BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DURING a special sitting of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) Court of Appeal held earlier this week, three Justices were formally congratulated and welcomed to that institution in their new capacities.
Justice Her Ladyship Janice George-Creque has been appointed Justice of Appeal (JA) while former resident judge to St. Kitts, Justice His Lordship Davidson Baptiste and current resident judge to St. Kitts Justice Francis Belle were appointed Acting Justices of Appeal {JA (Ag)}.
The welcoming ceremony was held on Monday morning (May 18) at the Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore Judicial and Legal Services Complex, Basseterre, before members of the regional and local law fraternity as well as Chief Justice, His Lordship Hugh Anthony Rawlins and other Justices.
Congratulatory remarks were offered by a number of individuals including Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Dr. the Honourable Dennis Merchant; Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Paulina Hendrickson; Fitzroy Eddy, who represented the St. Kitts Nevis Bar Association; Charles Wilkin QC; former Attorney General to the Federation, Delano Bart; Dr. Henry Browne and the Hon. Mark Brantley.
Most of them expressed that they worked with one or more of the newly-appointed Justices. In delivering their messages of congratulation, they underscored the importance of their roles, noting it is incumbent on them to serve with honour and integrity.
In response to the glowing accolades, JA George-Creque paid homage to those female Judges and Justices whom she said categorised as “trailblazers” for paving the path for on which she now walks. She also expressed thanks to the former Chief Justices and also current Chief Justice Rawlins for the paths they have paved as well as the roles they played in the development of the region’s jurisprudence. She pledged to continue “carrying out responsibilities in the development of the jurisprudence of the jurisdiction”.
JA (Ag) Baptiste thanks all for their glowing comments and words of support and indicated that his intention is “to execute the usual standard which I have been committed to over the past seven years as a High Court Judge”.
Much like his colleagues, JA (Ag) Belle thanked those who offered comments on his behalf. He also offered congratulations to his newly-appointed colleagues.
The three newly-appointed Justices have joined Chief Justice Rawlins and Justice of Appeal Michael Gordon QC at the St. Kitts sitting of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal currently in progress, which is scheduled to conclude by the end of this week.
