The Anguilla Bar Association (“ABA”) wishes to announce that at its Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 11th March 2010, which was attended by a significant number of its members, the following persons were elected into office:

From left to right are: Seated: Yvette Wallace, President; Eustella Fontaine, Treasurer; Standing: Jean Dyer, Secretary, Cora Richardson-Hodge and Nicola Byer are Bar Council Members. Absent: Josephine Gumbs-, Vice President.

(i) Miss Yvette A. Wallace, of Keithley Lake & Associates, as President;
(ii) Mrs. Josephine A.G. Gumbs-Connor, of J.A.G Gumbs & Co., as Vice President;
(iii) Miss Eustella P. Fontaine of Caribbean Associated Attorneys as Treasurer;
(iv) Miss Jean M. Dyer of Keithley Lake & Associates as Secretary;
(v) Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge of C.R. Hodge & Associates as Bar Council Member; and
(vi) Ms. P. Nicola Byer of Joyce Kentish & Associates as Bar Council Member.

The outgoing President Mrs. Joyce Kentish-Egan delivered the President’s Report of her term in office and highlighted the ABA’s contributions to the Anguillian community which included the review of several pieces of key legislation such as the Labour Code, and the Proceeds of Crime Act and other related Bills. The ABA also undertook a proactive role in addressing various issues including conditions at Her Majesty’s Prison, issues relating to members of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, legal aid in Anguilla, and the terms and conditions of the tenure of Judges.

The incoming President Miss Wallace on behalf of the newly installed Executive thanked the members for the confidence reposed and expressed that she looked forward to their continued support.

One of the matters which arose for consideration at the meeting was the recent announcement by His Excellency the Governor of his appointment of the outgoing Commissioner of Police, Mr. Keithly Benjamin, as the Junior Magistrate for Anguilla.

By unanimous decision of the ABA members present it was agreed that the ABA should clarify that it did NOT support Mr. Keithly Benjamin’s application or indeed his appointment as Junior Magistrate. It appears that there is some confusion amongst members of the public as persons have interpreted His Excellency’s Press Release and utterances at his recent press conference on the 9th March 2010 which refers to “glowing testimonials from senior members of the legal profession in Anguilla …” to mean that the ABA had lent its support to Mr. Keithly Benjamin’s application or even his appointment. The ABA will shortly articulate its position on why Mr. Keithly Benjamin ought not to have been appointed by His Excellency the Governor as the Junior Magistrate.

- Press Release

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