ABSTRACT
CDD (Committee in Defence of Democracy) 34-35
Certiorari, Writ of 121
Chancellor, role of 4
Chase, Ashton xiv
Chaudhry, Mahendra (Prime Minister, Fiji) 62
Cheeks, Randolph 68
Chief Justice, role of 4
Children, unsworn evidence of 113
Churaman JA on contract law 127 on criminal law 104-05 on evidence 87 on property law 129, 130, 131 on rule of law 72 on sovereignty 97
Codes of Conduct See also Conduct, judicial attorneys-at-law 31, 32 Bar of England and Wales 32 fees 28
Commission of Geology and Mines 73, 74
Commission on Human Rights, UN xv
Committee in Defence of Democracy (CDD) 34-35
Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Latin America xv
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative 63
Competence of counsel, professional 25-26
Concerned Citizens’ Committee 33, 35
Conduct, judicial 76-77
Confession statements 112-13
Consensus ad idem 124
Constitution (1980) See also Constitutional validity,
Commonwealth jurisprudence; Independence Constitution (1966)
ChapterII 8 ChapterIX 4 disputes, mining laws 73 election petitions 94 lawyers, right to consult 17 nullity, as 33, 65 property, right to 95 role of Court of Appeal 4-7 violation of human rights 71
Constitutional Amendment Bill (1978) 33-35
Constitutional Reform Commission of Parliament of Guyana 3
Constitutional Review Committee, Fiji 60, 62
Constitutional validity, Commonwealth jurisprudence 36-66 acquiescence, evidence of 63-64 burden of proof 55-56 court jurisdiction to
pronounce on 41-42 effectiveness doctrine 61-62 electoral legality 66 extra-constitutionality, duty upon
occurrence 42-46 facts, proof of 55-56 Independence Constitution,
as groundnorm 37 intervening acts, legality 57-58 legal interest 56 necessity doctrine 38, 58-61, 64 new legal order,
occurring when 46-54 revolutionary legality,
judging 37-40 treason, usurpation of
power constituting 56-57 ultra vires acts 65
Contentious and noncontentious fees 30, 31
Contracts, law of 123-27 hardships, judgment at time
of contract 124-26 repudiation 123 specific performance 124-26 travel tax, refund of 126-27 variation 124
Council of Churches, Guyana 34
Counsel professional competence of 25-26 right to 17-23
Country Report on Human Rights Practices 70
Coup, Fiji 37, 49
Courts, role of 1-2
Crane JA on criminal law 111 on judicial conduct 76-77 on magistrates’ jurisdiction 82, 83 on negligence 120-21 on overruling of decisions 9 on property law 132-37
Criminal law 101-15 Administration of Justice
Bill (1978) 101 children, unsworn
evidence of 113 confession statements 112-13 Criminal Law Bill, purpose 101 death penalty 104-05 evidence 113 fundamental principles 105-06 identification 107-11 jury 103-04 majesty of the law 102 provocation 106-07 retrials 114-15 rigged elections 101 self-defence 106 sentencing policy 113-14 Turnbull Rules 108-09
world sensitivities 104-05
Cross-examinations 18-19, 21
Cuyuni Mining District 72
D
Da Costa, Emilia Viotti xi, xii
D’Aguiar, Peter 67
Damages, foreign currency, awarded in 121-22
Death penalty 104-05
Decisions of lower courts, appeals from 85
Decolonisation Committee, United Nations xv
Definitions fair and reasonable fee 30-31 justice 1-2 legal representatives 17 officer 74 public office 76 public official 121 revolution 46 taxation of costs 29
Demerara slave rebellion (1823) xi-xiii
Disciplinary proceedings, legal profession 31-32
Discretion, exercise of 86-87
Division of Human Rights, UN xv
Due process, rule of law 77-82
E
Effectiveness doctrine, constitutional validity. 61-62
Efficacy test, Fijian Constitution 50, 51
Elections electoral legality 66 fraudulent 67-71
petitions 94-95
Electoral Commission 67-68
Eminent Domain doctrine property law 129-31 sources of law 97, 99-100
Equality principle, Universal Declaration of Human Rights xvii
Evidence See also Identification evidence acquiescence 62-64 case law 87 children 113 control 62-63 criminal law 103, 113 decisions made on 84-85
appeals from 85
Expert witnesses, testimony of 103
Extra-constitutionality, duty of judiciary upon occurrence 42-46
F
Fact, findings of: review of 11
Fair trial, right to See also Retrials role of Court 12
Fees, legal representatives 28-30 fair and reasonable
requirement 30-31
Fiji, constitutional validity matters 38-64 acquiescence, requirement of 63-64 control, evidence of 62-63 Court of Appeal,
declarations of 39-40 effectiveness doctrine 61-62 extra-constitutionality, duty of
judiciary upon occurrence 42-46 intervening acts, legality 57-58 jurisdiction of court 41-42 legal interest 56 necessity doctrine 38, 58-61
new legal order, occurring when 46-54
power, usurpation of 56-57 proof, requirement of 55-56
Findings of fact, review of 11
Fitzpatrick JA on rule of law 80, 81 on sources of law 10, 11
Fitzpatrick, Miles (President of Bar Association) 2
Foreign currency, damages awarded in 121-22
Fraudulent practices elections 67-71 referendum results (1978) 35-36, 64, 66
French Revolution 46
Fundamental principles, criminal law 105-06
Fundamental rights 89-95 assessment of cases 92 case law 89-92, 93-94 courts, relaxation in 92-95 election petitions 94-95 Massah’s rule (1966-92) 89-92 property rights 95
Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Individuals under the Constitution of Guyana 105
G
Gates J, on rule of law 42-5, 55-56, 58-64
Geology and Mines, Commission of 73, 74
Georgetown meeting (1996) xvii
GHRA (Guyana Human Rights Association) 71
Gladstone, John xi
Gounder, Dr 62
Granada TV (UK), coverage of 1968 elections 68
Grenada, constitutional validity 36-38
Guyana Bar Association See Bar Association, Guyana
Guyana Council of Churches 34
Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) 71
H
Haynes, Chancellor, on criminal law 102, 103-04, 105-06, 110
Herdmanston Accord 65
High Court appeals from decisions of 5-7 jurisdiction 6, 94-95 powers 6 Supreme Court of Judicature,
structure 4
History of Court of Appeal Demerara slave
rebellion (1823) xi-xiii human rights, struggle for xvi-xviii independence, struggle for xiv-xvi plantation, resistance on xiii-xiv
Hogan, Sir Michael 48
Hoyte, President Desmond 69, 92
Human rights See also Rights historical struggle for xiv-xviii judges, responsibilities for
upholding of 1 violations,
acknowledgement of 69-71
I
Identification evidence 107-11 See also Evidence parades 109-12
police station, identification at 107
reliability of 26 Turnbull Rules 108-09
Iloilo, Ratu Josefa 62, 63
Independence Constitution (1966) See also Constitution (1980) groundnorm as, Grenada 37
Independence, struggle for xiv-xvi
Interim Civilian Government, Fiji 40, 41, 46, 54, 60, 62-64
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) ratification by Guyana xv violation of human rights 71
International Covenant on Human Rights, international human rights,
commitment of Guyanese to xv
International Observer Team 69
International standards 99
Intervening acts, legality 57-58
J
Jagan, Dr Cheddi. xiv, xv, xvi, 67, 69, 70
Jagan, President Janet xiv
Judges conduct 76-77 Court of Appeal, of 4 discretion, exercise of 86-87 extra-constitutionality,
duties upon occurrence of 42-46 human rights, upholding of 1 province of 72
Judicial Service Commission 4, 73, 75, 139
Jurisdiction of Court, inherent 10
Jury, province of 103-4
Justice defined 1-2 post-independence,
in Guyana 2-3
Justices of Appeal 4
K
Kelsen, Hans (Austrian jurist) 46
Kennard Ch on legal profession 22, 23 on property law 129 on retrial 114-15 on review of findings
of fact 11 on sentencing policy 113-14
L
Latin America, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights xv
Law Reports of British Guiana 16
Law Reports of Guyana 77, 127, 140
Law Society, on fees 29-30
Legal profession 17-32 competence of counsel 25-26 disciplinary proceedings 31-32 duties of lawyers 17
fees 28-30 fair and reasonable 30-31 legal representatives,
defined 17 protection of the law 17 regulation in Guyana 24-25 representation 26-27 right to counsel 17-23 United Nations Basic Principles
on the Role of Lawyers 17, 31
Legislation, sources of law 97-98
Lesotho, independence of 51
Life, right to 79
Limitation, property law 132-37
Limitation periods 126
Locus in quo 87-88
Locus standi 27
Luckhoo, Sir Joseph J A on appeals 9, 85 on identification evidence 112 on legal profession regulation 24-25 on legal rights, protection of 8 on non-retroactivity 85 on public officers, status of 76, 121 on stare decisis 12-13
M
McDonnell, Alexander xii
McKay, Rex xvi
Magistrates’ jurisdiction decisions, appeals from 85 establishment 82-84
Majesty of law 102
Mangru, Basdeo xiii
Mara, Ratu Sir Kamisese 38, 39, 62
Marxism 70
Massah’s rule (1966-92), case law 89-92 assessment 92 Ameerally v Bentham and Attorney
General of Guyana 91 Bata Shoe Co v
Inland Revenue 89-90 Frank Hope v The New Guyana
Co Ltd 90 Jaundoo v Attorney General
of Guyana 91-92 Re Norris Williams and
Cecil Salisbury 91
Massiah JA
on fundamental rights See Massah’s rule (1966-92),
case law on legislation 98
on pleadings 119-20 on Turnbull Rules 108-09
Memorandum on the Violation of Human Rights in Guyana xv
Mendes, John 72
Mining disputes 72-74
Mirror, The xv
Mortgage deed, legal effect in Guyana 137
N
Narayan, Deo 62
Natural justice, principles of 10-11, 98-99
Necessity doctrine, constitutionality validity 38, 58-61, 64
Negligence claims 118, 119 Transport and Harbours
Department 120-21
Non-discrimination principle, Universal Declaration of Human Rights xvii
Non-retroactivity, rule of law 85-86
O
OCCBA (Organization of Commonwealth Bar Associations) 101-02
Officer, meaning 74
Opinion Research Centre 68
Organization of Caribbean Bar Associations 14
Organization of Commonwealth Bar Associations (OCCBA) 101-02
Overruling of decisions, former courts 9-10
‘Overseas vote’, introduction of 67
P
Parades, identification 109-12
Parliament Court of Appeal, position
under 1980 Constitution 4-7 Fiji, of 39
Parliamentary Human Rights Group, UK 69
People’s National Congress (PNC) party See PNC (People’s National
Congress) party
People’s Progressive Party See PPP (People’s Progressive Party)
Persaud JA on contract law 124 on Eminent Domain
doctrine 99-100 on evidence 84 on international standards 99 on legal profession 25-26 on legislation 97-98 on non-retroactivity 86-87 on property law 129, 131 on self-defence 106-07
Plantation Success xi, xiii
Plantations, resistance on xiii-xiv
Pleadings 117-22
PNC (People’s National Congress) party, rigged elections 67-68, 70, 71
Police station, identification at 107
Possession of land 132-37
PPP (People’s Progressive Party) 21st Congress on Human
Rights (1982) xv 24th General Congress (1991) xvi 1953 manifesto xiv Committee for Defence of Human
Rights, Latin America xv
PNC, displacement by 67
Prerogative of Mercy Committee, Advisory Council 78, 80
Prescription of property 132-37
President of Court of Appeal, judges, appointment by 4
PRG (Provisional Revolutionary Government), Grenada 37-38
Property law case law 132-37 mortgage deed,
legal effect 137 right to property 95, 129-32
Protection of rights, role of Court 7-9
Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG), Grenada 37-38
Provocation, criminal law 106-07
Public office, meaning 76
Public official, meaning 121
Public Service Commission 121
Publicists, writings of 99-100
Q
Qarase, Laisenia (Prime Minister) 61
Qetaki, Alipate 63
R
Rafferty, Neil 72
Referendum, Constitutional Amendment Bill (1978) 34-36, 64, 66
Refunds, travel tax 126-27
Regulation of Guyanese legal profession 24-25
Remuneration certificates, applications for 30
Representation 26-27
Repudiation of contracts 123
Resistance on plantations xiii-xiv
Retrials 114-15
Revolution, meaning 46
Rigged elections (1968-89) 67-69 acknowledgement 69-71 criminal law 101
Right of appeal 9
Rights See also Human rights counsel, to 17-23 customary xii economic 8 fundamental See Fundamental rights legal xii property 95, 129-32 protection of 7-9 social 8
Role of Court 1-16 Constitution (1980) 4-7 fair trial, right to 12 final Court of Appeal, as 9-10 findings of fact, review of 11 inherent jurisdiction 10 judicial standards 13-15 post-independence justice 2-3 protection of rights 7-9 right of appeal 9 sources of law 10-11 stare decisis 12-13
Rule of law 33-88 See also Evidence constitutional validity,
Commonwealth jurisprudence on 36-66
due process 77-82 fraudulent elections 67-71 illegal constitutional
groundnorm 33-36 judge, province of 72 judicial conduct 76-77
judicial discretion, exercise of 86-87
jurisprudence of Court of Appeal 71-88
locus in quo, visit to 87-88 magistrates’ jurisdiction,
establishment 82-84 non-retroactivity 85-86 public office 76 tribunal established 72-76
Rules of Pleading 118
Russian Revolution (1917) 46
S
Savings clause 111
Sedley, Lord Justice 1
Select Committee on Constitutional Reform 92
Self-defence, criminal law 106
Sentencing policy, criminal law 113-14
Shahabuddeen, Dr M 4
Shoap Registration System International 70
Singh, Anand Kumar 62
Singh, Justice Claudette 65, 66
Slave rebellion (1823) xi-xiii
Smith, Ian 47
Smith, Reverend John xii, 89
Solicitors’ Practice Rules of England and Wales (1991) 29
Sources of law 97-100 international standards 99 legislation 97-98 principles of natural justice 98-99 publicists, writings of 99-100 role of Court 10-11 sovereignty 97
Sovereignty
Eminent Domain doctrine 129 sources of law 97
Specific performance 124-26
Speed, Adi Kuini 62
Stabroek News, The xv-xvi
Standards, international 99
Stare decisis, role of Court 12-13
Success, plantation xi, xiii
Supreme Court of Judicature judicial officers, appointment 75 structure 4
T
Taxation of costs, meaning 29
Thomas, Professor Clive 3, 92
Title to property 132-37
Tort, law of 117-22 foreign currency, damages
awarded in 121-22 pleadings 117-22 public official, meaning 121
Transport and Harbours Department, negligence of 120-21
Transport and Harbours Department, negligence questions 120-21
Travel tax on unused tickets, refund of 126-27
Treason, usurpation of power constituting 56-57
Treatise on the Law of Immovable Property in British Guiana 137
Trial, fair: right to 12
Turnbull Rules, identification evidence
108-09
U
UF (United Force) party 67, 68
Ultra vires acts, constitutional validity 65
UN (United Nations) Basic Principles on the Role
of Lawyers 17, 31 Commission on Human Rights xv Decolonisation Committee xv Division of Human Rights xv
Unconstitutional acts, validity 38
Unilateral Declaration of Independence, Rhodesia 47
United Force party 67, 68
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Constitutional Amendment
Bill (1978), fraudulent referendum on 35
equality principle xvii international human rights,
commitment of Guyanese to xiv-xv, xvi
non-discrimination principle xvii
V
Variation of contracts 124
Voir dire 112, 113
Voting, changes in methods 68
Vuibau, Ratu Isireli 62
W
Williams, Eric xi
