Former Court of Appeal President recognized by UWI

elliott mottley

The former President of the Court of Appeal, Elliott Mottley left Belize last Thursday. His tenure of more than a decade did not end on a happy note. The distinguished jurist was forced out when the government cut his lifetime appointment to a one-year tenure. The loss to the bench was well documented by his peers and Bar members at a special sitting to honor him. Mottley told the gathering that once he learnt that his appointment had been altered, he decided to resign.

Justice Elliott Mottley, Retired Judge, Court of Appeal

“It was in August of this year that the former Chief Justice Conteh brought to my attention the amendment to the constitution.  It was then that I discovered that the terms and condition of my appointment as president of the Court of Appeal of Belize had been unilaterally altered and this was done without my knowledge and consent.  Once I became aware of this I determined that I would resign my position as president of this court.”

It was not lost on us that this past Saturday the jurist was conferred with an honorary doctor of Laws Degree by no less than the University of the West Indies. The conferral took place at the Cave Hill Campus and he is among fourteen other luminaries of the Caribbean whose distinguished work is being recognized at the graduation ceremonies of the UWI.