Balancing sports and law - Andre Jagnandan accepted to the Bar

Balancing sports and law – Andre Jagnandan accepted to the Bar

Oct 04, 2023 Sports

By Rawle Toney

Kaieteur Sports – Former Junior National Chess Champion and volleyball player, Andre Jagnandan, has successfully transitioned to the courtroom, having recently been admitted to the Bar.

Jagnandan’s passion for sports led him to excel in both Chess and Volleyball, but he also discovered a deep calling for the field of law.

After completing his studies at Queens College, Guyana’s premier secondary school, he pursued a Bachelor of Law degree at the University of Guyana and then continued his legal education at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago.

Upon obtaining his Legal Education Certificate, Jagnandan returned to Guyana, where he was formally presented to Chief Justice Roxanne George in the High Court by Attorney-at-Law Pamela De Santos.

Andre Jagnandan (centre), flanked by Minister Charles Ramson Jr and president of the DVA, Kristoff Shepperd at his acceptance at the High Court.

Addressing the court, Jagnandan humbly stated, “Being in the courtroom is not because of the reception of any gift but it is a testament to what hard work, dedication, persistence and more than anything having faith can achieve.” He recounted the arduous journey he undertook to become an Attorney-at-law.

Andre is a trailblazer in his family, being the first to enter the legal profession. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to his parents, Nafeeza and Lukesh Jagnandan, and his wife, Serah Singh, for their unwavering support, which allowed him to balance his studies with his passion for sports.

In 2019, Jagnandan earned the title of National Junior Chess Champion, triumphing in the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Rapid and Classic tournaments.

He proudly represented Guyana at the 2019 Inter College Games in Colombia and at the 2020 Rapid and Blitz Championships in Suriname. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in the Youth Committee for the Guyana Chess Federation.

Former National Chess Champion and Volleyball player, Andre Jagnandan joined by his family at the High Court.

In the realm of volleyball, Jagnandan co-founded the annual “Spikedown” Tournament and, since 2018, has been a prominent figure in various Demerara Volleyball Association teams across different age groups and at the senior level.

He currently serves as the Association’s Secretary, under the leadership of Kristoff Sheppherd.

Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., attended Jagnandan’s admission to the legal practice in Guyana.

Minister Ramson, who is also a Queens College Alumnus and an Attorney-at-Law, came in for praises, with Jagnandan highlighting, “I do not know if I would be standing here today without your clemency and for that I will forever be grateful and strive to not only make the most out of this career but to assist in developing a local sporting jurisprudence across all sports in Guyana.”

Reflecting on his journey, Jagnandan, now affiliated with the De Santos and Associates Law Firm, emphasised his commitment to utilizing his acquired skills to positively influence sports jurisprudence in Guyana and extend a helping hand to those in need.

He pledged to represent his client’s interests to the best of his ability while maintaining the highest ethical standards.

In terms of his continued involvement in sports, Jagnandan vowed to support the development of Volleyball in Guyana through the DVA and to remain devoted to his first love, Chess.

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