Belize Advisory Council sworn in
The Belize Advisory Council, the court of last appeal in Belize, this morning swore in its new members for the year 2002. News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams was on hand at the Chateau Caribbean Hotel for the ceremony.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
All seven members, five men and two women, took their oath of allegiance, which was administered by Governor General Sir Colville Young. The members are Vernon Harrison Courtenay, Philip Zuniga and Bernard Q. Pitts, senior counsels, educator J. Alexander Bennett and Valarie Lovell, retired businessman Luis Alberto Espat and businesswoman Tina Auxillou. Lovell says she’s honoured to have been asked to serve.
Valarie Lovell
“I don’t know why I thought the council was always made up of lawyers. I had no idea that people who were not in the legal world could be a part of the council, so I was surprised.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“And now that you’ve actually been sworn in, what are your thoughts and feeling?”
Valarie Lovell
“Well, I just hope I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew. It’s something to be proud of, to be put on such a council. It brings an awesome responsibility with it, and as we took an oath this morning, I hope I can fulfil that oath that we took.”
J. Alexander Bennett
“I’ll try my best as a layman to live up to the responsibilities, and to live up to the oath that we have signed. In order to do our best in accordance with the constitution for Belize.”
The powers vested in the Governor General allowed him to appoint the council’s first chairman. He chose V.H. Courtenay, whom he said is the most senior for the first year, as the chairmanship will be rotated.
Before naming Courtenay, he reminded the new members of the serious responsibilities they have pledged to undertake, which sometimes involve commuting or remitting sentences.
V.H. Courtenay, Chairman, Bz. Advisory Council
“I accept your kind assignment with humility and with pride. And I promised…to serve to the best of my ability.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
