these allegations that have
been made against members of the Commission and that is what has been
triggered, nothing more than that…”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">For the
reasons that follow, I have advised the members of the Commission that the
purported suspensions asserted by Your Excellency in these letters are
manifestly<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i><span lang="EN-US">ultra vires </span></i></span>Article 225 of the
Constitution<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, unlawful, illegal, premature and of no legal force,
import or effect.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span>I could come to no other
conclusion having regard to the relevant provisions, and in particular Articles
225(6) and 210(3).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><b>The
Purported Suspensions of the Commission Members are <i>Ultra Vires </i>the
Constitution<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">As you
are aware, and as I have stated in our submissions in response to the various
Show Cause Notices of May 19, 2021 and June 1, 2021, suspension and removal
from office at a Constitutional Commission are regulated by Article 225 of the
Constitution, of which paragraph (1) states, “<a name="_Hlk74763119"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a person holding such office… shall not be removed therefrom or
suspended from the exercise of the functions thereof except in accordance with
the provisions of this article</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.”<sup> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[4]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></a></sup></span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpLast" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suspensions under Article 225 are controlled by paragraph (6), which
reads in full: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(6) <i>If the question of removing the officer from
office has been referred to a tribunal under this article, the President,
acting in accordance with the advice of the prescribed authority</i>, may
suspend the officer from performing the functions of his office, and any such
suspension may at any time be revoked by the President, acting in accordance
with such advice as aforesaid, and shall in any case cease to have effect if the
tribunal recommends to the President that the officer should not be removed
from office.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">In accordance with this
paragraph, while you can<i> </i>in certain circumstances suspend members of the
Commission, you may only do so “with the advice of the prescribed authority”,
and only if the question of removal “has been referred to a tribunal.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">As to who “the
prescribed authority” empowered to recommend suspension is for each of the
members of the Commission, I refer you to Article 210(3) of the <i>Constitution</i>,
which deals with the Police Service Commission specifically and states: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) The provisions of article 225 (which relate to
removal from office) shall apply to the office of an appointed member of the
Police Service Commission. In the case of an appointed member other than the
Chairman, the prescribed authority for the purposes of paragraph (4) of that
article shall be the Prime Minister or the Chairman and for the purposes of
paragraph (6) of that article shall be the Chairman. In the case of the Chairman
the prescribed authority for the purposes of paragraphs (4) and (6) of article
225 shall be the Prime Minister.<i> </i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is clear from the above provisions that Your Excellency’s purported suspension
of the Chairman and other members of the Commission is contrary to the <i>Constitution</i>
in two respects: first, because the question of removal from office has not yet
been “been referred to a tribunal”; and second, because, for all members other
than the Chairman, you have not acted “in accordance with the advice of the
prescribed authority” with respect to the suspensions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Suspensions Are Premature<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regarding the first issue of referral to a tribunal, Article 225(6)
clearly states that suspension is only an option once “the question of removing
the officer from office has been referred to a tribunal under this article.”
However, Your Excellency purports in your letter to suspend the members of the
Commission “pending the establishment of the aforementioned tribunal” and states
that you “shall establish a tribunal in the manner prescribed by Article 225.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Respectfully, Your Excellency has no such power. Clearly, one cannot
refer a question to a tribunal that does not yet exist. </span>The proposed
suspensions of the members of the Commission are therefore all premature, null,
void and <i>ultra vires </i>Article 225. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">It must
also be noted that paragraph (4) of Article 225 dictates the process for
appointing the tribunal to inquire into a proposed removal from office. This
paragraph requires you to “act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial
Service Commission, in appointing a tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman
and not less than two other members, selected by the Judicial Service
Commission from among persons who hold or have held office as a judge….” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">At
present, there is no Judicial Service Commission, with the last such Commission
having come to an end in 2017. Accordingly, in order for Your Excellency to
appoint a tribunal to whom you may refer the question of removal, as required
by Article 225(4) and (6), a Judicial Service Commission should be constituted.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">I
attach, for your reference by way of precedent, a record of the last
“Appointment of a Tribunal Under Article 225(4) of the Constitution of the Cooperative
Republic of Guyana”, published in the Official Gazette of September 17, 2016
and concerning Mr. Carvil Duncan, then Chairman of the Public Service
Commission, member of the Judicial Service Commission and member of the Police
Service Commission. That tribunal was appointed “To inquire, investigate and
recommend to the President whether [Mr. Duncan] ought to be removed from office”
in accordance with Article 225(2). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">That
order by the President’s Command included the specific allegations against Mr.
Duncan, the members of the tribunal and the specific mandate of the tribunal,
including the required report and advice and timeline for the investigation.
Only thus may such a matter be properly “referred to a tribunal” in
satisfaction of Article 225(6). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">As you
will be aware, Mr. Duncan subsequently challenged the establishment of that
tribunal as premature and prejudicial, and in October 2016, was successful in
having the work of the tribunal suspended on procedural and substantive
grounds.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Mr. Duncan was represented in that matter by the current Attorney General, Mr.
Anil Nandlall.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">The
suspensions referred to in Your Excellency’s letters, being ordered before the
referral of the removal question to a tribunal, which indeed does not exist
(and cannot exist in the absence of a duly appointed and functioning Judicial
Services Commission), are without lawful authority and of no force or effect. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><b>You
Have Not Acted “In</b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Accordance with the Advice of the Prescribed
Authority”</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">The
second reason why the Constitution cannot countenance the purported suspensions
of the members of the Commission is that Your Excellency has not <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">acted “in accordance with the advice of the prescribed authority” as
required by Article 225(6), except in the proposed suspension of Chairman Paul
Slowe. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As indicated above, under Articles 225(6) and 210(3) jointly, the Prime
Minister may advise the President to suspend the Chairman of the Commission,
but not to suspend the other members. Rather, for the President to suspend these
other members, the “prescribed authority” who must so advise him is the
Chairman himself, while the Prime Minister can only advise the President with
respect to these other members under paragraph (4) (appointment of a tribunal),
not paragraph (6) (suspension of officers). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Chairman, Mr. Paul Slowe, has not advised Your Excellency to suspend
the other members of the Commission. These suspensions are therefore contrary
to Article 225 and of no lawful force and/or effect, even if the removal
question had been referred to a tribunal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Summing Up and Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For the reasons set out above, it is clear that Your Excellency has not
acted in accordance with Article 225, which is the only lawful means for
suspending a member of a Constitutional Commission. In consequence, the
purported suspensions of the Chairman and other members of the Commission <a name="_Hlk75611260">are <i>ultra vires </i>the constitution, unlawful, illegal,
premature and of no legal force, import or effect. </a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In other words, the members of the Commission have not been lawfully
suspended from performing the functions of their offices and may therefore
continue to do so. They have advised me that they intend to remain in office
until such time as their terms are over or they are <u>lawfully </u>suspended
or removed from office following referral of the question to a duly appointed
tribunal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Having regard to the unconstitutional and illegal suspensions discussed
above, Article 227 provides:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">226. (1) Save as otherwise provided
in this Constitution, in the exercise of its functions under this Constitution
a Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other
person or authority.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) Subject to affirmative
resolution of the National Assembly, a commission shall make rules, relating to
the procedure of the commission; and until such rules are made, the commission
shall regulate its own procedure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(3) A Commission may, subject to the
next following paragraph, act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership or
the absence of any member and its proceedings shall not be invalidated by the
presence or participation of any person not entitled to be present at or to
participate in those proceedings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Police Service Commission will therefore continue to perform its constitutional
mandate in respect to discipline and promotion of Guyana Police Force Officers
from Inspectors to Assistant Commissioners.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If Your Excellency is not in agreement with the above, it is your
prerogative to refer the matter to the courts for determination. The members of
the Commission are confident that, should you do so, any court will arrive at
the inevitable conclusion that Article 225 does not enable you to suspend the
members in the manner that you have purported to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moreover, it must be noted that, should the matter be referred to a
court, the various issues of </span>procedural fairness, independence of
Commissions under Article 226 of the Constitution, insulation of Commissions in
accordance with <i>Endell Thomas v Attorney General (Trinidad & Tobago)</i>,<a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
and the fundamental Constitutional rights of freedom of association (Article
147(1)) and the presumption of innocence (144(1)), must also inform the court’s
determination. <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By necessity, the court will consider the question of
suspension in its full factual context, including </span>the history of
inappropriate, unconstitutional political interference by Your Excellency’s
administration, outlined in detail in Mr. Slowe’s submissions dated May 31,
2021 and beginning with the attempt by Your Excellency to pressure the Commission
to promote certain ineligible ranks friendly to the current government.<em> </em><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To the extent that Your Excellency’s attempt to suspend the members of
the Commission is related to the upcoming decision of High Court Chief Justice George,
anticipated June 18, 2021 (now postponed to June 28, 2021), in the application
of Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus and other senior police officers, it
represents yet another attempt at inappropriate and unconstitutional political
interference with the apparent goal of seizing control of promotions within the
Guyana Police Force, a matter that is properly within the exclusive control of
the Commission. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With respect to this latest assault on the Commission and its
independence, I refer you to the words of the current Attorney General, Mr.
Nandlall, in an article he published on October 16, 2016 with regard to the
aforementioned investigation into Mr. Carvil Duncan and the alleged attempts by
then President Granger to circumvent Article 225: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;">In short, the President has flagrantly violated
the letter, spirit and intent of some of the most sacrosanct constitutional
provisions and indeed his actions strike at the very heart of our
constitutional democracy. Presidents (or Prime Ministers, as the case may be)
have been impeached for far less in democratic countries.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fortunately, the Constitution provides clear and unambiguous protection
against interference of this kind with respect to suspensions from office at
Constitutional Commissions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The members of the Commission will continue to do their important work
until their terms end on August 09, 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="NUMBEREDPARASCxSpLast" style="mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the meantime, please contact me directly in the event you would like
to discuss the above or any collateral matters. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">Yours truly,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">Selwyn A. Pieters, B.A., LL.B.,
L.E.C.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">Lawyer & Notary Public <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">Attorney-at-Law<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">Of the Bars of Guyana, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">Trinidad and Tobago and Ontario
(Canada)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">cc Clients<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Attorney General and Minister of Legal
Affairs<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prime Minister of Guyana<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secretary, Police Service Commission<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Legal Officer, Public/Police Service
Commission<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Commissioner of Police <o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpFirst"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i>Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana</i>, Chapter 1:01, Laws
of Guyana.<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpMiddle"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
President defends decision to suspend entire Police Service Commission, (June
18, 2021) Online: News Source Guyana <https://newssourcegy.com/news/president-defends-decision-to-suspend-entire-police-service-commission/><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpMiddle"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
See the Submissions of Paul Esmond Slowe, dated May 31, 2021, in response to
the May 19, 2021 Show Cause Notice.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpMiddle"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
See the Submissions of Clinton Andrew Conway, dated May 31, 2021, in response
to the May 19, 2021 Show Cause Notice.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpMiddle"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
See Joint Submissions of Mr. Paul Esmond Slowe, CCH, DSM, JP, Chairman, and
Commissioners Michael Somersall, DSM, Clinton Andrew Conway, Claire Alexis
Jarvis, and Vesta Adams of the Police Service Commission (“the Commission”),
dated June 08, 2021, in respect to the Show Cause Notice letters of June 1,
2021.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpMiddle"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Denis Chabrol, “Carvil Duncan blocks Tribunal from proceeding with removal
hearing” (October 20, 2016), online: Demerara Waves <https://demerarawaves.com/2016/10/20/carvil-duncan-blocks-tribunal-from-proceeding-with-removal-hearing><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpMiddle"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
[1981] UKPC 28.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn8" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpMiddle"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Affidavit of Paul Esmond Slowe, affirmed May 28, 2021, [“Slowe Affidavit”]<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn9" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpMiddle"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Affidavit of Paul Esmond Slowe, affirmed June 7, 2021, [“Slowe Second Affidavit”]<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn10" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteTextCxSpLast"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/Slowe_Paul/Draft%20PSC%20Letter%20to%20President%20re%20Suspensions%2026062021.docx#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Anil Nandlall, “President violated constitutional provisions in moving against
Carvil Duncan” (October 15, 2016), online: <i>Stabroek News </i><<a href="about:blank">https://www.stabroeknews.com/2016/10/15/opinion/letters/president-violated-constitutional-provisions-moving-carvil-duncan/</a>>.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-65760600690664534642020-03-08T18:06:00.000-04:002020-03-12T23:32:55.806-04:00E+7 Guyana Elections 2020: Reason over passion - My Reflection on the Process Post E-Day 2020<div class="_5pbx userContent _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-testid="post_message" id="js_o" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 6px;">
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<span class="userContent" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>E+7 Guyana Elections 2020: Reason over passion - My Reflection on the Process Post E-Day 2020</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="userContent"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="userContent">By <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a> B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span><span class="userContent"></span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="userContent"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pieterslaw/" target="_blank">Pieters Law Office</a></i></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Created March 08, 2020</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Updated: March 12, 2020</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Full Judgement of Chief Justice Roxane George in <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Holladarv_Mingo_judgment.pdf" target="_blank">Hollandar v. Mingo, et al.</a> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> accords with the opinion I formed below.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
The experience over the past week and a half (February 26, 2020 to March 06, 2020) as an observer accredited by Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been instructive, memorable, difficult, time-consuming, all-consuming and meaningful until the process of verification was compromised by GECOM Officials working out of the Region 4 Command Centre on Hadfield Street and High Street in Georgetown, Guyana. I agree with the statement of the Guyana Bar Association having regard to the questionable process employed in Region 4 and the results that does an injustice to all of the voters be they APNU/AFC, PPP/C, ANUG, TCI, PRP, etc. <<a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsroom.gy%2F2020%2F03%2F07%2Flawyers-warn-of-far-reaching-repercussions-if-president-sworn-in-on-unverified-vote%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2oeA7Hgoza9rOovfHamjZEs11S-SJ22sN7SvfuSrQejWNkdp-O4qCdoAs&h=AT3mfCZceXDDCya3IUR630TAPokvc120deiBDi4OvBsSO09qqzldONkePb5GJTp_ZLLERl91al875-pgPGlmy3XnZxgzXsxTAfmeHlCwMpxN88M23rFAIDEV3FXlGJJtu89mhnN46ObbvF9e5dFjwQYal5k" href="https://newsroom.gy/2020/03/07/lawyers-warn-of-far-reaching-repercussions-if-president-sworn-in-on-unverified-vote/?fbclid=IwAR2oeA7Hgoza9rOovfHamjZEs11S-SJ22sN7SvfuSrQejWNkdp-O4qCdoAs" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://newsroom.gy/…/lawyers-warn-of-far-reaching-repercu…/</a>>. See also <<a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stabroeknews.com%2F2020%2F03%2F05%2Fnews%2Fguyana%2Fus-uk-canada-eu-say-region-four-results-not-credible%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1pjl5-ul0Wi_utsV9teSkFCyvvQZr5jF82kHErUHFD_zyPJtcE8L3bi5I&h=AT3eCvtMrf_7QBRZDa1X7tCp0FtmDtLCxx_jIS9yirGYD949HcU7JgrPGxsXMYnDHm8EVDg1kOGDoKkJPNlLqnN4ba7xFzb-umVooVL_AZulUVEPyJgUgAkFJ1W4cxpldHNVPOo1UcdtIVU91P3axJ3dyAM" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.stabroeknews.com/…/us-uk-canada-eu-say-region-…/</a>> and <<a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdemerarawaves.com%2F2020%2F03%2F06%2Funited-nations-calls-on-gecom-to-verify-elections-results%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2PJ6X7KEgox2SdG5tEt9-Q39tvamz82tF495d4-tYKvnfJHMc89iWPZuw&h=AT1sOATsn9EK6WP-hhO46GS_lNh9EPx1P2hhwT7ROilbKLUNjDO4X2W2dkMjEtIMZDWr4O_MBnoQq9MYbDg1HfN90CceaZh8ggqoarECXoTpccstgVozYcTT0Bm5Wz4ZPQt5jwJidlO8te7VoPTMHr8pDLM" href="http://demerarawaves.com/2020/03/06/united-nations-calls-on-gecom-to-verify-elections-results/?fbclid=IwAR2PJ6X7KEgox2SdG5tEt9-Q39tvamz82tF495d4-tYKvnfJHMc89iWPZuw" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://demerarawaves.com/…/united-nations-calls-on-gecom-…/…</a>></div>
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Impartiality, Independence and transparency are important for public confidence in the administrative and decision making processes undertaken by the Guyana Elections Commission under the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03. The actual independence and the appearance of independence of GECOM is crucial for the public to have confidence in this Constitutionally Independent body</div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
At the briefing for local observers on February 26, 2020 the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Major (retd) Keith Lowenfield, detailed the procedure that must be followed after close of poll and what obtains at the Office of the Returning Officer. He called the process "verification". This commenced on Monday evening after 8:00 p.m. as Statements of Polls were received in the Returning Officers' Offices in the various regions across Guyana. He confirmed much the same process in a March 04, 2020 briefing with the media <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/PrimeNewsGuyana/videos/495007611184543/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/PrimeNewsGuyana/videos/495007611184543/</a>></div>
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Here, in circumstances, where a process for the verification was agreed upon and GECOM changed that process without regard to the law and convention, its independence is compromised and its ability to deliver credible election results in Guyana is compromised.</div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
On March 04, 2020 a series of events occurred: The Deputy Returning Officer called in sick, the Returning Officer apparently fell ill and was taken out on a stretcher <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158336458305799/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158336458305799/</a>>, the process was delayed in Region 4 and verification that essentially started at 1:00 p.m. suspended shortly after 2:00 p.m. due to an absence of the Statements of Polls and the use of a spreadsheet. It resumed at 6:00 p.m. went on for an hour or thereabout because the staff complained on being tired. <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158326321680799/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158326321680799/</a>></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
The shutout of the locally accredited media from the Media Centre on March 04, 2020 and the following days was not transparent and a violation of press freedom. <<a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kaieteurnewsonline.com%2F2020%2F03%2F07%2Fmedia-not-allowed-within-300ft-of-gecom-centre-despite-holding-accreditation%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR288G4ZoQVgq4PRxxSdQBhaEGZSVuvM2CAscMgdekJq6O1HAN9HppdTQYo&h=AT1RcjDXRKS0WLoRZd8yJ6TfEwC-awJQ2nbHhEYtBPfcQKew9ZnrPVRDJ70PbiMdESA2gqWC3Z0239XqeYkIJ9gco1U6hQuJQu2ylfWQjAWOGHAxgyJYdgS_PQYgKy-3M4hhQlJy5ztHdMpIzJw_epdapvA" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/…/media-not-allowed-wit…/</a>>. Fortunately, cellular telephones provided the counting agents and observers with digital video recordings and the happenings inside of the Command Centre was recorded as necessary and made public.</div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
The process to find a Deputy Returning Officer to continue the process was quite difficult and appeared orchestrated to frustrate the process <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158336462835799/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158336462835799/</a>>. A Deputy Returning Officer who was on site after 11:00 p.m. to recommence the process was sent home and escorted through a back entrance to escape the attention of the observers and political agents. Further, Mr. Lowenfield is on a recorded video questioning the integrity of another Deputy Returning Officer who he insinuated was affiliated with the PPP/C. <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158326869145799/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158326869145799/</a>></div>
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The verification process commenced briefly on March 05, 2020 on or about 1:25 a.m. No APNU/AFC Counting Agents were present and attempts to reach them was futile as the calls went to voicemail. The process was suspended again because of a staff claiming to be tired yet found in a room working with the computer and flash-drive that contained crucial information <<a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stabroeknews.com%2F2020%2F03%2F05%2Fnews%2Fguyana%2Fpolice-called-in-at-region-four-returning-officers-office-to-probe-suspect-flash-drive%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0RJxNf12mu_x1AkkKNLvEHxBMGnB_S0Ko_4lEMzcBOAnBNgQclDsDay6M&h=AT0c0jhg88PpaCRJnhlgs6Ii1dO62TTuYkna2hEZVw5wUSZtyyBCvYMb9zCERFfdCizws612p7MqG7AMynv1VzAOR0MiCeSJpkcyOLv4k0k186-jGWiJ60tyObSfzMllWEdBowH_GvrcWNLTs5NG96KsJvQ" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.stabroeknews.com/…/police-called-in-at-region-…/</a>>; <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158326062755799/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158326062755799/</a>>; <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/GuyaneseCritic/videos/814447849059132/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/GuyaneseCritic/videos/814447849059132/</a>>.</div>
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Numerous observers remained until 3:00 a.m., some remained throughout the night into the morning at GECOM Command Centre.</div>
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I left early in the morning to get some rest and returned at GECOM around 9:30 a.m.</div>
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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, arrived around 9:45 a.m. and requested a meeting with International Observers, who accompanied her to a meeting room that appeared open for her use. The use of a GECOM meeting room by Guyana's Foreign Affairs Minister (and APNU/AFC candidate) Dr Karen Cummings to attempt to intimidate International Observer groups was inappropriate and ill-advised. I took her to task there and then for her comments and actions that I found was an attempt to intimidate. The Rt. Hon. Mr. Owen Arthur, former Prime Minister of Barbados, who is Chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Mission, also took exception as did the High Commissioner to Great Britain. The actions that followed of the Deputy CEO of GECOM further exacerbated the situation. Who directed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, to go to the GECOM Command Centre and relay a threat to take away accreditation of International Observers? Who within GECOM provided her with the meeting room?<<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/100013855926345/videos/847447625727094/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/100013855926345/videos/847447625727094/</a>>; <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/PrimeNewsGuyana/videos/205285234009498/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/PrimeNewsGuyana/videos/205285234009498/?t=171</a>>; <<a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stabroeknews.com%2F2020%2F03%2F08%2Fnews%2Fguyana%2Fforeign-minister-said-she-was-told-to-revoke-observers-accreditation-if-necessary%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR14SRDZLQJoZcMQ78K8s6_xT2ICEMpLAKHOVXxSo2nD5gSw8Xwtj2MdCZM&h=AT1kIm3eo0y_H0lvBjTodVsI9knk28BlCwNXqc985G4MxfK0FhVZoXwz6eLLUq1_d1SUzx7Ogyh9TK4tLjfpZzbabqZSfHUxr-Yatcgr6oDVeyUjG7ZTuld39-C_r-HOL6MfkoXxWP-S8NGUOFg0UA92jyE" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.stabroeknews.com/…/foreign-minister-said-she-w…/</a>>; <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/gychronicle/videos/543007509681762/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/gychronicle/videos/543007509681762/</a>></div>
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Following the departure of the Foreign Minister a bomb threat was apparently called into the building around 10:15 a.m. that caused an evacuation and more delays.</div>
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The Returning Officer on the afternoon of March 05, 2020 then made a declaration of the purported results of Region 4 on March 05, 2020 without the process of verification of SOPs being completed in the presence of counting agents of the political parties and Local and International Observers. The declaration lacked transparency. The only political figure whose signature is on the document is Volda Ann Lawrence APNU/AFC candidate and Chairwoman of the PNC. <<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/posts/10158332092700799" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/posts/10158332092700799</a>></div>
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Tensions were high, the Chairwoman of the Guyana Election Commission, Justice Claudette Singh, was locked in a room and had not emerged for hours. Several persons at the Command Centre (including PPP/C activists and several local observers) stormed the Chairperson's office in an attempt to check on her welfare, emergency services technicians were called out and an ambulance attended the location. Guyana Police Force was guarding the door which was padlocked from the outside causing even more concerns.</div>
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The door which led into an office next to the chairwoman's office was also stormed, Tactical Services Unit Officers arrived, some of the persons in the unauthorized location were arrested by members of the Guyana Police Force, those persons were subsequently released on station bail and their cellular telephones were seized by the police to analyze for evidence of what took place in the building. Some people in the building including at least one Bar Association observer alleged they were beaten up by Guyana Police Tactical Services Unit members. <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/PrimeNewsGuyana/videos/2761564037284008/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/PrimeNewsGuyana/videos/2761564037284008/</a>><br />
<<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/lenox.shuman/videos/10163006753950291/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/lenox.shuman/videos/10163006753950291/</a>></div>
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Two injunctions were obtained by PPP/C lawyers, signed off by High Court Jusde Navindra Singh. The Marshalls attended GECOM Command Centre but were unable to serve the injunctions that day on the relevant GECOM Respondents. Members of the Guyana Police Force were used to prevent service of the Court's injunction on the relevant GECOM Respondents.</div>
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Commander of the Guyana Police Force Region 4 Division Ewart Thomas was stripped of his command for refusing to follow an illegal order to remove international and locally accredited observers and counting agents from GECOM Command Centre. <<a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbigsmithnewswatch.com%2Fnews%2Fbreaking-commander-removed-for-refusing-to-evict-international-observers-commissioners-from-gecom-building%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0CuAtOjKe_EC8N-D0cHDmArlv5US_cAbBDGsi4jIBbS4Jem47MbOfxAVk&h=AT3FPomW0y4-JGvDsaqL-EUf8dc3D3nRD86bXVzuQSgNe89jxDvzslR8niwCcn54QutzCQXKOhl3kX_Q99MEMDZ_J-fmq_GEB6SKNY8MJjeMWq2UDT5dYLPjwG387VtzubddSbGlKAYszzQb4CT2zONIWao" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://bigsmithnewswatch.com/…/breaking-commander-removed…/</a>></div>
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On March 06, 2020, Guyana Police Tactical Services Unit members stormed the GECOM Command Centre and evicted all of the party representatives, counting agents, local and international observers. The building was locked down at that point. There was also a breakdown of law and order in all major regions in Guyana. Buses and other vehicles were burnt, police officers and civilians were assaulted, one man was killed in an encounter with Guyana Police Force officers who alleged that he chopped two of its members and children were injured when a school bus transporting them were attacked by PPP/C aligned supporters. <<a href="https://www.facebook.com/guyanapoliceforce/posts/2562708540675960" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/guyanapoliceforce/posts/2562708540675960</a>>; <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158332559775799/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158332559775799/</a>>; <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherJonesGuyana/videos/626311138158464/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherJonesGuyana/videos/626311138158464/</a>></div>
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The recent civil unrest in Guyana has part of its genesis in a lack of transparency, lack of accountability, questions about the credibility of the process undertaken by GECOM Officials in the Georgetown-Mahaica District, Region 4. The failure to follow the dictates of section 84 of the Representation of the People Act, Cap 1:03, Laws of Guyana and the process undertaken in the other nine regions where the Statements of Polls were verified in the presence of counting agents of the political parties and International and Local Observers has called into question the credible basis for the results in Region 4 and compromises the results of the entire elections in Guyana. This led to an appearance of unfairness and compromise the independence of the GECOM. See, Hamilton v Guyana Elections Commission (2001)<br />
40-M online <<a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.selwynpieters.com%2Fdocuments%2FHamilton_GECOM.pdf%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1dmb7ac-6ws1BHNoZOfRw3AS2WOxVtr1yvDlH66IqXURVoCvz54ljLyRs&h=AT3jXcSAEXWVQfvcqj5mNbVBC8CO8fViDvE5KOGq7UryLj69yQVGVGXdyZC5OYf2ZCOv8J-HA00u5aVscnEQgvO5bluXlRZ_PQGITqI_KlIFj1attoX1XBDDnJXitb6Kqrh-ePATUHE7dtLFbtsTyR87aKk" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Hamilton_GECOM.pdf</a>></div>
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Further, the unrest is fueled by a feeling of injustice on the part of the electorate from the PPP/C and a triumphant feeling on the part of the APNU/AFC supporters, one of which was disadvantaged and the other benefited by a process at GECOM described above. See also Carter Centre Statement <<a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cartercenter.org%2Fnews%2Fpr%2F2020%2Fregion-4-election-results.html%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0zyDULs3ND7QZ4jJbQaCjiuwc7ZwORma4kIax650TN_d6dMSwT8hYENm4&h=AT2YylckiiO3D7Qmrr_GsVmUl5nxGb6Vef_NIc7MbZsIIxlxx_9hmBbikwZPHOVfrnF4xQC5gbc8LwLnxgY-d-_Ky5DOyMGa82hBZj3SGvWy-3ZEEYftgx82vf0TrKCCNgWqNt0BibfL71gJPrxDLRyCYtk" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.cartercenter.org/…/region-4-election-results.ht…</a>></div>
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In the case currently engaging the Court's attention, the claim that Mr. Neil Boston, S.C. was assisted in Court on Saturday March 07, 2020 by APNU/AFC candidates (and lawyers) Mr. Roysdale Forde, S.C. and Mr. Darren Wade, whether they appeared on the record or not, goes as well to GECOM's independence. Perception is extremely important. <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/Bharrat.J/videos/228520221604435/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/Bharrat.J/videos/228520221604435/</a>></div>
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The Guyana Police Force was unprepared, not ready or unable and/or unwilling to properly perform its duties. That was evident on March 04, 2020 when the large crowd assembled at the GECOM building without any proper security protocols established for crowd-control <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158326047830799/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158326047830799/</a>>. As well, it was evident on E-Day where the building in Region 5 where the verification was conducted was left unguarded as the police officer left his post before the verification process was completed for that day. It was also clear and apparent where and when, as the videos indicated, police officers were not properly geared or equipped for civil disturbances, resulting in injuries to some of those officers. All police officers should have had various use of force options (protective vest, handcuffs, batons, pepper spray, tasers, sidearms and/or shotguns) as part of their kit for the elections. This was glaringly absent as I traveled through Guyana for the elections.</div>
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There can be no doubt that implicit racism, direct racism, systemic racism and institutionalized racism exist in our society and it is openly manifested in its raw, unvarnished and virulent nature during and immediately after the elections. The confrontation at GECOM is one manifestation <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/tracy.deen.7/videos/3104319006279006/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/tracy.deen.7/videos/3104319006279006/</a>>. The second was the confrontation between Glen Hanoman and the Police Officers. <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/mediaimran/videos/10156939341772011/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/mediaimran/videos/10156939341772011/</a>></div>
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The videos of race based, racially fuelled and racialized violence intersected to political affiliation that are online tells the story and those who are involved whether directly and/or the intellectual authors should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the criminal law. <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/franciane.limazoon/videos/1097130000621657/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/franciane.limazoon/videos/1097130000621657/</a>>; <<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/posts/10158331840820799" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/posts/10158331840820799</a>>; <<a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158332718710799/?fref=mentions" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedRadical/videos/10158332718710799/</a>></div>
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The rule of law must prevail. This issues that arose at GECOM are before the Courts. Let the Courts decide whether GECOM's conduct amounted to a breached of the Constitution and/or the Representation of the People Act. Electoral violence will not help anyone. It will destroy the very fabric of society</div>
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******<br />
Selwyn A. Pieters, B.A. (Toronto), LL.B. (Osgoode), L.E.C. (U.W.I). Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario) Attorney-at-Law (Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago)</div>
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* Brief Guyana Public Law Bio of Author<br />
- My father was the first General Secretary of the People's National Congress. He also paid a high price fighting for the freedoms Guyana enjoy today: See, Abrams v The Members of the Governing Body of Anglican Schools (1960), 2 WIR 187 <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fselwynpieters.com%2Fdocuments%2F10_ABRAMS_2_WIR_187.pdf%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2Bgd9VD3LVAlvWQa47nDNKVx3rF55XjRVf5y_VccFKBYZx6IKc8L-wvMA&h=AT0cM1umYmCG-Pg4zuVAFr7ifU8Vldtv4RLz2mjJjVHn33BS8TexteWkJboO13YxQDfde1AYR-gLGZOgc9zL8gjw1J1QiGNT_SfOSQE1u4T7e6ODQHbAJ5XAeKc0PoEG1-lLe0_L9zzMmbjjQbav0E7CEyY" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://selwynpieters.com/documents/10_ABRAMS_2_WIR_187.pdf</a><br />
- I was co-counsel (with Nigel Hughes) for the Alliance for Change and deceased families at the Linden Commission of Inquiry October 2012-February 2013.<br />
- I was co-counsel (with Brian M. Clarke) for the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry May 2014 - July 2015.<br />
- I subsequently became counsel for the People's National Congress when Basil Williams was appointed Attorney General and provided His Excellency D.A. Granger with legal advise and counsel on the Walter Rodney file.<br />
- I represented the Guyana Prison Service, Guyana Police Force and Guyana Fire Service (Joint Services) in the Commission of Inquiry into the Camp Street Prison Disturbances (March 02-04, 2016) and Subsequent Deaths (of 17 prisoners) March 2016- June 2016.<br />
- In 2017, I represented an Investigative Journalist Travis Chase in the Commission of Inquiry to inquire into the persons, places, time, circumstances and events by and through which allegations and reports came to be made of an intention or a plan to assassinate the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.<br />
- In 2018, I was co-counsel for the Attorney General (with Kamal Ramkarran and Kim Kyte Thomas) in McEwan and Others v. Attorney General of Guyana at the Caribbean Court of Justice.<br />
- In 2019, I provided an expert affidavit on Canadian Citizenship law in Compton Reid v. Speaker of the National Assembly.<br />
- In 2020, I served as a Local Observer at the General and Regional Elections in Guyana<br />
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Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-76675846532485720462019-12-26T01:32:00.001-05:002022-01-02T02:34:32.728-05:00Selwyn Pieters Litigation Year in Review 2019<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="userContent">By <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a> B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span><span class="userContent"></span></i></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="userContent"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pieterslaw/" target="_blank">Pieters Law Office</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Created December 25, 2019</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Remembering
2019: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was an interesting litigation
year with highs, lows, speed bumps, pot holes (pun intended) and in-betweens. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I
litigated in at least 10 practice areas, delved into a new area of Securities Litigation and was an Expert in two international law matters originating from Guyana. The truth of the matter is that the cases litigated are
mostly test case and fundamentally impacts society. Significantly, some of them were done pro-bono, particularly since Legal Aid or other funding were hard to
come by, and some litigants cannot afford the costs of hiring a lawyer and the
fees and disbursements associated with challenging the actions or omissions of public authorities
particularly the police.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Overall it
was a very busy year, with some significant victories. 2020 will mark my 15<sup>th</sup>
year since I was called to the Ontario Bar.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Constitutional and Public law<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/j2cj3"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Langenfeld v. Toronto Police Services Board et al.,</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> 2019 CarswellOnt 14511, 2019 ONCA 716, 309 A.C.W.S. (3d) 506, 437 D.L.R. (4th) 614, 55 Admin. L.R. (6th) 322, 58 C.C.L.T. (4th) 27 (ONCA). </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">This application involves the right of individuals to attend public meetings of the Toronto Police Services Board (“TPSB”), held in the second floor auditorium of Police Headquarters in Toronto, without submitting to a search carried out with neither a warrant nor reasonable and probable grounds. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice declared that the practice of searching visitors to Police Headquarters prior to entry in the absence of a warrant or reasonable and probable grounds, as it applies to individuals wishing to attend public meetings of the TPSB, infringes s. 2(b) of the Charter and is not justified under s. 1 of the Charter because the infringement is not prescribed by law. The Court of Appeal agreed with the Superior Court that a search as a condition of entry to Police Headquarters infringed the s.2 (b) rights of individuals wishing to attend the TPSB meetings. On the s. 1 analysis, it held that the infringement was justified, as it was prescribed by law and was a reasonable limit on the s. 2(b) right. Therefore, it allowed the appeal of the Chief of Police, set aside the application judge’s order, and dismissed Mr. Langenfeld’s application. An application for leave to appeal was filed in the Supreme Court of Canada. As an aside, the reach of the Langenfeld decsions was recently explained in </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.ontariocourts.ca/decisions/2019/2019ONCA1025.pdf" target="_blank">Canadian Broadcasting Corporation v. Ferrier </a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">2019 ONCA 1025</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I was co-counsel for Rocco Achampong in <a href="https://www.ontariocourts.ca/coa/C65861/" target="_blank">Toronto (City) v. Ontario (Attorney General)</a> (C65861) where Justice Edward Belobaba of Ontario Superior Court of Justice overturned Bill 5, Better Local Government Act that dramatically changed the composition of City Counsel mid-way through the 2018 municipal elections. See, <a href="http://canlii.ca/t/httrh" target="_blank">City of Toronto et al v. Ontario (Attorney General)</a>, 2018 ONSC 5151 stay granted <a href="http://canlii.ca/t/hv54t" target="_blank">Toronto (City) v. Ontario (Attorney General)</a>, 2018 ONCA 761.</span><span class="reference" face=""open sans" , "myriad web" , "verdana" , sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The appeal was heard on the merit by a five member panel of the Court of Appeal and the Court in a majority decision overturned the decision of the Superior Court and restored the status quo in favor of cutting City Council. See,<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/j2j5f" target="_blank">Toronto (City) v. Ontario (Attorney General)</a>, 2019 ONCA 732. Mr. Achampong did not participate in the appeal. The City of Toronto has applied for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. It is likely that we will intervene if leave is granted.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I provided an <a href="http://selwynpieters.com/PIETERS_AFFIDAVIT_2019_01_03.pdf" target="_blank">expert affidavit </a>in Reid v. Speaker<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charrandass and AG which was cited by the Chief Justice of Guyana in her decision, that was upheld by the Caribbean Court of Justice in <a href="http://www.ccj.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2019-CCJ-10AJ1.pdf" target="_blank">CharrandasPersaud v Compton Herbert Reid, Dr Barton Scotland, The Attorney General,Bharrat Jagdeo, Joseph Harmon & Guyana Elections Commission</a> [2019] CCJ 10 (AJ). See also, <a href="https://demerarawaves.com/2019/01/04/high-court-asked-to-quash-no-confidence-motion-says-charrandass-persaud-was-canadian-since-1998/" target="_blank">High Court asked to quash no-confidence motion; says Charrandas Persaud was Canadian since 1998</a> - Demerara Waves Online News Guyana, January 04, 2019</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Education
Law/ Civil Litigation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/hxcb1"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Lam v. The University of Western Ontario Board of
Governors et al.</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">,
2019 ONCA 82, 2019 CarswellOnt 1562 (ONCA) cost order </span><a href="http://canlii.ca/t/hxvwv"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Lam
v. The University of Western Ontario Board of Governors et al.</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">, 2019 ONCA 185, 2019 CarswellOnt
3247 (ONCA) leave to appeal denied </span><a href="http://canlii.ca/t/j1hm9"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">University of Western Ontario Board
of Governors v. Simon Lam,</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
2019 CanLII 64826 (SCC). In this case the Court of Appeal determined that a
University Student can sue for a breach of contract. The Court looked at what
was signed when the student agreed to attend that university, which would
contain the terms of the contract arguably and the graduate student handbook,
and determined that there was an arguable case to litigate. This matter now
proceeds to a trial. Another of my colleagues is handling the trial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/sites/default/files/academic-appeal-committee-reports/Report%20402-%20Final.pdf"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">W.H. v. Toronto School of Theology</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> The Student sought to appeal the
termination of his registration in the Doctor of Theology Program (Program). Minutes
of Settlement waived Student’s appeal rights. The Chair asked for written
submissions from the parties as to whether the Academic Appeals Committee (AAC)
had jurisdiction to hear the appeal. University of Toronto Academic Appeal Tribunal
dismissed case holding that it has no jurisdiction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Police
Law (hybrid Human Rights)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/hwvx8"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Stanley v. Chief of Police of the Toronto Police
Service</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">, 2019 ONSC
180, 2019 CarswellOnt 65 (S.C.J.) stay of judgement pending appeal Stanley v.
Office of the Independent Police Review Director 2019 CarswellOnt 13600 (ONCA).
I have completed the appeal on the merits of Stanley v. OIPRD at the Ontario
Court of Appeal. The decision is reserved. Essentially the Divisional Court
rejected the proposition that OIPRD and a police service can have backroom
conversations on substantive matters without the complainant being notified and
held that “[28] As is emphasized by the name of the decision-maker, the
Director of the Office of Independent Police Review was obliged to conduct an
independent investigation and reach an independent decision. This independence
is central to the OIPRD’s role in providing a public complaints system against
police officers in Ontario: <a href="http://canlii.ca/t/gv2jx" target="_blank">Nobody v. Ontario Civilian Police Commission</a>, 2016
ONSC 5824 (CanLII) (Div. Ct.), at para. 49. Here, in circumstances which belie
the independence of the OIPRD, the Director had undisclosed discussions with
the TPS about changing his decision and, ultimately, he did change his
decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These undisclosed
communications give rise, at least, to an appearance of unfairness and
compromise the independence of the Director.”</span></div>
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<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/j0vxm"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Aiken v. Ottawa Police Services Board</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> 2019 CarswellOnt 9212, 2019 HRTO
934 (HRTO). In this case the parties sought a
determination of the “data collection question” of the public interest remedy
contained in the Consent and Agreement dated July 23, 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The agreement was reached between the Parties
and the Human Rights Commission (the “Commission”) by way of a settlement of
the underlying complaint. The Commission is no longer a party to the
proceedings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Applicant, Chad Aiken, sought
an interpretation that reflects his right (and that of other persons in Ottawa)
to equal treatment with respect to policing by the Ottawa Police Services (the
“OPS”) without discrimination based on race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In seeking this interpretation, the Applicant maintains its position
that the data collection should be sufficiently encompassing to determine
whether there is an overrepresentation of Afro-Canadians in police scrutiny. The
Tribunal opined on the “critical secondary work” that is needed when data
reveals a problem. It urged that “data collection is just a first step, albeit
a significant one, in addressing racial disproportionalities arising from
policing practices.” The HRTO strongly urged the police service to take the
next steps in the process – “to identify to the best of its ability what is
causing or contributing to these disparities through conducting further
research, and then based on the research findings, to develop and implement
specific strategies to reduce and hopefully eliminate these disparities.” paras
130, 132. The Tribunal felt that Ottawa Police went way beyond what was called
for in the 2012 Memorandum of Settlement and agreement.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I currently sit on four technical tables convened by the Ministry of the Solicitor General to create standards for the implementation of the Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act, 2019, S.O. 2019, c. 1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I also attended community meetings in Regent Park on collecting statistics and the roll out of the new neighborhood policing model. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Securities Law / Quasi Criminal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">R. v. W. W. 2019 CarswellOnt 18822 (O.C.J.) - On January 21, 2019, Mr. W. pleaded guilty to one count of trading in securities while prohibited contrary to s. 122(1)(c) of the Ontario Securities Act. The OSC Prosecutors were seeking 12 months as a joint position, 15 to 16 months as an open position, 2 years less a day on conviction after trial, and two years probation, in any event, on terms that would prohibit Mr. W. from working in securities or any related businesses. Justice Malcolm McLeod of the Ontario Court of Justice was not convinced that a higher sentence was required as there was no fraud involved, it was not a boiler room scam and neither was there any investor losses. Reviewing existing caselaw, Justice McLeod found that harsher sentences were usually reserved for offenders facing similar charges in cases involving boiler room scams and significant investor losses. The court made it clear that no such factors were present in Mr. Weber’s case and such absence of ordinarily aggravating factors cannot be used to drive up the sentence. Taking guidance from existing precedents, Justice McLeod refused to accept the OSC’s arguments for a higher sentence in the range of 15-18 months. Mr. W. was sentenced to a 90-days intermittent sentence to be served on weekends and two years probation. OSC has appealed the sentence and a hearing of the appeal has been set for May 25, 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">R. v. W.W. 2019 CarswellOnt 14097 (O.C.J.) Mr. W. brought an application to strike his guilty plea on the basis that it was not voluntary, informed and unequivocal. The motion to strike the guilty plea was dismissed. The matter thereafter proceeded to the sentencing phase.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Criminal Law</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">R. v. M.B. 2019 CarswellOnt 10207 (O.C.J.). M.B. was a residential support worker employed at children’s residence that housed individuals with developmental, emotional, psychiatric and behavioural challenges. She was alleged to have assaulted 11-year old complainant on six occasions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A third-party record application was filed. Records were produced for review by judge, who concluded that some of records were likely relevant. Copies of were produced. Record was not to be used in any other proceeding except with authorization of court order. M.B. matter proceeded to trial and she was acquitted of all charges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">R. v. B.L. (O.C.J.). Mr. L. was charged with six counts of assault, one count of assault with a weapon and one count of utter threat to cause death. He pled guilty to two counts of assault and was given a conditional discharge with probation. The Crown sought a DNA Order for this secondary designated offence. Submissions were made that t</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">he state’s interest in obtaining the offender’s DNA profile is premised on the serious nature of both primary and secondary designated offences making the order one that will advance the state’s objectives of:<a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/ADMIN/Remembering%202019.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">deterring potential repeat offenders (i.e. specific deterrence);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">promoting the safety of the community;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">detecting/identifying/prosecuting the offence upon re-offending;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">assisting in the solving of "cold" crimes;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">streamline investigations; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">f)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">protecting the innocent by eliminating suspects and exonerating the wrongfully convicted.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Justice Stephen Brown accepted and adopted my written submissions: "I have read Mr. Pieters' very thorough written submissions on this matter and they are set out in paragraph 28 to 39 on his written submissions which I am going to file…. And I adopt them in their entirety.". The Crown’s request for an Order to collect Mr. B.L. DNA was denied.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Human
Rights Law<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/hxv51"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Khan v. Ontario (Community Safety and Correctional
Services)</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> 2019
HRTO 357, 2019 CarswellOnt 2769 (HRTO). <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">In this case, the applicant filed an Application alleging discrimination because of race, colour, ancestry, ethnic origin, disability and reprisal contrary to the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, as amended (the “Code”). Specifically, among other things the applicant alleges that the respondents have discriminated and reprised against her in how hours at the workplace have been scheduled.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> In addition to filing this Application, the applicant filed a grievance with her union regarding the way in which hours are scheduled. The grievance alleges that there is favouritism in the awarding of overtime hours. She seeks “full redress”. The Tribunal deferred the matter. The applicant subsequently withdrew her grievances and the matter is proceeding through the HRTO processes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">2015-20752-I; 2015-20753-I; 2015-20754-I </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Stanley v. Toronto Police Services Board. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> The applicant filed three Applications, one on behalf of each of her three sons (the “claimants”). In the Applications, she alleged that the respondents discriminated against the claimants because of race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin and age contrary to the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. c. H. 19, as amended (the “Code”). The Application arose out of a raid of the applicant’s home carried out by Toronto Police officers in April 2014. The Applicant alleged that the officers’ conduct was fuelled by stereotypical assumptions about young black males and their propensity to commit criminal offences and to act violently. In addition to filing the Applications, the applicant filed a complaint to the OIPRD alleging misconduct on the part of the police officers involved in the raid. See, above section on Police law. This Human Rights matter came before the Tribunal in 2019 and has now been completed.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">HRTO File 2019-37512-I
- S.A. by litigation guardian A. A. v TPSB, et al. This case revolves around
the encounter between a group of racialized youths in Regent Park and Toronto
Police Officers who followed them over several blocks and then pretextually
ticketed them at a traffic light (crossing on a red light) to collect
intelligence in 51 Division. A human Rights complaint was filed in June 2019
This case will be a test on how far the Human Rights Tribunal is willing to go
to make orders dealing with Walking Whilst Black situations. A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxxRaAJRovI&t=16s" target="_blank">youtube </a>video of part of the encounter is available.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">HRTO File
2018-33829-I JC v The Regional Municipality of Peel Police Services Board et al
involves a complaint filed by a Black youth concerning his experience with Peel
Police. On August 25, 2017, in Brampton, Ontario, J.C. was arrested by Peel
Police and criminally charged for assaulting a police officer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those criminal charges were later
withdrawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time of his arrest,
J.C. was a young person under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, S.C. 2002, C.1
(“YCJA”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He subsequently commenced an
application (“Human Rights Application”) before the Human Rights Tribunal of
Ontario (“HRTO”) alleging that the Peel Regional Police Services Board,
Jennifer Evans, David Oxley, Jarrett Curtis, Alexander Scott-Krawczyk and Gary
Mackin (collectively, “Peel Police”) discriminated against J.C. on numerous
grounds including race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Judge of the
Ontario Court of Justice recently granted an Order with respect to the use the
parties can make of the file in the criminal proceedings. The matter is likely
to be heavily litigated in 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Harrower
v. Ontario 2019 CarswellOnt 14680 (HRTO) – The applicant suffers from
Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), a congenital joint contracture
condition, as well as several other conditions including Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) and Celiac Disease. In addition to his disabilities
and illnesses, of which he needs immediate and urgent relief of his symptoms,
Ken has limited funds making the OCS system unreasonable and flawed. As a
result of his COPD condition, Ken is unable to smoke cannabis and must either
eat cannabis in edible form or eat raw cannabis itself. Given his disabilities,
he is unable to work full-time, making him reliant on the Ontario Disability
Support Program where he receives very limited funds that do not adequately
cover his day-to-day expenses. Ken has a prescription for medical cannabis
under Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulation. Ken filed a Human
Rights challenge against The Attorney General of Ontario, The Office of the
Premier of Ontario and The Toronto Police Service citing that the current
cannabis retail system launched by the Government of Ontario –<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) – is flawed
and discriminatory against people with disabilities and limited financial
means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tribunal directed combined
summary/preliminary hearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tribunal
would determine whether complaint had reasonable prospect of succeeding.
Parties could make submissions regarding whether complaint should be dismissed
on basis medical cannabis was unconnected to jurisdiction of Ontario.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">2017-28096-I
Walkes v. Reids Heritage Homes the Tribunal heard evidence on whether an expert
affidavit from J David Hulchanski, PhD will be accepted into evidence and the
expert qualified to provide evidence in this housing discrimination case. Dr.
Hulchanski posited that “Given that the Black population of the region Fergus
is part of is 526,000 (5.8% of the GGH, Table 1) researchers are correct to
wonder what are the odds of an exceptionally small Black population of Fergus
occurring and maintaining itself ‘naturally,’ and for so long (as of 2016),
given the extensive ethnocultural diversity of the Toronto region, and much of
Ontario and Canada? How is it that Fergus with 20,400 people, 8,150 households,
in a county that has 3,300 Black residents, has a Black population of 100?
These facts, given that they are from 2016, would alert most researchers to
consider residential discrimination, in the form of racial steering and racial
exclusion, as part of the explanation.” The decision in respect to this
discrete issue is reserved. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">In the international law arena, I was </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">engaged as a local expert for the World Bank Group’s Women, Business and the Law project in their Violence against Women survey for Guyana. My contribution was reported in the Law Times, <a href="https://www.lawtimesnews.com/practice-areas/human-rights/canadian-lawyer-helps-with-world-bank-project-on-women-and-the-law/321082" target="_blank">Canadian lawyer helps with World Bank project on women and the law</a>, October 21, 2019. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Licencing
/ Professional Regulation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/hznl5"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">11724 v. Director, Child, Youth and
Family Services Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
2019 CarswellOnt 2389, 2019 CanLII 29112 (ON LAT). The appellant operated a children’s residence in Ottawa, Ontario. It appealed the
respondent’s Proposal to Revoke a Licence (the Proposal) pursuant to s. 236(1)
and s. 264(2) of the <i>Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017</i>. This
decision dealt with a request to seal part of the hearing and its records. The
Tribunal considered the openness principle as set out in Toronto Star v. AG
Ontario, 2018 ONSC 2586 (ONSC). The appellants voluntarily surrendered their
licence. Two days of evidence was heard in Ottawa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Inquests<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Ekamba, Re
2019 CarswellOnt 9640. Mr. Ekamba was fatally shot by Peel Regional Police
officers who were responding to a complaint. During the incident, a stray
police bullet struck Ms. Susan Zreik, who had not been involved and was in her
apartment. Ms. Zreik was transported to hospital, underwent surgery for the
bullet wound, and survived the injury. Mr. Ekamba’s death was investigated by
the Special Investigations Unit. At the conclusion of its investigation, the
SIU did not lay criminal charges against the involved officers. One of the main
issues in the inquest is the intersection of race and mental health and what
role it had in this case. The Inquest has been scheduled for three weeks
commencing May 11, 2020. I will be counsel for Black Action Defence Committee.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Cannabis
Law<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">This was a
busy year litigating cannabis cases on many fronts. The advocacy was in the
Courts and on the streets. Toronto Police Services conducted major operations
resulting in the arrest and prosecution of hundreds of young bud tenders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Toronto
Police Service Drug Squad launched Project Buffet in which charges were laid of
conspire to commit an indictable offence: to wit, distribution of cannabis,
contrary to subsection 10(1) of the Cannabis Act, thereby committing an offence
contrary to subsection 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code and Possession of
property obtained by crime: to wit, currency derived from drug trafficking,
contrary to section 354(1) of the Criminal Code against numerous persons. On
some days I was running bail hearing for 15 persons held for show cause
hearings. These matters are making their way through the Courts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Sale or
distribution by non-authorized cannabis retailer or permitted by landlord
(ss.6, 7, 13 and 23 of the CCA). For charges od sale of cannabis under s. 6 of
the CCA, Ontario Attorney General disposed of over 100 cases with the use of
fines of $500.00 and stays of some of the charges. The City of Toronto
prosecution asked for $1000.00 and one-year probation, for the budtenders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Concrete blocks
were used to shutter dispensaries. In one instance which prompted a hasty
change in the law, I forced the City of Toronto By-law enforcement to re-open a
location in which a tenant was locked out of his unit.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The law
was amended to remove the provision where a building remained open if residential
tenants resided on the property. We litigated the change of the legislation in <a href="http://canlii.ca/t/j2psn">Brodie v. Attorney General of Ontario</a>, 2019
ONSC 5735. Unfortunately, the application judge did not allow interim access to
the premises pending the determination of the constitutional issues.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Law enforcement
inclusive of the police engaged in aggressive enforcement in relation to
cannabis under the governing federal and provincial statutes, namely, the <i>Criminal
Code</i>, <i>Cannabis Act</i> and the <i>Cannabis Control Act, 2017</i> (CCA)
which came into force on October 17, 2018 in Ontario.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
unlicensed cannabis market has and continue to meet a demand unmet by the
current regulatory regime. In this regard, there because intense enforcement
action by the City of Toronto and Toronto Police to shut down the unlicensed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
Cannabis Retail Store Allocation Lottery became a farce and has been the
subject of litigation. <a href="https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/08/21/13-new-pot-shops-set-to-open-in-toronto/">104
Harbord Street</a>, the location of a series of raids, actually won one of the
spots in the lottery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
Province recently announced that the laws will be amended to open the markets.
In the meantime, hundreds of criminal matters and CCA matters are clogging up
the Court’s dockets and wasting precious judicial, public and private resources
because of a series of costly missteps on the part of the government and
regulators.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I have won
two different awards in 2019 for my work on law reform and advocacy in this
area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Cases will
be litigated in 2020 on the Constitutional, human rights, criminal/quasi
criminal and administrative law front on the cannabis files. It will be
interesting to see how the judiciary wrestle with these matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Admin/CLIENT_FILES/ADMIN/Remembering%202019.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">R. v. F.(P.R.)</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>, </i>2001 CarswellOnt
4566 (C.A.), </span><i> </i></span>at paras 17-18.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-87787450357237621852019-10-31T05:13:00.001-04:002019-12-26T02:48:23.751-05:00Contemptuous Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada<div class="mentions-texteditor__content" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: 1.5; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="font-size: 1.6rem;">
<i style="font-size: small;"><span class="userContent">By <a href="http://oba.org/Members/Canada/ON/Toronto/Selwyn-Pieters?lang=en-CA" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a>, B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span></i></div>
<div style="font-size: 1.6rem;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="userContent"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 1.6rem;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 1.6rem;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pieterslaw/" target="_blank">Pieters Law Office</a></i></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 1.6rem;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Created October 31, 2019</i></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 1.6rem;">
<br style="color: black; font-size: medium;" /></div>
<span style="font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "fira sans" , "ubuntu" , "oxygen" , "oxygen sans" , "cantarell" , "droid sans" , "apple color emoji" , "segoe ui emoji" , "segoe ui symbol" , "lucida grande" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The Law Society Tribunal (Ontario) was forced to take the unusual step of stating a case of contempt against the non-compliant Federal Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) to the Ontario's Divisional Court. See,<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/j30nw" target="_blank"> Law Society of Ontario v. Odeleye</a>, 2019 ONLSTH 135 <http://canlii.ca/t/j30nw></span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div>
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The war between the two Tribunals centers around an order for the IRB to produce relevant file evidence to the Law Society for vetting and redaction so that it can determine what is to be disclosed to the parties to a misconduct proceedings.<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/hz48z" target="_blank"> Law Society of Ontario v. Odeleye</a>, 2019 ONLSTH 42 (CanLII), <http://canlii.ca/t/hz48z></div>
<div class="mentions-texteditor__content" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: 1.5; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div>
<div class="mentions-texteditor__content" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); line-height: 1.5; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That process is governed by the Common Law process set out by the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. O’Connor (1995), [1996] 2 W.W.R. 153, [1995] 4 S.C.R. 411 </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, 130 D.L.R. (4th) 235 (S.C.C.). If the Tribunal is satisfied that the records are likely relevant, the Tribunal should decide based on the inspection of the records, whether, and to what extent the records should be produced.</span><br />
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Factors to consider in
determining whether to order production include the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 20.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">a) The extent to which the record is necessary for the accused to
make full answer and defence;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 20.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">b) The probative value of the record in question;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 20.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">c) The nature and extent of the reasonable expectation of privacy
vested in that record;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 20.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">d) Whether production of the record would be premised upon any
discriminatory belief or bias, and,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 20.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">e) The potential prejudice to the complainant’s dignity, privacy
or security of the person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div>
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The Law Society Tribunal ultimately agreed with the Lawyer "that the IRB should produce to us complete copies of the records the IRB has already produced in part."<br />
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The IRB refused to cooperate and comply with the Tribunal's order and did not sought judicial review of the decision. It then remained silent in the face of the Tribunal's order:</div>
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"The tenor of Ms. Jennifer Harnum’s submissions and the animus that the IRB has shown for our adjudicative processes and procedures are concerning.... The IRB’s contempt for our process is surprising, coming as it does from a federal administrative tribunal that has the same or similar obligations of procedural fairness as we have. The IRB’s conduct has been as baffling to us as it has been frustrating" wrote Law Society Adjudicator Thomas G. Conway.</div>
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'In our view, the IRB’s breach of our order will have a serious deleterious effect on the fairness of the adjudication of this application if the breach is not remedied."</div>
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Adjudicator Conway concluded " For the reasons stated, we have concluded on the facts of this case that we should exercise our discretion under s. 13(1) of the SPPA by asking the Divisional Court to inquire into whether the IRB is in contempt of our orders for production of records."</div>
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I agree with the steps taken by the Law Society Tribunal in this case. Its orders must be complied with and it is remarkable and significant that a Federal Tribunal sought to ignore or otherwise not comply with the orders to produce relevant documents required to ensure that the public interest is protected. After all the Tribunal has to determine in this case whether or not the lawyer misconducted himself in three refugee proceedings. It would be an injustice to the parties if relevant evidence held by a third party is not produced. </div>
Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-19115344370659560752018-04-08T01:22:00.001-04:002018-04-08T01:31:39.519-04:00Doug Ford will provide enhanced funding for TAVISOntario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford's speech on policing: if he becomes Premier of Ontario in June 2018 he will pump more money into The Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy (TAVIS). Tavis was a unit that collected personal information on mostly Black and Brown males. It was feared and hated for criminalizing a community based on racial stereotypes.<br />
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<br />Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-2730495228074523002018-03-21T03:09:00.000-04:002018-03-22T08:08:50.428-04:00International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2018International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: Racial Minorities, particularly Blacks, have little to nothing to cheer about or celebrate.<br />
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Racial Profiling is rampant. We are still faces at the bottom of the well.<br />
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In Canada and the United States, racist rallies that were a thing of the past has publicly emerged and politics is moving to the far right.<br />
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Black kids are still profiled in school as requiring special education or having some form of exceptionality.<br />
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Black kids and their parents are increasingly stressed by Children Aid Societies and Black kids are more likely to be taken into care, sometimes for the least infractions or allegations.<br />
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Prisons are overpopulated with Black men who should be in Universities. The criminal justice system remains systemically racist.<br />
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Black men are in distress numbers are disproportionately arrested, charged, assaulted, seriously injured or killed by police in the United States, Ontario, Canada, Guyana, the United Kingdom, and Trinidad. Extra-judicial killing by state agents that are troubling but justice for the victims remain illusory.<br />
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Whether its dressed as implicit bias, implicit racism, systemic racism, institutionalized racism or personal racism: it is racism.<br />
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Our justice system participants still don't get it on what is racial profiling.<br />
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Consumer racial profiling remains prevalent.<br />
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Black people are excluded in large numbers from corporate Canada's boardrooms and large law firms. One can still count the numbers because they are so low.<br />
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Discrimination in employment, whether it is in the public service or private sector remains the second highest grounds for applications under the Human Rights Code.<br />
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Access to justice remains illusory. On March 21, 2000, I wrote:<br />
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For those of us who are true, committed anti-racist, we must continue to fight against all of the evils of racism which evident within our society. We are not the first to fight this battle. We do not want the next generation to have to fight this battle again.<br />
March 21 is a time for us to re-dedicate and re-commit ourselves to fight any and all social injustices that isn't beneficial to the society in which we were brought up [and in which some of us has adopted as our home].<br />
Our continued fight has reinforced the meaning of moral courage, humility and integrity. We hope that the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Human Rights Commission can learn the meaning of moral courage, humility and integrity from us.</blockquote>
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The truth hurts but it must be told.<br />
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While I remain hopeful. I have little to celebrate in 2018.<br />
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March 21, 2018<br />
Selwyn A. Pieters<br />
Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public<br />
of the Bars of Guyana, Trinidad and Ontario.Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-34996127074730003152018-02-02T13:10:00.003-05:002018-02-02T13:10:24.830-05:00Racism targets York University Osgoode Hall Law SchoolFebruary 22, 2001<br />
Courtesy of the Toronto Star<br />
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Racism targets York law school<br />
Black students look for justice after hate letters<br />
Nicholas Keung<br />
STAFF REPORTER<br />
Toronto police are investigating three incidents targeting black law students at York University in the past few weeks.<br />
Some time between Feb. 8 and 10, a photo on the Black Law Students Association's bulletin board in the basement of York's Osgoode Hall Law School was defaced. The eye of one of the pictured women was poked with a pin.<br />
Last Thursday and Monday, two black female law students received hate letters on campus with newspaper clippings attached about crimes involving people of colour and a message that said, ``It disgusts me to see you at Osgoode.''<br />
Two hate crime investigators met with about 40 of the students - along with associate dean Shelley Gavigan and campus security officials - in a closed meeting yesterday to discuss the issues.<br />
``This is a cowardly, despicable act,'' said Sue-Lynn Noel, president of the black students group and one of the women who received the letters.<br />
``People are worried. We look around in our classes and the person sitting next to us could be the one who's responsible for it.''<br />
Law student Selwyn Pieters agreed. ``It has certainly created a hostile and poisoned learning environment for me as well as others.''<br />
Detective Constable Samuel Samm refused to reveal the evidence but said he believed the incidents were related and might have been committed by the same individual. No suspect has been identified.<br />
``The letters were all hate propaganda, trying to demean and degrade the (black) community. Hate crime incidents against black people tend to heat up during the Black History Month,'' he said.<br />
Police are trying to track down the source of the letters through postmarks and fingerprints on the two white business envelopes.<br />
``We regret that these incidents happened,'' Gavigan said.<br />
``We are a law school that has the most diverse student body. Diversity is our strength and these students are part of our excellence.''Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-47780351544886273312017-10-23T21:52:00.001-04:002017-10-23T21:52:25.519-04:00Le petit Fils caché du Président de la République Cameroun<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_4zgbA0oHEs" width="459"></iframe>Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-40071557025831946452017-08-22T02:25:00.001-04:002017-11-06T20:51:30.125-05:00Closing arguments in Commission of Inquiry re plot to assassinate Guyana President David Granger<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="userContent">By <a href="http://oba.org/Members/Canada/ON/Toronto/Selwyn-Pieters?lang=en-CA" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a>, B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span><span class="userContent"></span></i></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Posted on August 21, 2017</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Updated November 06, 2017</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
The Commission of Inquiry to inquire into the persons, places, time, circumstances and events by and through which allegations and reports came to be made of an intention or a plan to assassinate the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana has completed it hearing and the <a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/COI_Slowe_Report.pdf" target="_blank">Report</a> prepared by Paul E. Slowe was presented to the President of Guyana and made public.<br />
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<a href="http://officialgazette.gov.gy/images/gazettes-files/Extraordinary-gazettes_12JULY2017.pdf" target="_blank">Terms of Reference</a>, Paul Slowe COI<br />
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The Commission of Inquiry had 12 sittings and concluded its public hearings on Friday August 18, 2017<br />
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Paul Slowe, Sole Commissioner<br />
James A. Bond, was Commission Counsel<br />
Ian N. Chang, S.C. and Brandan Glasford represented the Guyana Police Force<br />
Glenn Hanoman represented Seelall Persaud, D.S.M.<br />
Selwyn Pieters represented Travis Chase<br />
Christopher Ram represented Imran Khan<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Commission of Inquiry - Oral and Written Submissions</span></u></b></span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Travis_Chase_SUBMISSIONS_Final_180817.pdf" target="_blank">Written Argument </a>Prepared by Selwyn Pieters on behalf of HGP Nightly News TV. Journalist Travis Chase<br />
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<a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Chang_Submissions_2017_08_18.pdf" target="_blank">Written Argument of Ian N. Chang, S.C. </a>Counsel for the Guyana Police Force submissions at the Paul Slowe COI<br />
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<a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Pieters_Reply_Chang_Submissions_2017_08_21.pdf" target="_blank">Written Reply Submission to Guyana Police Counsel Ian N. Chang</a> Prepared by Selwyn Pieters on behalf of HGP Nightly News TV Journalist Travis Chase<br />
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<a href="https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onca/doc/2014/2014onca578/2014onca578.html" target="_blank">McAteer v. Canada (Attorney General)</a> 2014 CarswellOnt 10955, 2014 ONCA 578, 121 O.R. (3d) 1, 242 A.C.W.S. (3d) 772, 376 D.L.R. (4th) 258 (ONCA)<br />
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<a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Kemble_oaths.pdf" target="_blank">R. v. Peter Kemble </a>(1990) 1 WLR 1111, [1990] 3 All E.R. 116 (H.L.)<br />
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<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/2848x" target="_blank">R. v. Nasogaluak</a>, [2010] 1 SCR 206, 2010 SCC 6, 315 DLR (4th) 193; 19 Alta LR (5th) 1; 474 AR 88; 251 CCC (3d) 293; 72 CR (6th) 1; 398 NR 107; AZ-50609170; [2010] CarswellAlta 268; EYB 2010-169818; JE 2010-403; [2010] SCJ No 6 (QL)<br />
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<a href="http://canlii.ca/t/50d1" target="_blank">R. v. Neil</a>, [2002] 3 SCR 631, 2002 SCC 70, 218 DLR (4th) 671; [2003] 2 WWR 591; 317 AR 73; 6 Alta LR (4th) 1; 168 CCC (3d) 321; 6 CR (6th) 1; 294 NR 201; [2002] CarswellAlta 1301; JE 2002-2002; [2002] SCJ No 72 (QL); 284 WAC 73; 55 WCB (2d) 36<br />
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<b><u>EVIDENCE</u></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/AC_Ramnarine.pdf" target="_blank">David Ramnarine Evidence</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Commissioner_Seelall.pdf" target="_blank">Seelall Persaud Evidence</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Blanhum.pdf" target="_blank">Wendell Blanhum Evidence</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Caesar.pdf" target="_blank">Mitchell Caesar Evidence</a><br />
<a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Gillard_testimony.pdf" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.selwynpieters.com/documents/Gillard_testimony.pdf" target="_blank">Andriff Gillard Evidence</a><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Resources / Media</span></u></b><br />
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<a data-href="https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2017/08/19/coi-into-alleged-assassination-plot-lawyers-argue-over-powers-to-grant-bail-credibility-of-report-as-inquiry-concludes/" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjtzvjVmurVAhXKSSYKHf_bCL4QFggoMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kaieteurnewsonline.com%2F2017%2F08%2F19%2Fcoi-into-alleged-assassination-plot-lawyers-argue-over-powers-to-grant-bail-credibility-of-report-as-inquiry-concludes%2F&usg=AFQjCNHNKj0PmkM89H3-2AIWlyDlYfCSIA" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer;">COI into alleged assassination plot… Lawyers argue over powers to grant bail, credibility of report, as inquiry concludes</a> Kaieteur News August 19, 2017</h3>
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<a href="https://demerarawaves.com/2017/08/18/granger-assassination-plot-inquiry-lawyers-differ-over-police-commissioner-persauds-involvement-while-on-leave/" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Granger assassination plot inquiry: Lawyers differ over Police Commissioner Persaud’s involvement while on leave</a> Demerara Waves August 18, 2017</h3>
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<a href="https://guyanachronicle.com/2017/08/19/coi-winds-up-lawyer-rips-police-handling-of-assassination-plot" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; font-size: 18px; text-decoration-line: none;">CoI winds up …Lawyer rips police handling of assassination plot</a><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 18px;">Guyana Chronicle, August 19, 2017</span><br />
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<a href="http://newsroom.gy/2017/08/16/coi-chairman-shoots-down-blanhums-request-to-challenge-ramnarine/" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">CoI Chairman shoots down Blanhum's request to challenge Ramnarine</a> News Room Guyana August 15, 2017</h3>
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<a data-href="http://guyanatimesgy.com/lawyers-clash-over-bail-top-cop-interference/" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwilxLTMnOrVAhVCSSYKHaYrBxIQFghZMAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fguyanatimesgy.com%2Flawyers-clash-over-bail-top-cop-interference%2F&usg=AFQjCNGZtA9tWP5tXmirOlLRQYlPeaQwLw" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer;">Lawyers clash over bail, Top Cop 'interference' | Guyana Times</a> August 19, 2017</h3>
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<a data-href="https://guyanachronicle.com/2017/08/01/bail-was-justified" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=32&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwimvJL-nOrVAhVIJCYKHYTlDFk4HhAWCC0wAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fguyanachronicle.com%2F2017%2F08%2F01%2Fbail-was-justified&usg=AFQjCNFlnXLYf-FdcjnYeibE_it71Wsq-w" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer;">Bail was justified - Guyana Chronicle</a> August 01, 2017</h3>
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<a data-href="http://demerarawaves.com/2017/07/31/businessman-denies-offering-gyd-millions-to-kill-president-granger/" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=21&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj7yvKDnurVAhVD4SYKHYxWBNw4FBAWCCcwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdemerarawaves.com%2F2017%2F07%2F31%2Fbusinessman-denies-offering-gyd-millions-to-kill-president-granger%2F&usg=AFQjCNFhoURirKJLtCIM-839hII3tJcr2w" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer;">Businessman denies offering GYD$ millions to kill President Granger</a> Demerara Waves August 1, 2017</h3>
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<a data-href="https://guyanachronicle.com/2017/08/01/assassination-plot" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=25&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj7yvKDnurVAhVD4SYKHYxWBNw4FBAWCEIwBA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fguyanachronicle.com%2F2017%2F08%2F01%2Fassassination-plot&usg=AFQjCNErx6rMq0g7wBhlIDkDOX2fL-YFVQ" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer;">Assassination plot : Motion to remove Chang as police attorney fails</a> Guyana Chronicle, August 1, 2017</h3>
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<a data-href="https://guyanachronicle.com/2017/07/28/assassination-plot-tv-news-anchor-says-cops-covering-up-matter" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=27&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj7yvKDnurVAhVD4SYKHYxWBNw4FBAWCFAwBg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fguyanachronicle.com%2F2017%2F07%2F28%2Fassassination-plot-tv-news-anchor-says-cops-covering-up-matter&usg=AFQjCNEYnOkP6CGmYi4y5Bm9qtXvKMD8_A" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer;">Assassination plot: TV news anchor says cops covering up matter </a> Guyana Chronicle, July 28, 2017</h3>
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Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12905031.post-33854510837967411802017-08-03T23:27:00.001-04:002017-08-03T23:44:11.258-04:00Cross-examination of Seelall Persaud, the Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force, on note-taking<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="userContent">By <a href="http://oba.org/Members/Canada/ON/Toronto/Selwyn-Pieters?lang=en-CA" target="_blank">Selwyn A. Pieters</a>, B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.</span><span class="userContent"></span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmDjaS6iZ89nXud1GQ0baj1F0qOUpUBKtTT3yZtfe2ljMtojYD9tNoiZhRoDeMAcoCM8HIIEjau9yO5VxcsICq41IWWtknGYIbA0x3OaSOW8OPUtAQ9XlDJnrv6qCvbFMVJydYw/s1600/TS20140408ED30.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="userContent"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lawyer & Notary Public (Ontario, Canada)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Attorney-at-Law (Republic of Guyana, Island of Trinidad)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pieterslaw/" target="_blank">Pieters Law Office</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Created August 3, 2017</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The Commission of Inquiry comprising Mr. Paul Slowe, DSM was issued on the 11th day of July, 2017, to-</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">1. inquire into the persons, places, time, circumstances and events by and through which allegations and reports came to be made of an intention or a plan to assassinate the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">2. investigate and review the full range of the Guyana Police Force’s actions and responses to the reports and the extent to which such actions were conducted or executed with due diligence;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">3. determine whether any person and, in particular, officers of the Guyana Police Force had information before and after reports were made of the plan to assassinate the President and whether any such officers communicated that information to a superior authority;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">4. record and report on what official action was taken on the basis of the information received and whether there was due diligence by the officers of the Guyana Police Force in the investigation of the plan to assassinate the President;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">5. review all actions taken by the Guyana Police Force and examine whether there was evidence failure, neglect or omission to thoroughly and properly investigate the intention or plan to assassinate the President and determine whether such failure or omission was intentional;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">6. determine the blameworthiness for failure or neglect of officers or persons involved in the investigation and recommend action to be taken against persons found to be blameworthy;</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">7. recommend steps that can be taken in order to prevent the recurrence of such incident and can be deemed appropriate by the Commissioner; </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">and </span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">8. identify systemic issues, if any, in the Guyana Police Force’s competence to investigate matters of this nature.</span><br />
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This is part of my Cross-examination of Seelall Persaud, the Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force, on note-taking and record keeping. Read and form your own opinion:<br />
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Mr. Pieters: I am Selwyn Pieters I represent the interest of a young reporter Mr. Travis Chase who is also in the Courtroom and I have some questions for you. <br />
Mr. Persaud: Sure.<br />
Mr. Pieters: Now Mr. Commissioner I understand that you were, sworn in as a Police Officer on October 15 1984.<br />
Mr. Persaud: That is correct.<br />
Mr. Pieters: And you are an internationally trained officer as well in terms of experience and education?<br />
Mr. Persaud: That is correct.<br />
Mr. Pieters: And that you went to Harvard University?<br />
Mr. Persaud: That is correct.<br />
Mr. Pieters: What did you do at Harvard University?<br />
Mr. Persaud: A course executive education in National and International Security.<br />
Mr. Pieters: And have you had training as well in other police organisations?<br />
Mr. Persaud:Yes, I did the FBI National Academy at the FBI Academy in Virginia USA, and I did Senior Investigating in Officers Course by the Scottish Police I did several drug investigation course by many conducted by many countries around the world<br />
.......<br />
Mr. Pieters: When did you become aware that Mr. Chase recorded an interview with Mr. Gillard?<br />
Mr. Persaud: I heard about an interview being aired sometime maybe shortly after he<br />
…<br />
Mr. Pieters: When was that?<br />
Mr. Persaud: I can't recall.<br />
Mr. Pieters: Who advised you?<br />
Mr. Persaud: I can't recall either.<br />
....<br />
Mr. Pieters: Yes, I appreciate that, but let me ask you this Mr. Commissioner do you have a pocket book?<br />
Mr. Persaud: No.<br />
Mr. Pieters: How do you record entries of issues that are brought to your attention by Officers?<br />
Mr. Persaud: Its filtered if there is a need to record I do record.<br />
....<br />
Mr. Pieters: Right, well who records, if you don't take a contemporaneous recording which is what your job is as a policeman, you are a policeman regardless if you are a Commissioner or Constable, right?<br />
Mr. Persaud: Yes.<br />
Mr. Pieters: And you are supposed to take contemporaneous notes, aren't you?<br />
Mr. Persaud: On matters that are investigating on matters of interest, yes.<br />
Mr. Pieters: And matters that are brought to your attention in your office as a police officer isn't that the case?<br />
Mr. Persaud: No it's not the case.<br />
.....<br />
Mr. Pieters: Did you take any notes in respect to these matters touching in the assassination plot against the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana?<br />
Mr. Persaud: No I didn't.<br />
Mr. Pieters: Why didn't you take notes?<br />
Mr. Persaud: It was not necessary.<br />
Mr. Pieters: I am going to suggest to you that it was.<br />
Mr. Persaud: I am going to continue to say that it was not.<br />
Mr. Pieters: I am going to suggest to you that it was neglect of duty for you not to take notes of an important issues such as this.<br />
Mr. Persaud: I will totally deny that.<br />
Mr. Pieters: Would you said that you know the date when you were advised that Mr. Chase did an interview with Gillard?<br />
Mr. Persaud: No, it was of no interest to me.<br />
Mr. Pieters: It was of no interest to you and we gone get to that.<br />
Mr. Persaud: Yes<br />
...<br />
Mr. Pieters: Let me finish my question, that‟s the problem as a professional<br />
policeman, you testified to the panel that you have no way of making contemporaneous<br />
notes…<br />
Mr. Persaud: That is true unless I find it necessary.<br />
Mr. Pieters: Well let us deal with that.<br />
Mr. Persaud: Yes.<br />
Mr. Pieters: Contemporaneous notes is an aide-memoire... taking notes is an aide-memoire, it aids your memory, and it helps you…<br />
Mr. Persaud:...I don't disagree with you…<br />
....<br />
Mr. Pieters: It is called an aide memoir, but it also assists you when you testify in<br />
court.<br />
Mr. Persaud: But I didn‟t know that it would have been called to testify on this, had I known that then from day one I would have probably made notes.<br />
Mr. Pieters:(inaudible)<br />
Mr. Persaud: No, I make notes when it's necessary, I didn't find it necessary.<br />
Mr. Pieters: But where is your is your memo book?<br />
Mr. Persaud: I have a personal diary.<br />
Mr. Pieters: Where is your personal diary?<br />
Mr. Persaud: It‟s in the office.<br />
Mr. Pieters: You came to court today, you don‟t think you should have brought it?<br />
Mr. Persaud: No.<br />
Mr. Pieters: If that is what you use to recollect your memory.<br />
Mr. Persaud: I am saying that I didn't write anything in relation to this matter in the diary.<br />
Mr. Pieters: You didn't write anything on this matter, so I will suggest this to you didn't write anything on this matter Mr. Persaud because you thought that all the officers would have covered up for you and exclude you from the whole sequence, that I why you didn't make notes.<br />
Mr. Persaud: I totally deny that I don't know of any commissioner of Police that went to any court and gives evidence of any investigation that the police force conducted during his tenure as commissioner.<br />
Mr. Pieters: That is what I suggest to you, and I will make some suggestions to you…<br />
Mr. Pieters: And you ordered that Gillard be sent on bail as well.<br />
Mr. Persaud: I never knew Gillard was arrested.<br />
Mr. Pieters: You did know…<br />
Mr. Persaud: Until this inquiry.<br />
Mr. Pieters: Well that shows how in tune you are with the police force that you<br />
manage.<br />
....<br />
Mr. Pieters: And when would you have briefed Mr. Ramnarine prior to your leave<br />
in…I think it was the end of February you went on leave.<br />
Mr. Persaud: It is normally done in the week before I proceeded.<br />
Mr. Pieters: Would you have memoed him?<br />
Mr. Persaud: Well no, there were oral briefs.<br />
Mr. Pieters: They were oral briefs, there was no note taker taking notes?<br />
Mr. Persaud: No.<br />
Mr. Pieters: And were you taking notes during the meeting with what you said to<br />
Ramnarine?<br />
Mr. Persaud: No.<br />
Mr. Pieters: And is Ramnarine taking notes of what you are saying to him?<br />
Mr. Persaud: I don‟t know.<br />
Mr. Pieters: Well you were at the meeting tell the panel.<br />
Mr. Persaud: I did see him writing I don‟t know if he was taking notes or writing<br />
something else, I never review.<br />
Mr. Pieters: So the change over of command is quite an ad-hoc matter…Selwyn Pietershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17077322513137275581noreply@blogger.com0