President Ali confers ‘Silk’ on three Senior Counsel

Guyana Post, Saturday December 19, 2020

International Court of Justice rules that it has jurisdiction to hear the Guyana/Venezuela border case

On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) handed down a judgment in which it decided it has jurisdiction to hear the

His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali officially elevated three legal luminaries to the status of Senior Counsel, effective from October 30, 2020 while acknowledging their “high standards of excellence and experience in the legal profession”.

The three Senior Counsel, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, Mr Timothy Jonas and Mrs Jamela Ali, took their oaths in the presence of the Head of State, Government officials and their family Guyana/Venezuela border controversy case.

The decision was by a majority 12 for and four against.

The President of the members at a ceremony held on Thursday at the Baridi Benab in State House.

“Today I am pleased, as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to confer the title of Senior Counsel on three eminent members of the legal profession. Their records of excellence and sterling service exemplifies the high standards to which the legal profession aspires. The conferment of Senior Counsel on these three legal luminaries is meritorious and International Court of Justice, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf read the judgement at the Peace Palace in The Hague where a public sitting of the court was held.

On March 29, 2018, Guyana instituted the case against Venezuela, asking the ICJ to pronounce on the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award, determining the boundaries between the two countries.

According to the judgment, the 1899 Award states that both Guyana and Venezuela consented to the means of a judicial settlement.

Venezuela has argued that the court has no jurisdiction, therefore the country did not participate in the oral hearings.

Judge Yusuf explained Venezuela’s decision to not participate in the hearings so far has a negative impact on administration of justice, however judgment of the court is final and binding on both parties.

Judge Yusuf said the court concluded that it has jurisdiction to hear Guyana’s claims about validity of the 1899 Award and related questions of the definitive settlement of the land boundary dispute.

However, Judge Yusuf noted that the court’s jurisdiction is limited as it cannot entertain Guyana’s complaints on events that occurred after the signature of the Geneva

President Ali confers ‘Silk’ on three Senior Counsel after High Court ruling

From left, Timothy Jonus, Mrs Jamela Ali, His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

Agreement in 1966. deserving.” enhanced by the presence

President Ali reminded of persons who embody the new Senior Counsel the high standards and that their title has long traditions of excellence been associated with and service, within the standards of distinction. legal system.

“The conferment of Such standards, he ‘Silk’ is a mark of quality stressed, are therefore and thereby a means of reinforced by such enhancing public trust in appointments which are our legal system. Such based on merit and which appointments will repose can inspire greater respect greater confidence in the for and confidence in the efforts to ensure a more legal system. efficient and effective The President added system.” that an effective and

The Head of State noted efficient legal system too that public confidence is essential to the social in the administration contract between citizens of justice will only be and society, who look to

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the legal system to secure to appoint lawyers to peace, to deter violations Senior Counsel status. of the law and to protect The case was brought by their individual rights. Jonas who had challenged

On October 28, four Senior Counsel (SC) 2020 the Head of State appointments that were had announced that made by former President, the appointments of David Granger. the Senior Counsel Jonas was seeking were based on “their an Order of Certiorari demonstrable knowledge to be directed to the of and learning in the law Attorney General to and on account of their quash the decision by exemplary erudition and the former President diligence in the practice to elevate Attorneysof the law and by virtue at-Law Jamela Ali, of their distinguished Roysdale Forde, contributions to the Mursalene Bacchus, growth and development and Stanley Moore as of Guyana’s jurisprudence Senior Counsel. and constitutional The decision was democracy.” first announced on

The honour of silk is December 31 and conferred on distinguished appointments were lawyers. This status is effective in January this recognised by the courts year. and gives recipients Jonas had argued that privilege and respect. the former President’s

THE PRESIDENT’S decision was entirely AUTHORITY void and of no effect.

The appointments While Jamela Ali was followed Thursday’s appointed by the former ruling by High Court President, she did not Judge Nareshwar acknowledge the role as Harnanan that the a result of the pending President has the authority legal challenge. Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Saturday December 19, 2020

PNC/R CHAIR VOLDA LAWRENCE MAKES POLICE DOATION TO GRIEVING GRANDMOTHER OF BARTICA TRIPLE MURDER VICTIMS Councillor Shonelle the grieving grandmother COMMANDER OFFERS TO PAY GRA FOR Smith-Daniels, visited and made a monetary donation who expressed her gratitude for the donations SMUGGLED along with food and other items to the grandmother and the kind words that the team brought. She said ALCOHOL of Caroline Kennedy. it really hurts to know that Caroline and her two the children are gone too. children five-year-old Police have arrested Mariana Downer and the man who is three-year-old Gabriella reportedly responsible Kennedy were killed on for their inhumane December 13. deaths in their Four The former Public Miles Squatting Area, Health Minister also Bartica house. visited the site of the Mrs. Lawrence gruesome triple murder remarked that she that rocked the Township was happy to bring earlier this month. She some cheer to the On Thursday, December 17, Chairperson of the PNC/R and former Minister of Public Health, Mrs. Volda Lawrence, along with a small group of party officials including Mr. James Bond and Chairperson of the PNC/R and former Minister of Public Health, Mrs. Volda Lawrence was accompanied by Mayor of Bartica, Mr. Gifford Marshall, and Regional Chairman Mr. Kenneth Williams. The team then visited grandmother at this time, on behalf of the PNC/R and expressed hope that justice is served in an expeditious manner in this case. Keithon King, Regional Commander of Region Nine, has offered the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) payment on the taxes of Force (GPF) issued a statement saying that it was aware of the incident. Public Relations Officer of the GPF, Royston Andries-Junor, said on Five injured after West Berbice accident smuggled liquor which he was found with. King and two junior Wednesday that the commander and the two ranks have remained on ranks, were found with duty despite the incident. the uncustomed alcohol The incident is still on Tuesday after GRA being investigated by officers conducted a the GRA. It is currently search of the vehicle the unknown if the GRA has three were travelling in. accepted King’s offer to The Guyana Police pay the taxes.

Five persons are now injured following a five-vehicle accident on Wednesday along the Rising Sun Public Road, West Coast Berbice.

The vehicle which initiated the accident was PLL 5896, driven by 23-year-old Odinga Hercules, a police constable attached to the Traffic Department at the Cove and John Police Station. 15-year-old Shania Giddings, a student of Presidents’ College, was also a passenger in the vehicle.

The other vehicles were HB 6383 driven by 40-year-old Delroy Fraser; HC 7137 driven by 32-year-old Kellon James with two passengers, Rebecca Crossman, 52, and Thandie Crossman, 27; PYY 9093 driven by 26-year-old Osricks Reynolds; and minibus BYY 2757 driven by 29-year-old Delroy Lawrence.

A statement from Police Headquarters said that The injured persons Hercules was speeding were taken to the Fort along the northern side Wellington Hospital of the road behind the and then later minibus and motorcar HC transferred to the New 7137. Amsterdam Hospital

While attempting to for treatment. overtake the vehicles, Rebecca Crossman Hercules hit the car, and Thandie causing it to hit the Crossman were rear of the minibus. admitted for fractured Hercules’ vehicle hips, Odinga Hercules continued to collide for a fractured right with the cars driven by foot, Shaina Giddings Reynolds and Fraser for a fractured right before crashing into a arm, and Kellon James utility pole. for observation.

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LOGGER FOUND DEAD AFTER ARGUMENT WITH GIRL FRIEND

Krishna Nandalall, collapsed in a neighbour’s 44, also known as yard. She was taken to “Wallis”, of Letter Kenny the Port Mourant hospital Village, East-Berbice, and then transferred to the Corentyne was remanded New Amsterdam hospital, to prison by Magistrate where she spent several Rabindranauth Singh at days in the Intensive the Whim Magistrate’s Care Unit. She has since Court on Thursday after been discharged from the being charged with the hospital and is recovering. attempted murder of his Nandalall fled the wife, Rajmattie Punni on scene after the incident December 2, 2020. and turned himself in to

It is alleged that Punni authorities on Wednesday. was attacked and stabbed His attorney asked the several times by her court to consider bail since husband in their home his client turned himself after an argument. Their in but it was objected 13-year-old son heard his by the prosecutor, Orin mother screaming and ran Joseph, who noted that back to the house where police were searching for he saw his father armed Nandalall for two weeks. with a knife over his Nandalall was not mother’s body. required to plea to the

The boy managed to charge and has been push his father off of remanded until January Punni who ran away and 11, 2021. Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971