Latest update October 15th, 2026 10:30 AM
Senior Counsel Murseline Bacchus dies
Senior Counsel Murseline Bacchus
Kaieteur News – Senior Counsel Murseline Bacchus has died. According to a source close to his family, the late attorney passed Tuesday morning at the age of 83.
In a statement the Bar Association of Guyana said Mr. Bacchus SC, the pre-eminent lawyer for many years in the ancient county of Berbice, was one of the leading criminal lawyers in Guyana.
According to the bar association, Bacchus was among the earliest Caribbean-trained law graduates of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), and was a classmate and lifelong friend of the former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Chief Justice, Ian Chang SC.
“Between them,” the bar association said “they proved that a Caribbean legal education was, at least, the equivalent of English training, and they set the bar for the generation of Caribbean-trained lawyers who followed them.”
“Mr. Bacchus was appointed senior counsel by President David Granger in January 2020 and was in his fiftieth year of practice as an Attorney-at-Law in Guyana, this year,” the statement added.
As such, the bar council expressed deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Bacchus SC. He leaves to mourn his wife and four children, among who is his daughter Patricia Bacchus, Attorney-at-Law, and CEO and Chairperson of Caribbean Containers Inc.
In a similar statement, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC expressed deep sorrow at the passing of Murseline Bacchus, SC, whom he described as a distinguished member of Guyana’s legal fraternity and a respected advocate who served the people of Berbice with unwavering dedication and in his own inimitable way for nearly five decades.
“His sojourn begun as a law clerk…This whetted his appetite for more. He then commenced the study of law at the University of Guyana and then continued at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, and then onto the Hugh Wooding Law School.” Nandlall said.
He noted that upon his return to Guyana, Mr. Bacchus quickly became a leading figure at the Berbice Bar.
“Renowned for his expertise in criminal law, Mr. Bacchus argued numerous high-profile cases, many of which are reported in the West Indian Reports. His industry, research and tenacity served his clients well…He was one of the lawyers to whom practitioners can turn for guidance on obscure points in criminal law. Although a little rough in his mannerisms, he was always helpful…” Nandlall said.
He noted that Bacchus was from the old school. “He researched from books (hardcopies not from the internet). His knowledge of old decided local cases was indeed admirable. He used them most skillfully, to the benefit of his clients. No doubt, practitioners and judges alike, benefitted from his research.”
According to the Attorney General, Mr. Bacchus was inducted into the Inner Bar on the 22nd December, 2020, making him the only Berbician Senior Counsel to be adorned with silk in decades.
“It was a deserving elevation. No doubt, the void left by him will be difficult to fill in the near future. I extend heartfelt condolences to his wife, Florence Bacchus, his daughter, Patricia Bacchus, Attorney-at-Law, the entire Bacchus family, the Berbice Bar and the Guyanese legal fraternity…” the attorney general added.
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In his effort paying nice tributes to late Murseline Bacchus, SC, Nandlall
had to add an insulting sidebar: ” Although a little rough in his mannerisms…”
Nandlall is not that smart a lawyer…he had to consult Murseline when he
needed, as he said. This is typical of Nandlall to demean Murseline after his death.
My late friend from the mid 1950’s was a product of Sheet Anchor, a very hard
place then and now, to grow up as I did back then also. Sheet Anchor had a
reputation, like any other place that was bad. Murseline made himself good,
great from it. He worked as clerk with brothers/lawyers, Bhairo and Krishna
Persaud, very famous in those days. So, goodbye my friend and my sympathy
to his family.