Wednesday to honour her contributions to both the local and regional legal fraternity (Carl Croker photo)
Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Desiree Bernard was on Wednesday hailed as an icon of the local jurisprudence during a special farewell sitting of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) held in her honour.
The CCJ panel was in Guyana for a three-day itinerant sitting held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
Justice Bernard will be officially retiring from the CCJ today (Thursday). The special sitting in her home country was attended by local judges, magistrates and attorneys. Several foreign jurists and other dignitaries also gathered as tributes poured out in her honour.
Justice Bernard was described as a woman of many firsts. She was the first female High Court judge of the Supreme Court of Guyana, the first female justice of appeal, the first female chief justice of Guyana and in the Caribbean; and the first female chancellor of the judiciary of Guyana and the Caribbean. She was also the first female judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice at the court’s inauguration in 2005.
Delivering remarks, CCJ President, Justice Dennis Byron gave a summary of Justice Bernard’s legal career, beginning with her graduation from the University of London to her appointment at the CCJ, along with her tremendous work in the social sectors.
“Throughout her tenure at the court, Madame Justice Bernard has demonstrated the value of the CCJ as a dispute resolution authority for regional integration, economic development in a rule-based community, exhibiting high standards of fairness and governance, opening up new avenues for ordinary people in our region to have a voice and get justice at the highest of the judicial authority,” he stated.
The CCJ president added that she was even described as a pioneer judge and trailblazer, breaking barriers for women in the legal profession, not only in Guyana, but the Caribbean and beyond.
Excellence and integrity
Justice Byron continued to list many of the areas in which Justice Bernard has imprinted her legacy as the first female. He pointed out that “excellence and integrity” are the two words which automatically spring to mind when thinking about Justice Bernard.
“One of the tenets that have been a guide is a constant surge for excellence in all her endeavours. As a student, leader, practitioner, a judge, a judicial administrator; she has always brought her best to date. Her service to the profession and the public, not only nationally or regionally but also worldwide, has been nothing short of service par excellence,” he stated.
The CCJ president urged all jurists to follow her example and celebrate her achievements not only in word, but also in deed, by making “excellence and integrity” the hallmark of their endeavours. Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, who also sat on the bench alongside the CCJ panel, emphasised the fact that not only is Justice Bernard a distinguished jurist, but one who happens to be a Guyanese, a fact which makes the entire country proud. He recalled working alongside Justice Bernard when he was appointed chief justice and she was then chancellor.
“I will be forever in your honour’s debt for her continuous encouragement and support as my own judicial career progressed.” He highlighted the outstanding characteristics which embodied the attitude of the retiring judge in all her judicial posts.
Justice Singh noted that when the decision was made for a female judge on the CCJ, the choice of Justice Bernard was one of a jurist with appropriate judicial temperament.
He described Justice Bernard as “A judge of considerable learning and experience and a judge, who in exemplary fashion, has demonstrated discipline and decorum and who is always courteous, polite and extremely personable.”
He stated that her appointment to the apex judicial body of the Caribbean is testimony of heights that can be achieved by women who commit themselves to the disciplined and delicate study of law.
Legacy
Meanwhile, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said Justice Bernard has left a legacy for others in the legal profession to emulate, which will surely be an uphill task.
The minister said that it is impossible for one to properly capture the accomplishments of the outgoing judge. Nandlall noted that Justice Bernard’s contribution at every stage of her career is a remarkable exhibition of legal scholarship and pragmatism.
“As we bid farewell to Her Honour, as the curtain falls on this stage of her career, we hope that a new chapter will soon begin where the people of Guyana and indeed the people of the entire region, will continue to benefit from her wisdom, from her knowledge and from all the great qualities we have heard adumbrated,” the legal affairs minister added.
Humble
In responding to the glowing tributes, Justice Bernard said she had tried humbly to fulfil her duties and had pledged to uphold the scale and be patient at the time of her appointment. The outgoing judge went on to reflect on her tenure on the panel of the CCJ, which she said was the crowning glory of her judicial career, which she never dreamt of attaining. She said that the experience was rewarding due to the fact of the “comradely” relationship she built with the other CCJ judges, both professionally and personally.
“We take seriously the heavy responsibility of being a court of last resort for the countries accepting our jurisdiction and spare no effort in ensuring that the judgments of the court will withstand international scrutiny,” she explained, while adding that they have tried to fulfil the vision of the court.
“As I leave the court, I wish to give the assurance to the region that the Caribbean Court Justice is in safe and competent hands as it continues its voyage of the ports of the Caribbean encountering passengers willing to be a part of a destination towards the illusive dream establishing a jurisprudence peculiarly our own,” Justice Bernard stated. The retiring judge also expressed her appreciation to the CCJ, and everyone for organising the event in her honour.
Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque; Swaziland Supreme Court Judge Stanley Moore; CCJ Trust Fund member Oswald Barnes; former CCJ Trust Fund member, Professor Harold Lutchman; Guyana Bar Association President Ronald Burch-Smith; and Guyana Association of Women President Simone Morris-Ramlall, also spoke glowingly about Justice Bernard.
Meanwhile, at the end of the ceremonial special sitting for the outgoing CCJ judge, Nandlall handed over copies of the laws of Guyana and law reports to Justice Bryon.
