There was a loud and distinct thumping of approval as lawyer after lawyer paid glowing tribute to retired High Court Judge in Anguilla, Justice Cheryl Mathurin, on Thursday, January 17.
A national of St. Lucia, she served as Resident Judge in the Anguilla High Court for six years. She previously worked as a Crown Counsel in the Attorney General Chambers in St. Lucia, later as a Magistrate there, and then as a Master in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. After that she was appointed to the position of Judge and was assigned to Anguilla – the post from which she has now retired.
The January 17 twin event was the sitting of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal and a farewell ceremony for Justice Mathurin. The court was presided over by Chief Justice Dame Janice Pereira, accompanied by Justices Gertel Thom who led the tributes, Louise Blenman, Paul Webster and the retiring Judge, Justice Mathurin.
Chief Justice Dame Pereira, who opened the tributes, recalled that while serving as a High Court Judge in Anguilla she first met Master Mathurin in 2003 when she (Mathurin) came to the island to assist with certain cases before the court. Dame Pereira said that during her interactions with her she had “discovered a truly warm, sociable and caring human being with a zest for life, coupled with a great sense of humour and a raucous laughter.”
Chief Justice Pereira went on: “Justice Mathurin shared a deep commitment to judicial education and was happy to participate and share her ideas for judicial reform. She believed in the work of the court…and was always interested in participating in programmes aimed at building capacity and sensitization in various areas of the law, and keeping abreast of legal developments.” She said Justice Mathurin had served Anguilla faithfully over the years.
The Chief Justice’s address set the tone for a long list of speakers who reviewed the work of Justice Mathurin in Anguilla; her dedicated and strong leadership of the court; the influential role she played in guiding the legal practitioners who appeared before her to ensure justice for all; and the sacrifices she had made to serve in Anguilla while her family were in St. Lucia and Canada.
The speakers were: Attorney General, Mr. Dwight Horsford; Ms. Jean Dyer, President of the Anguilla Bar Association; Mrs. Keesha Carty, Vice President of the Bar; Mrs. Joyce Kentish Egan, QC; Mr. Thomas Astaphan, QC; Ms. Palmavon Webster; Mrs. Josephine Gumbs-Connor; Mr. Kenneth Porter; Ms. Ivenia Benjamin, Senior Magistrate; Mrs. Tana’ania Small, on behalf of the OECS Bar Association; Mr. Michael Bourne; and Mr. Kerith Kentish.
Responding, the outgoing Judge appreciated the sentiments of many of the speakers about the sacrifices she had made in Anguilla. She however begged to differ, stating that: “It is a pleasure to be able to assist with the resolution of conflict between parties. There is no greater joy than coming to a resolution, and having given it your best effort to ensure that the conclusion is fair. Yes, there is sacrifice in certain aspects of life, but it gives joy to be able to assist in moving the matters of the court, and giving young lawyers the confidence to come to court.”
Justice Mathurin thanked the Chief Justice and the legal practitioners for their kind words and best wishes, and promised to make herself available to assist the court where possible.
She left Anguilla on Sunday, January 20, for St. Lucia and has been succeeded by Justice Shawn Innocent, another St. Lucian national.
