Justice Boyd Carey bids adieu to Appeals Court

Boyd Carey

Also in the courts Justice Boyd Carey who has been sitting in the Belize Court of Appeal for ten years got a warm send-off today. The imminently qualified judge started his legal career as a registrar of the court of appeal and eventually was elevated to the Supreme Court and then the court of appeal. He served extensively in Jamaica, the Bahamas and then Belize. News Five’s Delahnie Bain was present for his retiring party.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

Members of the judiciary gathered in the CJ’s Chambers to bid farewell to Court of Appeal Justice Boyd Carey, who has reached the age of retirement. Justice Carey has served in appellate courts for thirty years, ten of which were in Belize, where today he said his goodbyes.

Justice Boyd Carey, Retiring Court of Appeal Judge

“Today I bid you a fund farewell. It marks finis to my judicial career. I’m not altogether certain I am going to march off into the sunset. To me that seems somewhat inconsistent with the character that I think I am. Howsoever that might be, as a centurion under orders, I was commanded to come over to Macedonia; I came. Now I receive orders to demit office at this time, the end of the March session. Dutifully, as commanded, I goeth.”

President of the appellate court Elliott Mottley and Supreme Court Judge Samuel Lungole Awich were the first speak of Carey’s personality and his work.

Elliott Mottley, President, Court of Appeal

“Justice Carey believes that the practice of law is indeed an honorable profession. He holds fast to the noble traditions of the Bar, he adheres to the belief that members of the Bar should at all times strive to maintain these high traditions.”

Justice Samuel Lungole Awich, Supreme Court Judge

Samuel Awich

“On behalf of the Chief Justice, the magistrates and staff, I sincerely thank Justice Carey for his sterling service rendered to the judiciary of Belize and of course to Belize. the end has come but his service remains permanently evident in the quality judgments you have rendered. They are forever useful to the judges, magistrates and attorneys of Belize.”

The Solicitor General Oscar Ramjeet as well as the president and a few members of the Bar Association spoke fondly of Carey’s strict yet humorous nature. That trait was displayed when he gave his address but he also took a more somber tone as he noted the things he would miss about Belize.

Justice Boyd Carey

“My motto has been Carpe diem – Latin- seize the day. That means I work hard and when I play and when I play I maintain that standard. (laughter) I will greatly miss the friendship and cordiality that exists in the court and take this opportunity to publicly thank my brothers for their willing and ready assistance and cooperation in rendering justice to all manner of persons without fear or favour, affection or ill will. I will miss the calm and sobering presence of our president. I will miss too the elegant justice of the Chief Justice, who unfortunately is not with us this evening. He has always been very kind to me and I wish him well.”

Carey expressed the pleasure it has been serving in Belize. Of course, there were many well wishes to be offered after which Justice Mottley ended the special session with an emotional blessing.

Elliot Mottley

Justice Elliott Mottley

“We wish you well and I don’t believe that you will go off into the sunset and remain there knitting as he says.”

Justice Samuel Lungole Awich

“I wish you sir a happy retirement. You have made friends in Belize. I believe I shall see you back on private visits and I assure you that I shall relate the events of this afternoon to the Honorable Chief Justice when he returns.”

Justice Boyd Carey

“I leave you therefore with an Irish Blessing: May the road rise to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rain fall soft upon your fields. Until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

Absent from the event were Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh who is in the Cayman Islands on business and Carey’s wife who recently suffered an injured rib when she fell off a ladder. Delahnie Bain for News Five.

Justice Adrian Saunders of the Caribbean Court of Justice was also present at today’s farewell along with the CCJ registrar.