GRENADA BAR ASSOCIATION NEWS RELEASE

Four Queens Counsel, all practising law for more than 50 years, were recently honoured at a Grand Dinner (June 3rd ) hosted by the Grenada Bar Association at the Flamboyant Hotel.

Queen Counsel Edwin Heyligar, Cosmo St.Bernard, Derek Knight and Carol Bristol all received plaques from the Grenada Bar Association in recognition of their long and distinguished service to the legal profession.

The plaques were presented on behalf of the local Bar by Governor-General Sir Daniel Williams (himself a Queens Counsel) in the presence of a packed audience including Judges; representatives (including several Presidents) of Bar Associations from throughout the sub-region in Grenada for the 25th Council Meeting of the OECS Bar Association (June 3rd ); Ambassador Charles Maynard, Dominica's Ambassador to the OECS and CARICOM; Sir Dwight Venner, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank; former Governor-General Sir Paul School; Courtney Abel, President of the OECS Bar Association and several local Attorneys.

Citations were read on each honoree by Attorneys-at-Law Daniella Williams and Rosalyn Wilkinson before presentation of the plaques.

Edwin Allen Heyligar Q.C, the most senior of the lawyers, was born in the then British Guiana but has had his longest and deepest connection with Grenada, since January 1949, when he served as a Magistrate in Grenville.

He was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn on 7th July 1943, returning to British Guiana that year. In a little over a month, therefore, he will celebrate 63 years in the practice of law - a milestone achievement. He has served throughout the sub-region in several legal capacities including Magistrate, Registrar, High Court Judge, Attorney-General and Legal Draughtsman. On 4th April 1978, Mr.Heyligar became one of Her Majesty's Counsel.

Cosmo Allan St. Bernard Q.C. was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in England on 6th January 1951. Returning to Grenada from his legal studies in April 1951, he was called to the local Bar that same month. Consequently he resigned from the Grenada Civil Service where he had served prior to pursuing a career in law. Mr. St. Bernard's service to Grenada has not been strictly confined to the law. He served as a Member of the Public Service Commission from May 1979; as a member of the Public Service Board of Appeal from May 1985 and later as Chairman from April 1995 (a position he still holds); as a member of the Board of Directors of Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited - of which he is now Chairman - for over 30 years; and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Grenada Building and Loan Association (of which he is currently President). In 1996 he became one of Her Majesty's Counsel in 1996.

Mr. Carol Walter John Bristol Q.C began his legal career upon being called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in the United Kingdom on 6th July 1954. He has served the sub-region in several legal capacities including Registrar, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of the Windward Islands & Leeward Islands, Assistant to the Attorney-General of the Windward Islands and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Grenada (1990-'91). Apart from the legal profession, he has served as President of the Rotary club of Grenada; President of the Grenada Jaycees (1964); President of the West Indies Jaycees (1966); President of the Grenada Sports Council. He is the Current Chairman of the Territorial Advisory Council for the University of the West Indies (UWI). In 1986 Mr. Bristol became one of Her Majesty's Counsel.

John Derek Knight Q.C was called to the Bar at Middle Temple Inn in July 1954. He will celebrate 52 years in the legal profession come July 2006.

Prior to embarking on a career in law, Mr. Knight served in the Royal Air Force, answering the call to defend the British Empire of which Grenada was a part, during World War II. This feat is noted in the Grenada Handbook.

Apart from the legal profession, he served as the first President of the Technical & Allied Workers Union (TAWU) and as Minister without Portfolio in the government led by Sir Eric Gairy. As a Minister of Government he represented Grenada during numerous negotiations giving rise to several regional treaties to which Grenada is now a signatory, including those of CARICOM.

President of the Grenada Bar Association, Ruggles Ferguson, emphasized the importance of marrying the expertise and experience of the old with the energy and enthusiasm of the young in the continuing efforts of the Bar to lift the standard of the profession in Grenada.

Sir Dwight Venner, guest speaker at the Grand Dinner, spoke on, "The role of the legal profession in meeting the challenges of a changing OECS economic environment".

Also present and given special recognition at the dinner were the widows of three former members(now deceased) of the legal profession: Mavis Lady Scipio, wife of former Barrister and Speaker of the House, Sir Hudson Scipio; Oris Lady Graham, wife of former Chief Justice Sir Samuel Graham; and Ms.Hermione Renwick, wife of former High Court Judge, Barrymore Renwick.

Date: June 12th, 2006
Contact: R . Ferguson (440-2707)