The legal fraternity in Grenada came out in numbers on Monday to partake in a special sitting of the High Court in honour of Acting Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Sir Brian Alleyne who is retiring at the end of the month.
Those who addressed the court spoke in glowing terms of the numerous contributions made by Sir Brian when he served as High Judge in Grenada.
Alleyne's judicial appointment in the OECS circuit took effect on July 1, 1996 with an appointment in Grenada as a high court judge.
In speaking at the ceremony, the current Attorney General of Grenada, Elvin Nimrod said that Sir Brian dispensed justice in Grenada without fear or favour and that Grenada recognises his contribution towards the reform of the justice system in the country and the wider Caribbean.
"The Government of Grenada fully supports your vision for the creation of the Hall of Justice in all the Member States," he told the court sitting.
Acting Director of Public Prosecution, Dione Lawrence spoke highly of the decisions handed down by Sir Brian when he served on the Bench in Grenada.
"The several decisions delivered by His Lordship, the Acting Chief Justice have indelibly left a landmark in the landscape in both the magistrate, high court and appellant courts," she said.
The judgements handed down by Sir Brian were also raised by other lawyers who addressed the special sitting of the court.
Speaking on behalf of the Inner Bar, Queen's Counsel Carol Bristol indicated that the judgements rendered by Sir Brian were sound and of clear reason.
Bristol reminded Sir Brian that he is highly regarded by the Bar in Grenada and that when he left the island and posted to St. Vincent the local lawyers were all saddened.
"This was transformed to pleasure when we learnt that you were made Judge of the Court of Appeal," he said.
Celia Edwards who addressed the court on behalf of the Upper Bar reiterated the affection the local Bar has for the retiring Acting Chief Justice.
She said that rarely has there been a judge in Grenada who has had the kind of across the board approval of the Bar.
"When I look around... at the attendance I respectfully submit that it lends credence to my assertion," she told the sitting.
Edwards recalled that when the local Bar learnt of Sir Brian, fresh from a political career, was earmarked for Grenada as his first stint, "a stir was created in the OECS Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States)."
The female lawyer said that coming out of a meeting, the local Bar agreed that a judge was supposed to be able to rise above politics, and act according to law.
"His Lordship Alleyne proved himself, in very short time, to be a giant among men, and a giant among judges," she remarked.
Edwards recounted two cases in which she participated where Sir Brian's intellectual superiority was extolled by the Privy Council.
One of those matters was the highly publicised Dipcon case where the High Court Judge ruled that the Keith Mitchell-led government was wrong in terminating the Dipcon contract reached with the Sir Nicholas government.
"In that case Your Lordship's patience under the vicious attack on your fairness and the unfounded accusations of bias earned untold admiration to the extent that the Privy Council, in their judgement, was at pains to express that the accusations of bias were wrongly dismissed... and that His Lordship had afforded his accusers more latitude than they were entitled to," Edwards said.
The Mitchell government is known to have expressed reservations about some of the judgements handed dow against the State by Sir Brian.
Former foreign Affairs Ministers, Dr. Raphael Fletcher told reporters that Prime Minister Mitchell often "ranted and raved" against Justice Alleyne whenever the government lost a case before him.
Senior High Court Judge Clare Henry who joined in paying tribute to Sir Brian said while they want to wish him well and much success as he starts his new undertaking, it is fitting that those who have been honoured to work with him should acknowledge and pay tribute to his successes in his present endeavour, and to his outstanding contribution to the judiciary.
The female judge said the successes her boss enjoyed in his present Office is undeniable.
She spoke of Sir Brian having gained the respect of his peers and the members of the Bars throughout the sub-region.
"We have been privileged to know the Chief Justice both in his coming and in his going. And I believe I can say that both his reputation and his health have stood up to scrutiny and remain very much intact," she said.
The special sitting was also addressed by President of the Grenada Bar Association, Ruggles Ferguson who said the special sitting evokes mixed emotions for him.
He said that on one hand it is a time to recognise and celebrate Sir Brian's 42 years of outstanding service to the legal profession, and on the other hand it is a time of deep sadness and reflection.
The 42 years in the legal profession of Sir Brian included 12 years in private practice, six years as an Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs in Dominica, seven years as a High Court Judge, and five years as a Justice of Appeal from which he spent three years as Acting Chief Justice.
The GBA President described Sir Brian as being both fair and fearless in exercising his authority and control of his court.
Ferguson said the local Bar is ashamed that Grenada was part of "the manoeuvres" to prevent Sir Brian's confirmation to the position of Chief Justice of the OECS Supreme Court.
"One can only imagine... that while members of the Bench and Bar throughout the OECS without exception are truly saddened to see you go, sounds of joy must be emanating from at least one Cabinet Room in the OECS as a certain Prime Minister and his Legal Advisor must be saying in unison... at last we are seeing the back of Alleyne, C. J." Ferguson told the sitting.
The Grenada Prime Minister was allegedly the sole voice among regional Prime Ministers to oppose Alleyne's confirmation in the post of Chief Justice.
Under the regime in place, the Chief Justice has to be appointed unaminously to the post.
The weekly Cabinet meeting of the Grenada Government was at the time taking place when the special sitting of the High Court was in progress to pay tribute to the retiring Alleyne.
The special sitting was graced with the presence of two former High Court Judges, Monica Joseph and Lyle St. Paul who was the senior judge in Grenada when Sir Brian took up his appointment as a High Court Judge in Grenada.
Also present at the special sitting was world-famed attorney-at-law, Karl Hudson Phillips, the former Attorney-General of Trinidad and Tobago who headed the prosecution team in the Maurice Bishop murder trial in the 1980's.
