Anguillian national, His Honour, Mr. Keithly Benjamin, has climbed another step up the ladder of success in his illustrious law enforcement career. He is now the island’s Senior Magistrate, on the recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and was appointed by Governor Tim Foy, OBE. His appointment took effect on Wednesday, November 4.
He succeeds Ms. Ivenia Benjamin, a native of the Commonwealth of Dominica who served in that position since in 2010. The same year, Mr. Benjamin was appointed Magistrate after serving as Commissioner of the Royal Anguilla Police Force since in 2003, having come up the ranks over the previous years.
His distinguished career in the Police Force began in 1979 when he served as a Constable in the Traffic Department from 1979-1986; Corporal 1986-1988; Inspector in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, 1988-1995; Superintendent in charge of Administration 1995-2001; Deputy Commissioner, 2001-2002; Acting Commissioner, 2002-2003; and Commissioner, 2003-2010.
During his tenure in the Police Force Mr. Benjamin gained a tremendous amount of experience and certification in specialised and top-level courses at multiple high-profile regional and international institutions. Among other positions, his professional experience led to his appointment in 2006 as Chairman of the UK Caribbean Overseas Territories Special Working Group on Firearms.
After a series of other distinguished positions, he became the only Anguillian to serve as First Vice President of the Association of Caribbean Police Commissioners from 2008-2009. His ascension and rise in the Royal Anguilla Police Force has truly been a remarkable and commendable experience, earning him much respect and the Colonial Police Medal. He retired from the Force in 2010.
His retirement from policing was not the end of his passion for the law as he had long prepared himself for a higher calling ten years earlier. And so it was that in 1999, in the middle of his appointment in the Force, he pursued studies at the University of the West Indies, at Cave Hill, Barbados, and later graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Degree (with Second Class Honours) and in 2001 he graduated from the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica with a Legal Education Certificate.
He was admitted to the Anguilla Bar a Barrister and Solicitor of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
The proud, but humble holder of these legal qualifications successfully applied for the post of Magistrate in the Anguilla Judicial Department in 2010 and was appointed and sworn in by former Governor, Mr. Allistair Harrison, who had also did the appointment and swearing in of Ms. Ivenia Benjamin (no relation to Mr. Benjamin) as Senior Magistrate.
Well-settled in his new appointment on the Bench, the soft-spoken Mr. Benjamin acted as Senior Magistrate from December 2014-January 2015; December 2015-January 2016; June 2016-June 2016; December 2016-January 2017; December 2017-January 2018; December 2018-December 2018; and December 2019-December 2019. He also acted as Senior Magistrate in 2020, since the recent ending of his predecessor’s contract.
As part of his judicial experience, he attended several regional Magistrates’ Conferences. Among them were: a Magistrates’ course in Judicial Ethics and Independence; a course in Juvenile Justice; and workshops in Domestic Violence; Proceeds of Crime; and Confiscation of Asset Forfeiture, among other judicial training programmes.
It is with this overwhelming professional policing, legal experience and patriotism that this well-respected and dignified gentleman, with such hobbies as sport and theatre, has assumed the appointment as Senior Magistrate in his homeland.
What will be his next fortune? Will it be some special recognition or a Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, later on?
The Anguillian wishes Mr. Benjamin continued success in his impressive law enforcement and justice-dispensing career.
