Legal action looms over President’s instruction

While some persons have expressed the view that President David Granger has “overstepped his boundaries” by ordering the Police Service Commission, (PSC) to halt all promotions, others have taken it a step further by threatening legal action.

Parliamentary opposition member and Attorney–at–law Anil Nandlall has issued a letter to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon outlining his intention to pursue legal action if the directive by the President is not recanted. In his correspondence to the Minister of State, Nandlall pointed to the letter dated 2017-07-26. The letter was addressed to Marvalyn Stephens, Secretary, Police Service Commission, Waterloo Street, Georgetown. Nandlall indicated in the correspondence that, “In that letter, you informed Ms. Stephens that: “His Excellency, President David Granger, has directed that there be no consideration of promotions for members of the Guyana Police Force by the Police Service Commission, until further notice.” You further requested Ms. Stephens to: “bring his Excellency’s directive to the immediate attention of the Commission.” Please be informed that your letter and its contents constitute a most egregious violation of both the letter and spirit of Article 226(1) of the Constitution.”

Nandlall went to quote what he describes as relevant parts of the law in this regard“… 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”. Further, he noted that Article 226(7) provides that the expression ‘commission’ means the Elections Commission, the Judicial Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission or the Police Service Commission. (Kaieteurnews.com)