Guyana's President, David Granger, announced, today, replacements for three of the four Cabinet Members, whose resignations were tendered on April 2 and became effective today: Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and Minister of Public Service in the Ministry of the Presidency, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine. No replacement was named for Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, in the President's statement today. Photo credit: DPI.

Guyana President Makes Cabinet Changes, In Keeping With Court Ruling

in International News April 25, 2019 1 Comment

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, April 25, 2019 (CMC) – President David Granger announced a shake-up of his coalition government’s Cabinet, today, in-keeping with the High Court ruling that it was unconstitutional for a person, holding dual citizenship, to be elected as a Member of Parliament.

In a brief radio and television broadcast, Granger said that his administration would adhere to the Guyana Constitution, which he said, “is an essential element of democratic governance and the maintenance of public trust”.

He told the nation that he intends to uphold the Constitution, “unreservedly”, and that the High Court in its ruling on January 31, when it upheld the opposition-inspired motion of no confidence against his government, had ruled that “it was unconstitutional for a person, holding dual citizenship, to be elected as a Member of Parliament”.

He said this aspect of the ruling was affirmed by a majority decision of the Court of Appeal, last month.

Granger announced, as a result, he has accepted the resignations of Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge; the Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and the Minister of Public Service in the Ministry of the Presidency, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine.

He noted that these resignations become effective, today, and that he wanted to thank the four former Ministers for “their stewardship, as members of my Cabinet and of the National Assembly, since May 2015″.

“Their sterling public service has been to our nation’s benefit. The resignations of these Ministers have created vacancies in the Cabinet and the National Assembly. It is necessary, in the circumstances, for their ministerial responsibilities to be reassigned and for the transfer of some junior ministers,” he added.

Granger revealed that he was appointing Haimraj Rajkumar, as Minister of Business; Dawn Hamstings-Williams as Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency; and Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, as Minister of the Public Service in the Ministry of the Presidency.

Granger also announced a reassignment of junior ministers, with Annette Ferguson becoming the Minister in the Ministry of Communities, with responsibility for Housing; Simona Charles-Broomes as Minister in the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for Youth Affairs; and Valerie Patterson-Yearwood, as Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for Rural Affairs.

“I assure you that these appointments and reassignments will ensure your government’s continued commitment to serve our people and the nation,” he added.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which is the country’s highest court, will, on May 9 and 10, hear the appeals, filed by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, against the Court of Appeal ruling that invalidated the motion of no confidence, moved in Parliament, last December.