Ousted Parliamentary Secretaries move to CCJ to set aside Appeal Court’s decision

L-R: Sarah Browne and Vikash Ramkissoon

Eight months after the Guyana Court of Appeal (CoA) reaffirmed the ruling of Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, S.C., in nullifying the appointments of Vikash Ramkissoon and Sarah Browne, the duo has moved to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C., and a team of attorneys from his Chambers filed the Notice of Appeal in the registry. The contention is that Ramkissoon and Browne were appointed lawfully as non-voting members pursuant to Article 186(3).

They argued that while the duo’s name was on the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) list, it was not among the 33 names extracted to take up seats in the National Assembly.

In dismissing the appeal in July last, the appellate court found that Browne and Ramkissoon were not lawful members of the National Assembly since their names were on their party’s list but were not among the 33 names extracted to take up seats in the National Assembly.

In her 2021 judgment, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, S.C., relied on the case of Desmond Morian v Attorney General to nullify the duo’s appointment. The Appeal Court, comprising Chancellor (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Justices Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud, reaffirmed this ruling.

Notwithstanding, the Appellants want the CCJ – the Trinidad-based court of last resort - to reverse or set aside the Appeal’s Court ruling and provide further relief deemed just and appropriate.

Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones challenged in the High Court the appointments of Ramkissoon and Browne as Parliamentary Secretaries to the Amerindian Affairs and Agriculture Ministries, respectively.

He had contended that Browne and Ramkissoon could not be appointed as non-elected parliamentarians since they were named on the List of Candidates presented by the ruling party for the last General and Regional Elections.