Kittitian stalwart takes the mantle
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - After Kittitian-born the Right Honourable Justice Sir Charles Michael Dennis Byron had sworn the Oath of Office of the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as prescribed by protocol, and accepted the Seal of the Court which he held aloft, he confessed to having feelings of pride and emotional sentiments.
He was proud, he said, to be President of a Court that was set up in a manner that ensures high quality of staff and was independent of political control.
He spoke with satisfaction of the Trust Fund by which the Court was financed which ensured judicial independence.
He spoke also of the quality of the judges who could demand and command trust and sought to convince the very regional gathering that trust and confidence could be placed in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
The new President of the CCJ was quite sure that the CCJ would play a very positive role in social and regional development.
“I feel quite emotional being here in St. Kitts,” he admitted later. Explaining that this was his birthplace and this is where his early education and development took place, he went on to pay tribute to his late parents, Vincent and Pearl Byron and those who helped to shape him.
He expressed gratitude to Lady Norma, his wife and to his children and grandchildren as well as to his extended family and friends for their support and enduring friendship.
The esteemed gathering at the spacious grounds of the Government House on St. Kitts had a wide cross section of family and friends, well wishers and colleagues from the different parts of the globe where Sir Dennis had previously served.
Well wishers also included members of his staff from Tanzania where he recently served as President of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
Those witnessing this inauguration included representatives of practically every legal and judicial association, organisation and institution in the Caribbean, and with the meeting of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission being held here at this time, the invitees included Deans of Law Faculties, Attorneys General and Presidents of Bar Associations throughout the Region.
The Inauguration of the Rt. Honourable Justice Sir Dennis thereby took on a larger than life dimension and hopefully represented a symbolic upturn or transition into a new phase of ‘Independent Jurisdiction in the Caribbean Region’.
In an age of technology where ‘distance is dead’, there is still much to be gained from face to face interaction of minds and personal assessment of the hitherto distant officials who run our vital institutions.
Even Sir Dennis expressed his pleasure at meeting with the members of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission of which heretofore he had only “theoretical knowledge”.
Nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis could say the same regarding the Caribbean Court of Justice. The CCJ must be applauded therefore for using the opportunity of the Inauguration to arrange a series of public awareness sessions where members of the Press and public were able to interact directly with officers of the CCJ.
This public education effort along with the interactions of various branches of the judicial systems of the Caribbean here at this time, augurs well for the future, and may contribute to new attitudes arising pertaining to the way in which and speed with which the CCJ is embraced in its totality.
Nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis have now become major role-players in the administration of jurisprudence in the Caribbean as three key posts are presently held by Kitti-Nevisians. Apart from Sir Dennis holding the post of President of the CCJ, Sir Hugh Rawlins is presently Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), and Tapley Seaton, Q.C is President of the OECS Bar Association.
