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Senior Counsels Admitted To Inner Bar

Eleven of Barbados’ newest Senior Counsels (SCs) were admitted to the Inner Bar, during a Special Sitting of the Supreme Court.

They are: The Hon. Wilfred Abrahams; Mrs. Tammy Bryan; Ms. Gillian Henderson Clarke; The Hon. Rudolph Greenidge; Ms. Kathy-Ann Hamblin; Mr. Edmund Hinkson; Ms. Anika Jackson; Mr. Stephen Lashley; Ms. Angela Mitchell-Gittens; Mr. Alliston Seale; and Ms. Liesel Weekes. His Hon. Arthur Holder was absent because he is on national duty overseas.

Those attending the sitting included Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham; Attorney General Dale Marshall; Justices of Appeal; Judges of the High Court; the Senior Counsels and their families.

In a brief address, Attorney General Marshall said it was appropriate that the step should be taken at this time. “It is fitting that in our new republic, shorn of the umbilicus which connected our institutions and our very psyche to the monarchy, that we should take this step in completing the process of true independence.

“These 11 attorneys, drawn from among our finest, have the singular honour of being the first SCs in our republic,” the Attorney General stated.

He noted that from the day Barbados took on a republican form of Government, a debate has raged over whether the island should keep the designation tied to a distant monarch, or forge its own path, and if on this path, the pledge should be to the State of Barbados instead of to the UK monarch.

“There was little doubt that in respect of other offices – parliamentarians, judges and the President itself, any duty and fealty should be owed to our Nation, and yet somehow, we, the lawyers, have been timid about accepting that the same precept would apply to the upper echelons of the legal profession. Some members of the Inner Bar, quite peculiarly, see nothing odd about continuing to accept an obligation to plead the King’s cause, in circumstances where these Courts are no longer the King’s Courts,” Mr. Marshall said.

He pointed out that on March 13, 1975, the Cabinet of Barbados determined that the granting of QCs would cease and under the new system, 15 attorneys were appointed to the rank of Senior Counsel. He noted, however, that the legal profession made representations to the Government to revert to the practice of appointing Qcs, and that the SCs should be referred to as QCs.

He added that on December 6, 1979, Cabinet agreed the title “Senior Counsel” conferred on members of the legal profession, should be re-designated “Queen’s Counsel”.

Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham warmly congratulated the new Senior Counsels on their appointments.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues and himself, Mr. Greenidge thanked those who made the recommendation for them to be called to the Inner Bar.

He stated: “We know that we will measure up to everything which you expect of us…. I can safely say that each and every one of us has gone beyond our legal practice and has made a contribution to the development of Barbados.” (PR/GIS)

Caption: Attorney General Dale Marshall (front row, third from left); Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham (centre); and President of the Bar Association Kaye Williams (front row, third from right), pose with eleven of Barbados’ newest Senior Counsels who were admitted to the Inner Bar

Local

One Family hamper drive gets $75,000 boost from Sandy Lane Charitable Trust

Christmas 2024 just got a lot brighter for the 1000 families of the One Family programme under the Ministry of People Empowerment & Elder Affairs (MPEA), thanks to a donation of BBD. 75,000.00 worth of grocery hampers from the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust (SLCT).

Representatives of SLCT, including Derrick Smith, Grand Patron and founding Trustee, Trustee Pippa Challis, and Project Coordinator-Administrator Nekei Grant, were recently at One Family’s Warrens office to present the donation to the One Family Project Team. Present to receive the donation were Minister, the Hon. Kirk Humphrey, Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire, Social Development Project Manager Nicole Daniel and Project Officer Lisa Holder.

Minister Humphrey commended SLCT and thanked its Board of Trustees for their ongoing work in Barbados, and specifically with his Ministry, noting that such partnerships could help break cycles of generational poverty in Barbados.

“The government of Barbados is passionate about the objectives of this One Family project, and we believe in what we are doing. We see One Family as the first initiative with the potential to break the inter-generational cycles of poverty, a purpose and objective that traditional government agencies were not designed for. Traditional approaches have not been holistic enough, and One Family gives the first real opportunity to break that poverty exchange between generations,” Minister Humphrey said.

Commenting in response, Trustee Pippa Challis said SLCT was pleased with the ongoing amazing partnership with MPEA. She said One Family had positively impacted SLCT’s work regarding due diligence and background investigations necessary to make the outreach work more effective.

“Our partnership with the One Family Programme Team is truly beneficial to both organisations, as we work towards one common goal of achieving social change. Our ability to rely on the One Family team to provide accurate, timely and reliable information means that our assistance can reach the most deserving families. Whether it is providing beds, back-to-school supplies or food vouchers, we know that we are reaching the right families. That’s why this collaboration works for us, as much as it works for you.” Mrs Challis, further commends the team on their success with the programme thus far and the amazing job they are doing.

One Family Project Manager, Nicole Daniel, said the SLCT donation would significantly boost this year’s hamper donation drive, bringing much-needed supplies and tangible Christmas cheer to the 1,000 families and hundreds of children currently served by the Programme.

“One Family is not a hand-out programme but concentrates on holistic transformation to help every family reach a stage where they can give back to their communities and Barbados.” (PR)

Caption: Pictured from left are SLCT Project Coordinator-Administrator Nekei Grant, One Family Project Officer Lisa Holder, SLCT Trustee Pippa Challis, Derrick Smith, SLCT Grand Patron and founding Trustee, People Empowerment Minister, the Hon. Kirk Humphrey, Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire, and Social Development Project Manager Nicole Daniel.

Local

Men’s programmes lighting the way with support from Light & Power

Barbadian men are stepping up to mentor and inspire a new generation of male leaders to reach their full potential and light the path to a brighter future.

On International Men’s Day recently, two such organisations were recognised and supported with financial donations from the Barbados Light & Power Company (Light & Power). The Rites of Passage: Boys to Men program, led by Anthony Seale and Reverend Derick Richards of the James Street, Speightstown Circuit of the Methodist Church, and the Purpose 180 Foundation, founded by Nigel Jules, were both lauded for their contributions during a presentation held at Light & Power’s Garrison, St. Michael Headquarters. Both organisations spoke about the impactful initiatives they have established to support young men in Barbados.

Light & Power said it was pleased to support programs focused on mentoring and uplifting at-risk young men.

“These programs are crucial in empowering young men to reach their full potential, and Light & Power is pleased to support and partner with initiatives like Rites of Passage and Purpose 180 that actively work to create brighter futures for the next generation of young male leaders.”

Both programs focus on mentorship, character building, and equipping young men with tools to overcome challenges and achieve personal and professional growth. (PR)

Caption: Light & Power employees, including at left, Communications Advisor Adriel Richard, and to the right, Chano Belle, Manager, Finance (Supply Chain) and Curtis Brewster, Supervisor, Dispatch and Quality Control, with visiting organisation representatives Nigel Jules of the Purpose 180 Foundation (second from left), and Reverend Derick Richards and Anthony Seale of the “Rites of Passage: Boys to Men (BTM) programme” of the James Street/Speightstown Circuit of the Methodist Church in Barbados (at centre)

Local

Yearwood wins first 5k Run/Walk

Kristian Yearwood won the inaugural 5k Run/Walk to Help 5k held on Sunday. He clocked 21:36 in the running race, 2nd place went to Ralf Luther in a time of 22:05, followed by Fr. Andy Nyga in 3^rd with a time of 23:40. The top three runners in the female segment were Adeline Lamorell,27:17, Phillipa Sylvester, 30:46 and Sumaya Desai, 47:22.

The event was organized by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown and is a fund raiser for church’s ministry to the poor in our community as well as to assist the Child Card Board. What started last year as a fun walk now features competitive 5k races in running and walking. The blend of race running and walking along with fun walking should see the event attacking a cross section of participants.

Anderson Maughan was the winner in the walk race in the male segment with a time of 30:59, he was followed by Anthony Phillips in 34:50 and Akil Bryan in 37:40. Angela Jackson crossed the line in 36:31 to win the female walk race she was followed by Fay Waithe in 40:42 and third place was taken by Mary Moseley in 41:57.