ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, October 24th, 2012 - In showing his support to the first female chief justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Her Ladyship, the Honourable Justice Janice Mesadis Pereira, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE travelled to St. Lucia to observe this morning’s swearing in ceremony and join her in celebrating this major achievement.
The new chief justice, formerly Janice George-Creque, is a Virgin Islander, who hails from Virgin Gorda. Since the establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in 1967, she is the very first woman to serve in this post.
In an interview with the Department of Information and Public Relations, Premier Smith said, “Witnessing today’s swearing in of Her Ladyship the Honourable Justice Janice Mesadis Pereira, Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, is a great privilege and will long be remembered. It is historic; a moment in time that brings pride to the British Virgin Islands and the rest of the Caribbean, especially the legal fraternity.”
The swearing in ceremony began with the reading of the letters of patent by Governor General of St. Lucia Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, followed by the signing of the Oath of Allegiance and Oath for Due Execution of Office by Chief Justice Pereira.
Commenting on the momentous occasion, Honourable Pereira said she feels a great sense of pride to be a daughter of the Virgin Islands and that her accomplishment signals a great achievement for the Territory. “I feel truly honoured and special that a delegation from the BVI is here to share in this occasion; a moment I will never forget.”
The BVI delegation was led by the Honourable Premier, who was accompanied by Minister for Health and Social Development
Honourable Ronnie Skelton, Deputy Governor Mrs. V. Inez Archibald, Speaker of the House of Assembly Honourable Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe, Member for the Second District Mr. Alvin Christopher, Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Mrs. Rosalie Adams, Director of Communications Mrs. Arliene T. Penn and Personal Assistant to the Premier Mrs. Desary Cameron-McDowell.
The new chief justice was also surrounded by family members and members from the legal profession.
In a statement released last Friday, Premier Smith said, “Her Ladyship has been recognised by Caribbean leaders and in turn Her Majesty the Queen for her extraordinary qualities as a lawyer. [She]…is a shining example of how commitment and dedication to service could result in great accomplishments. She is indeed an inspiration to us all.”
Referring to her address for the opening of the 2012-2013 law year on September 18, Premier Smith said the new chief justice outlined an ambitious plan. He noted the chief justice as saying it will take a combined approach to ensure law is carried out in the nine Member States/Territories of the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Premier further stated, “I am confident that her leadership will ensure that such a system is administered by officers in a prompt, fair, efficient and effective manner.”
Honourable Justice Pereira was appointed as Acting Chief Justice on August 1, 2012, and supersedes Sir Hugh Anthony Rawlins who retired from the ECSC on July 31, 2012.
In the Virgin Islands, she has served as acting Registrar General, acting Registrar of the Supreme Court and Registrar of Companies, and acted and served as Magistrate. She was an Associate Attorney at Law with J.S. Archibald and Co.; Associate Attorney with Harney Westwood & Riegels; Attorney at Law with McW Todman & Co, and a law partner in Farara George-Creque & Kerrins. Regionally, she served as a High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court from 2003 to 2008 and Court of Appeal from 2009 to 2012.
The support shown to the new chief justice is in line with Government’s commitment to recognise those Virgin Islanders who have contributed to building a better Territory.
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