Latest update January 8th, 2025 12:02 AM
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Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, SC, dies
“It is with great sadness that I learnt early this morning of the passing of dear Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, SC,” said the Director of Public Prosecutions.
DPP, Ms. Shalimar Ali-Hack, said that he was a great legal legend of Guyana, the Region and the Commonwealth.
“He served selflessly throughout the Commonwealth Caribbean Region particularly at the Privy Council and the Caribbean Court of Justice.”
“He distinguished himself academically and subsequently in his practise at the Bar especially at the final Courts of Appeal for the Region, The Privy Council and the Caribbean Court of Justice.
”While doing so he also served his native country as its first local Attorney General with distinction. So distinguished was his service that he was knighted by the Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth.
“Though we knew he was not well, his passing nevertheless still came as a shock to us because we have always wished for him good health. This may be so because of our close relationship with him and how much we learnt from him.
“He appeared for the State of Guyana in many criminal appeals at the Caribbean Court of Justice, the most recent being the case of Mark Royden Williams and James Anthony Hyles popularly referred to as the Lusignan Massacre case.
The legal community especially in the Caribbean Commonwealth Region has lost a human encyclopedia where legal matters are concerned, be it criminal, civil or constitutional, the DPP said.
She added that he was a bottomless well when it came to the law which he expounded from his memory, including the history of the law.
Despite being well versed in many areas of the law he was always willing to learn about new aspects. I saw this with him with the introduction of modern anti money laundering laws. His writing and eloquence is another aspect to be recognized, commended, remembered and emulated.
“He was truly an Icon in the law.”
Dead: Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, 89.
The DPP said that Sir Fenton had a command of the understanding of the law and applied it with diligence, astute finesse and integrity.
The passing of Sir Fenton and the likes of him signal the death of an era of legal personalities which once frequented the rooms and halls of our Courts.
“This in itself adds to the grief which we feel at this inevitable occasion.”
He must be remembered for his bravery and ability to speak the truth fearlessly.
He was from a great Guyanese family who each distinguished themselves in different aspects of scholarship, law, medicine, and engineering.
“Our heartfelt sympathies are extended to his dearly beloved bereaved family and his office staff, especially Suzette and Sunil with whom we worked very closely over the years.”
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has also expressed the sorrow at the death of Sir Fenton Ramsahoye who was made a Knight of the Order of the Nation by the State of Antigua and Barbuda in 2006.
“One of our distinguished Knights has fallen, and we in Antigua and Barbuda, join his family, friends and admirers throughout the Caribbean in mourning his passing,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Browne recalled the distinguished legal career of Sir Fenton, who was born in Guyana and served as that country’s Attorney-General in the colonial period before serving as Professor at the Hugh Wooding Law school, and representing Caribbean governments, private individuals and companies before the Privy Council and the Caribbean Court of Justice.
The Prime Minister said, “Sir Fenton will be remembered with respect and admiration by a generation of Caribbean attorneys who benefitted from his knowledge and willingness to share it.”
“He was an erudite scholar of the law and defended his clients with unfailing commitment”, the Prime Minister declared.
Sir Fenton Ramsahoye was 89. He died at 1 o’clock yesterday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados.
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