News Source Guyana Reports : President Irfaan Ali has indicated there is no immediate need for new consultations with the current Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed, regarding the substantive appointments of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice.
During a press interaction on Wednesday, President Ali stated that his administration’s position on these appointments remains consistent with the proposal he formally submitted in October 2025 to the then-Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton.
The President’s proposal, which suggests the appointment of Justice Roxane George as substantive Chancellor and Justice Navindra Singh as substantive Chief Justice, continues to be the government’s official recommendation. President Ali characterized the current impasse as a “grey area” that requires careful navigation, emphasizing that the government’s stance is one of continuity following his re-election.
The political landscape in Guyana underwent a significant transformation following the September 2025 General and Regional Elections. The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, secured 16 seats in the National Assembly, surpassing the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to become the country’s primary opposition.
Azruddin Mohamed assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition in January 2026. However, his tenure has been marked by significant controversy, including ongoing legal challenges regarding his potential extradition to the United States on fraud and corruption charges.
The offices of the Chancellor and Chief Justice have been held by individuals in an acting capacity for nearly two decades. Recent developments in these roles include:
Chancellor of the Judiciary: Justice Roxane George has been performing the duties of the office since August 2025, succeeding Justice Yonette Cummings, who had served in an acting capacity since 2017.
Chief Justice: Justice Navindra Singh also began performing the duties of the office in August 2025, taking over from Justice George, who had held the acting role since 2017.
While the Constitution of Guyana (Article 127) requires the President to obtain the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition to make substantive judicial appointments, the inability of successive administrations to reach such agreements has left these key positions unfilled on a permanent basis for years.
