Guyana’s Justice Roxane George to remain acting Chancellor as Cummings-Edwards retires early

Justice Roxane George will remain acting Chancellor of Guyana’s Judiciary after President Dr. Irfaan Ali confirmed on Friday that Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards is proceeding on early retirement. Cummings-Edwards, who has served as acting Chancellor since 2017, had returned from annual leave in October, sparking uncertainty about the top judicial posts.

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Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

President Ali said Cummings-Edwards requested pre-retirement leave effective Monday, October 27, which he approved. He thanked her for her decades of service, noting her distinguished legal career that began in 1988 as State Counsel, followed by appointments to the High Court in 2000, the Court of Appeal in 2008, and acting Chief Justice and Chancellor roles.

Acting appointments continue

With her departure, acting Chief Justice Roxane George will continue performing the duties of Chancellor, while High Court Judge Navindra Singh will continue acting as Chief Justice. Justice Singh was also sworn in Friday as a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for a three-year term.

The JSC, reconstituted last year after a six-year hiatus, oversees appointments, promotions and disciplinary matters within the judiciary.

Despite the latest updates, concerns persist over the absence of confirmed office holders in Guyana’s two highest judicial positions. Under Article 127(1) of the Constitution, appointments to both roles require agreement between the President and Opposition Leader. That requirement has fueled more than two decades of political stalemate, spanning five presidential administrations.

It has been reported that Dr. Ali recently wrote to Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton seeking his agreement on substantive appointments for Justices George and Singh, though confirmation of this was not immediately obtained.

Regional and domestic pressure mounting

Calls to resolve the impasse have grown louder. Caribbean Court of Justice President Winston Anderson last week stressed the importance of permanent appointments, saying the offices “ought to be occupied by persons who are confirmed.”

Guyana’s last substantive Chancellor was Justice Desiree Bernard, who left the post in 2005 to join the CCJ. Since then, successive officeholders, including Justices Carl Singh and Cummings-Edwards, have served only in an acting capacity. The post of Chief Justice has similarly lacked a confirmed appointee since 2005.

Local lawyers, civil society groups, and international partners have repeatedly raised concerns that the prolonged acting leadership risks undermining confidence in judicial independence. Canada recently urged Guyana to examine the constitutional provisions that hinder permanent appointments, during a United Nations human rights review in Geneva.

The issue is expected to feature in Guyana’s upcoming constitutional reform process. Earlier this year, the Bar Association again described the status quo as “untenable,” noting that a stable judiciary requires certainty at the top.

Despite the continued uncertainty, President Ali insists that achieving consensus on substantive appointments remains a priority.