The Church, Judiciary, Bar, Police and Government came together in Anguilla yet again on Tuesday this week in observance of Law Year 2009/2010. It all started at St. Mary’s Anglican Church in The Valley where the dignitaries and other representatives gathered at a special service officiated by the Rt. Rev. Errol Brooks and Rev. Menes Hodge.

Members of the Legal Fraternity, Government Officials and Anglican Clergy

In the words of Bishop Brooks, they all sought God’s guidance and blessing and had gathered “together for an intense period of prayer,” he said. “We pray for our island home, for those in authority…those who defend justice, those who maintain law and order; those involved in the process of mediation and reconciliation and indeed for all the citizenry of our island.” The Bishop stressed that “prayer must not be seen as something that is optional, but an integral part of our lives. This must include particularly those persons who are involved in defending justice and persons in the court of law. We pray for God’s wisdom…and grace to do that which is just and right in the sight of God.

If there was a lesson for the members of the legal fraternity, it was Bishop Brooks' admonition of fairness to them. “Life is not fair,” he told them but “God is fair, more than fair. God goes beyond what is fair to what is good and God is good to everyone…not limited to an exclusive few but to all people.” It was a lesson for them in the conduct of the legal service and was also enshrined in the Scripture readings delivered by newly-appointed Resident Judge, Madam Justice Louise E. Blenman, and Attorney General the Hon. Wilheim Bourne. The readings also admonished that all persons, rich or poor, in high or low office, whatever their station in life, should be accorded respect and courtesy and treated well in the administration of justice.

From the church the judiciary officials and lawyers journeyed to the High Court where His Excellency Governor Alistair Harrison and the Hon. Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming took the salute by a Guard of Honour outside the building. They were followed by the Judge who inspected the contingent, comprising officers of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, and then proceeded to the Bench for the opening of the Court.

Judge Louise inspecting Guard of Honour

The Judge was formally welcomed to Anguilla by the Attorney General on behalf of the Government and people of the island. He told Justice Blenman that her assignment to the Court was significant as she brought to the Court the “right climate to the administration of justice and for the wellbeing and welfare of the Court and the society of Anguilla.” He stated that her assignment had established a new era in the administration justice. “I am confident that time will prove me correct as you administer justice on a day to day basis without fear or favour or ill will,” Mr. Bourne added.

He took the opportunity to bring the Judge up to date with a number of legal matters relating to the Executive Council, his Chambers and the Judiciary. These included the recently-passed Proceeds of Crime Act and a new amendment to the Vehicle and Road Traffic Act to make changes to the legislation to render it more effective.

The Court took a short break to await the simulcast address by Chief Justice Hugh Rawlins from Roseau, Dominica, to open Law Year 2009-2010 in all of the member territories of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

Later, a number of lawyers joined in welcoming Judge Blenman. President of the Anguilla Bar Association, Joyce Kentish-Eglan, told her colleagues, that she first met the Judge in Antigua and had appeared before her. She said Justice Blenman had come with a very high standard of service, that she was exacting and demanding, but believed that justice should be administered fairly; that every member of the profession and every litigant must be heard and that the administration of justice must be second to none, clear, uncluttered and productive.

Governor Harrison and Chief Minister Fleming along with Commissioner Benjamin accepting salute

Mrs. Kentish-Eglan hoped that there would be full cooperation and collaboration between the Bench and the Bar. She advised Justice Blenman that she had come to Anguilla in transformational times. She said she was comforted with hope, progress, change, and with things being different positively than before. “So you are part of this transformational era that Anguilla now is confronting,” she went on. “You are an important part…because not very often we get to signal to the public, and even remind ourselves, that the judiciary is one of the three arms of Government. Therefore your role in this transformational one is deeply embedded and very important. When the rule of law fails, all other institutions, I dare say, are under threat and are bound also to collapse.”

Lawyer Courtney Abel welcomed the Judge on behalf of the OECS Bar Association and his partners of Caribbean Associated Attorneys in Anguilla. He spoke to some extent about the functioning of the OECS Bar, a number of activities in which it is engaged and its benefits for the various Bar Associations in the islands.

Lawyer Pam Webster of Webster Dyrud and Mitchell gave a commitment that her firm would do its best to ensure that the Judge’s job was made easier in what, at times, was a difficult environment. She agreed with the President of the Bar that these were transformational times in Anguilla and that there was a need for vigilance to ensure the safeguard of the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and separation of powers.

She had every confidence that the Judge had come to Anguilla at the right time of its development. She noted that the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court had been established around the same time, 42 years ago, of the Anguilla Revolution and spoke about the emergence of women in high office in the legal fraternity and the aspirations of members of the profession to fairness.

Lawyer Keesha Webster, speaking as a member of the Bar and particularly as a Nominated Member of the House of Assembly, undertook to communicate to the House any concerns that the Court might have. She said she believed in the independence of the three arms of Government, but stressed that there must be cooperation for the society to run smoothly and for the rule of law to be recognised.
She called on the Judge not to hesitate to bring any of the lawyers to the forefront for falling short of any expectations of the Court in the performance of their duties. “I believe, my Lady, it can only serve to better the administration of justice and to better the precedent that comes from the Bench and the submissions from the Bar.” She looked forward to the Judge’s continuation of her high standards in Anguilla and for all concerned to answer the call of excellence in the legal profession.

Revolutionary Leader, Ronald Webster and Ms. Webster, frequent attendees of the Law Year Service

Vice President of the Anguilla Bar, Josephine Gumbs-Connor, briefly wished the Judge a satisfactory sojourn in Anguilla. She pledged the commitment of the Bar to the administration of justice, to uphold the standards to which it was accustomed and to embrace even further growth in that area.

She informed Justice Blenman that the Bar was very active not just in the practice of the law, but in its commitment to the society. She hoped that with the compassionate aspect of their practices, members of the Bar would seek to better the society to everyone’s benefit and the Court as well.
Judge Blenman expressed the view that if all were to ensure that the Court functioned smoothly there was need to set the necessary standards. “Litigants who come to our Court expect to be treated respectfully, fairly and efficiently,” she stated. “We must also in our conduct in the courtroom treat each other with respect. It makes life easy for all of us.”

She was grateful to all the persons who spoke about her and placed on record the warm welcome she received on arrival at Wallblake Airport which made her feel at home. “I am happy to hear all this commitment, dedication and pledges of the members of the Bar and I look forward to ensuring that together we hold ourselves to high standards and use our collective efforts to maintain the administration of the law and rule of law.

The Police Community Band

Justice Blenman was heartened by the interaction she saw between the public and private Bar and their support for her which she thought augurs well for the justice system. She was also pleased with the support and cooperation of her staff. “I give respect to everybody who comes to the Court and I accept nothing less,” she emphasised. “Based on what I have seen so far, I don’t have any reason to be worried... Having served in three other jurisdictions in the Eastern Caribbean, I am heartened by what I see here.”

She hoped to see more efficiency in terms of the civil division of the justice system and to introduce some measures to improve the situation. She stated that the justice system could not function were it not for the very dedicated work of the Judges before her, the Magistrates and Registrar, Court staff and very able attorneys both in the public and private Bar. “I am counting on you to continue that and to take that to a higher level during this law term,” she told the court personnel.

Justice Blenman looked forward to the support of the public and private Bar, the Court staff, the police, social services and the press. “In my view the press has a vital role to play in the administration of justice. Their role is to disseminate accurate information. I have always had a very good relationship with the press and I expect that to continue.”

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