The Attorney General of Guyana v Monica Thomas; Bharrat Jagdeo v Monica Thomas

• Jurisdiction: Caribbean States
• Court: Caribbean Court of Justice
• Judge: Justices Wit,Anderson,Rajnauth-Lee,Barrow,Jamadar,Mr Justice Anderson,Mr Justice Anderson, JCCJ
• Judgment Date: 13 May 2022
• Docket Number: CCJ Appeal No GYCV2022/001 GY Civil Appeal No 21 of 2021

The Attorney General of Guyana

Appellant

and

Monica Thomas

Brennan Joette Natasha Nurse

The Chief Elections Officer

David Granger, Representative of a Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change

Horatio Edmonson, Representative of Federal United Party

Bharrat Jagdeo, Representative of People's Progressive Party/Civic

John Flores, Representative of the Liberty and Justice Party

Asha Kissoon, Representative of the new movement

Vishnu Bandhu, Representative of United Republican Party

Abedin Kindi Ali, Representative of the change Guyana

Patrick Bourne, Representative of the people's Republic Party

Jonathan Yearwood, Representative of a New United Guyana

Shazam Ally, Representative of the Citizen Initiative

Gerald Perreira, Representative of the organization for the victory of the people

Respondents

Between

Bharrat Jagdeo

Appellant

and

Monica Thomas

Brennan Joette Natasha Nurse

The Chief Elections Officer

David Granger, Representative of a Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for change

Horatio Edmonson, Representative of Federal United Party

John Flores, Representative of the Liberty and Justice Party

Asha Kissoon, Representative of the New Movement

Vishnu Bandhu, Representative of United Republican Party

Abedin Kindi Ali, Representative of the Change Guyana

Patrick Bourne, Representative of the People'S Republic Party

Jonathan Yearwood, Representative of A New United Guyana

Shazam Ally, Representative of the Citizen Initiative

Gerald Perreira, Representative of the organization for the victory of the people

The Attorney General of Guyana

Respondents

[2022] CCJ 15 (AJ) GY

Before The Honourable:

Mr Justice Wit, JCCJ

Mr Justice Anderson, JCCJ

Mme Justice Rajnauth-Lee, JCCJ

Mr Justice Barrow, JCCJ

Mr Justice Jamadar, JCCJ

CCJ Appeal No GYCV2022/001

CCJ Appeal No GYCV2022/002

GY Civil Appeal No 21 of 2021

ON APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEAL OF GUYANA

Constitutional law — Jurisdiction — Court of Appeal — Election petition struck out by High Court for improper/late service — Petitioners appealed — Court of Appeal decided it had jurisdiction to hear appeal — Circumstances in which Court of Appeal may have jurisdiction — Whether majority of Court ofAppeal rightly determined it had jurisdiction — Whether decision of ChiefJustice final or interlocutory in context ofright ofappeal under s 6(2) of Constitution — Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana 1980, art 163 — Court of Appeal Act, Cap 3:01, s 6(2) — National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, Cap 1:04 — National Assembly (Validity ofElections) Rules.

Cases referred to:

A-G v Joseph [2006] CCJ 3 (AJ), (2006) 69 WIR 104 (BB); A-G v Maharaj (Trinidad and Tobago HC, 2 August 2017); A-G of Grenada v David (Grenada CA, 2 June 2008); Aikman v Belize Bank Ltd (Belize CA, 18 May 1992); Ali v David [2020] CCJ 10 (AJ) GY, (2020) 99 WIR 363; American Life Insurance and North American Life Insurance Co Ltd, Re [2001–2002] GLR 157; Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corp [1948] 1 KB 223; Bata Shoe Co (Guyana) Ltd v Commissioner of Inland Revenue (1976) 24 WIR 172; Belize International Services Ltd v A-G of Belize [2020] CCJ 9 (AJ) BZ, [2021] 1 LRC 36; Bell v DPP of Jamaica [1985] 2 All ER 585 (JM PC); Bico Ltd v Mcdonald Farms Ltd (Barbados CA, 1 November 1996); Bisram v DPP [2022] CCJ 7 AJ (GY); Boodram v A-G of Trinidad and Tobago [1996] AC 842 (TT PC); Bozson v Altrincham Urban District Council [1903] 1 KB 547; Browne v Francis-Gibson (1995) 50 WIR 143; Chung v AIC Battery and Automotive Services Co Ltd (Guyana CA, 23 May 2011); Chung v AIC Battery and Automotive Services Co Ltd [2013] CCJ 2 (AJ) (GY), (2013) 82 WIR 357; Commissioner of Police v Alleyne [2022] CCJ 2 (AJ) BB, [2022] 2 LRC 590; Cuffy v Skerrit (Dominica CA, 28 April 2021), Cuffy v Skerrit [2022] CCJ 12 (AJ) DM; Day v Governor of the Cayman Islands [2022] 3 LRC 557; Delorie v Government [2017] 3 LRC 429; Delph v Chief Election Officer [2003-2004] GLR 29; Exeter v Gaymes (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines CA, 13 June 2017); Frampton v Pinard (Dominica CA, 3 April 2006); Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association v A-G [2018] 4 LRC 1; Gibson v A-G of Barbados [2010] CCJ 3 (AJ) (BB), (2010) 76 WIR 137; Govind v The State 2003 IIIAD (Delhi) 525; Grant v Phillip (Saint Kitts and Nevis HC, 4 November 2010); Green v Saint Jean (Dominica HC, 7 June 2011); Guyana Consumers' Advisory Bureau v Public Utilities Commission (Guyana CA, 17 February 1999); Habet v Penner (Belize SC, 4 May 2012); Hamilton v Liburd (Saint Christopher and Nevis CA, 3 April 2006); Haron Bin Mohamed Zaid v Central Securities (Holdings) Bhd [1983] 1 AC 16; Hill v Sagicor Life Inc [2018] CCJ 22 (AJ) (BB); Hinds v R (1975) 24 WIR 326; Jacpot Ltd v Gambling Regulatory Authority [2018] UKPC 16, [2018] LLR 754; Jonas v Quinn- Leandro (Antigua and Barbuda HC, 31 March 2010); Jones v Barnes 103 S Ct 3308 (1983); Joseph v Reynolds (Saint Lucia CA, 31 July 2012); LeGroulx v Pitre [2008] OJ No 443; Locabail (UK) Ltd v Bayfield Properties Ltd [2000] QB 451; Marin v R [2021] CCJ 6 (AJ) BZ; Matthew v The State [2004] UKPC 33, (2004) 64 WIR 412 (TT); Maya Leaders Alliance v A-G of Belize [2015] CCJ 15 (AJ) (BZ), (2015) 87 WIR 178; McDonna v Richardson (Anguilla CA, 29 June 2007); McEwan v A-G of Guyana [2018] CCJ 30 (AJ) GY, (2019) 94 WIR 332; McKane v Durston 153 US 684 (1894); Meerabux v A-G of Belize (2005) 66 WIR 113 (PC); Melville v Chief Elections Officer (Guyana HC, 16 February 2010); Minister of Home Affairs v Fisher [1980] AC 319; Mist v R [2006] 3 NZLR 145; Mithani v Assistant Collector of Customs 1967 AIR 1639; Moran v Lloyd's [1983] 2 All ER 200; Narula Trading Agency v Commissioner of Sales Tax Delhi 1981 AIR Delhi 1; Nervais v R [2018] CCJ 19 (AJ) (BB), (2018) 92 WIR 178; Nova Scotia Manufacturing v Narine (2015) 85 WIR 423; Olasemo v Barnett Ltd (1995) 51 WIR 191; Payne v Hammond (Guyana HC, 5 June 1986); Persaud v Lowenfield (Guyana HC, 19 February 2016); Persaud v Nizamudin [2020] CCJ 4 (AJ) (GY); Peters v A-G (2001) 63 WIR 244; Petrie v A-G (1968) 14 WIR 292; Pla v Andorra (2004) 18 BHRC 120; Prashad v Persaud [2022] CCJ 5 (AJ) GY; Prevost v Blackmore (Dominica HC, 14 September 2005); Quinn-Leandro v Jonas (2010) 78 WIR 216; R v Flowers [2020] CCJ 16 (AJ) BZ, [2020] 5 LRC 628; R (Woolas) v Parliamentary Election Court [2012] QB 1; Ram v A-G [2019] CCJ 10 (AJ) (GY), (2019) 97 WIR 266; Ramcharran v DPP [2022] CCJ 4 (AJ) GY; Rees v Crane (1994) 43 WIR 444 (TT PC); Rehman v Khan [2015] EWHC 4168 (Admin); Russell v AG of St Vincent and the Grenadines (1995) 50 WIR 127; Salaman v Warner [1891] 1 QB 734; Salter Rex & Co v Ghosh [1971] 2 QB 597; Sampanthan v A-G [2019] 5 LRC 29; Singh v Perreira (Guyana CA, 11 November 1998); Skerrit v Defoe [2021] CCJ 4 (AJ) DM; Smith v A-G of Trinidad and Tobago [2022] UKPC 28; Smith v Christopher (British Virgin Islands HC, 23 July 2003); Strachan v Gleaner Co Ltd (Jamaica CA, 18 December 1998); Summerlin Ltd v Reneau (Belize CA, 27 October 2017); Sylvester v Singh (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines CA, 18 September 1995); Thomas v A-G of Trinidad and Tobago [1982] AC 113; Thomas v Lowenfield (Guyana CA, 21 December 2021); Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Association v Chief Personnel Officer (Trinidad and Tobago CA, 12 December 1983); Tyson v R (2017) 92 WIR 328; Walker v James (Antigua and Barbuda HC, 15 March 2018); Wallace-Whitfield v Hanna (Bahamas CA, 28 October 1982); White v Brunton [1984] 2 All ER 606; Williams v Giraudy (1975) 22 WIR 532; Williams v Mayor of Tenby (1879) 5 CPD 135; Williams and Salisbury, Re [1978] 26 WIR 133.

Legislation referred to:

Antigua and Barbuda— Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda 1981, Representation of the People Act, Cap 379; The Bahamas — Constitution of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas 1973, Parliamentary Elections Act, CH 7; Barbados — Constitution of Barbados 1966; Belize — Belize Constitution Act, Cap 4, Representation of the People Act, Cap 9; Dominica — Constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica 1978, House of Assembly (Elections) Act, Chap 2:01; Grenada — Grenada Constitution Act, CAP 128A, Representation of the People Act, CAP 286A; Guyana — Civil Procedure Rules 2016; Constitution of Guyana and the Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2000, Order 60/2020, Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana Act, Cap 1:01, Court of Appeal Act, Cap 3:01, High Court Act, Cap 3:02, National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, Cap 1:04, National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Rules, Cap 1:04; Jamaica — Constitution of Jamaica 1962, Election Petitions Act, Representation of the People Act; Saint Christopher and Nevis — Constitution of Saint Christopher and Nevis 1983, National Assembly Elections Act, Cap 2.01; Saint Lucia — Constitution of Saint Lucia 1978, Elections Act, Cap 1.02; Trinidad and Tobago — Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 1976, Representation of the People Act, Cap 2:01; United Kingdom — Corrupt Practices (Municipal Elections) Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict c 60), Parliamentary Elections Act 1868 (31 & 32 Vict c 125), Parliamentary Election Petition Rules 1868.

Other Sources referred to:

Bailey D and Norbury L, Bennion, Bailey and Norbury on Statutory Interpretation (8th edn, LexisNexis 2020); Barreto J-M, ‘Decolonial Thinking and the Quest for Decolonising Human Rights’ (2018) 46 Asian Journal of Social Science 484; Bisram V, ‘Impact of Ethnic Conflict on Development: A Case Study of Guyana’ (CUNY Academic Works 2015) accessed 4 October 2022 France A Le Lys Rouge ( The Red Lily) (1894); Lincoln A, Abraham Lincoln papers: Series 3. General Correspondence. 1837–1897 (Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address: Nicolay Copy, 19 November 1863) < www.loc.gov/item/mal4356500/> accessed 4 October 2022; Mignolo W D, Walsh C E, On Decoloniality: Concepts, Analytics, Praxis (Duke...