Justice of Appeal Denys Barrow returns to private practice

Press Release - Belmopan - 25th January, 2011 - The Government of Belize announces that Justice of Appeal Denys Barrow has decided to return to private practice. He has therefore tendered, to the Governor-General, his resignation from the Court of Appeal with effect from 28th February, 2011.

The Government of Belize thanks Justice Barrow for the services he rendered to the Court and the Country during his tenure, and wishes him well in his return to the private Bar.

A statement from Justice Barrow is below:

Statement by Denys Barrow on his return to private practice

By letter dated 24th January 2011 I conveyed to His Excellency the Governor General my decision to return to private practice as an attorney at law. The resignation is to take effect from 28th February.

The decision stems from the refusal of the Government of St Lucia to pay pension benefits due to me upon my retirement, two years ago, as a Court of Appeal judge in the Eastern Caribbean. Matters reached the point where I was forced to file a claim on 14th January 2011 against the Government of St Lucia which has been simply ignoring the claim, latterly refusing to even acknowledge receipt of letters of inquiry.

Having returned at the end of 2008 to Belize and to private practice, I later decided I could afford to leave private practice and become a judge in Belize because I treated the expected pension benefits as part of my financial resources. That expectation having been removed, I must now adjust. Hence, my decision to return to practice.

I express my gratitude to the Government of Belize for the honour conferred on me by the appointment. I am especially grateful for the confidence and support members of the public, on both sides of the political divide, expressed on my appointment and during my tenure. It took courage for the Prime Minister, Hon. Dean Barrow, to appoint his brother to the judiciary and no less courage for the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. John Briceno, to support that appointment. I salute them.

I am confident that the Court of Appeal under its new President, the Honourable Manuel Sosa, with the support of its new member, the Honourable Sir Brian Alleyne, and its newly re-appointed member, the Honourable Dennis Morrison, will continue to provide satisfaction to the nation in delivering justice.

Denys Barrow SC - 25th January 2011