The Caribbean Community mourns passing of Regional Legal Luminary Duke Pollard - CARICOM SG

CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett has expressed condolences on the passing of Justice (ret), Duke Pollard of Guyana.

The Secretary-General, in a message to the President of Guyana H.E. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, noted Justice Pollard’s significant body of work for the Region which included assisting to draft the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, and agreements and protocols related to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Here is the Secretary-General’s message:

“Excellency:

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) mourns the loss of Justice (ret) Duke Pollard.

Justice Pollard has a well-earned reputation as one of the Region’s foremost legal luminaries. His agile legal mind and practical approach was instrumental in assisting to draft the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy in his role as Legal Adviser to the CARICOM Secretary-General. He also served the Secretariat as the Director of the CARICOM Legislative Drafting Facility.

Justice Pollard was deeply involved in drafting many of the agreements and protocols relating to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). He was elevated to the Bench of the CCJ and served in that role for five years. After retirement from the CCJ, Justice Pollard devoted his experience and skills to the Law Faculty of the University of Guyana.

A prolific author, he has left behind a significant body of studies, articles, monographs, and texts on a variety of legal topics from which generations of legal scholars and practitioners have benefitted.

The Community extends its deepest condolences to the family of the late Justice Pollard and to the Government and people of Guyana on the loss of a true legal giant whose contribution to the development of the Caribbean Community will not be forgotten.”