By Mark DaCosta- In what many see as an alarming departure from decorum, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has launched a scathing attack against Justice Sandil Kissoon following a ruling that did not align with the preferences of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government. The Vice President’s remarks, considered by some as highly inappropriate for a sitting official, have sparked controversy and drawn widespread criticism from Guyanese on social media.
Jagdeo’s tirade against Justice Kissoon unfolded during a recent press conference where he vehemently criticised the judge’s decision, deeming it presumptuous and unwarranted.
The dispute stems from a ruling on April 19, 2024 in favour of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), which challenged the government’s actions regarding the deduction of pay and transfer of union dues from teachers’ salaries.
During the press conference, Jagdeo took aim at Justice Kissoon’s assertion that a meeting between President Irfaan Ali and teachers did not constitute collective bargaining. He condemned the judge’s remarks as presumptuous, arguing that it was not within the judge’s purview to dictate with whom the President should engage in dialogue.
Asserting the separation of powers, Jagdeo emphasised the President’s autonomy to hold discussions with anyone, without interference from the judiciary. He underscored the President’s accountability to the people, contrasting it with the perceived lack of accountability of judges.
The government’s decision to appeal Justice Kissoon’s ruling further underscores the contentious nature of the issue. The ruling, which deemed the teachers’ strike lawful and legitimate, has sparked debate regarding the constitutional right to strike and the government’s obligations to workers’ unions.
The strike, which lasted 29 days in February and March 2024, was initiated by Guyana’s public school teachers in pursuit of increased wages through collective bargaining with the government. The PPP government had declared the strike illegal.
Justice Kissoon’s ruling not only validated the legality of the strike but also ordered that the teachers be compensated for the days they were on strike. Additionally, the ruling deemed the government’s cessation of automatic deduction and remittance of union dues unconstitutional, citing interference with the teachers’ freedom of association.
As the legal battle continues to unfold, tensions between the executive and judiciary branches of government are palpable. Jagdeo’s inappropriate verbal assault on Justice Kissoon underscores the broader implications of the ruling and the stakes involved for both the government and the judiciary.
