7 News Belize

PM Barrow Gives Props To Brother Barrow
posted (February 21, 2017)
Last night, we showed you most of our interview with the Prime Minister when he returned on Sunday from his New York Meetings with Belize's Creditors.

One part we didn't get to show you, however, was his comments on his brother, Denys Barrow, being appointed as a judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The younger Barrow has confirmed to us that he will join the court in June. He will become 1 of only 7 judges at the court - which marks him out as one of the pre-eminent jurists in the Caribbean.

And even though his government is losing its best attorney, the Prime Minister said that it is a mark of distinction for his brother and Belize:

Reporter
"The appointment of your brother as a judge on the bench for the Caribbean Court of Justice, can you share with us your thoughts on that?"

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I've always said he was the best lawyer in Belize and so I am very happy for him that his merit, his talent, his absolute brilliance which has been longstanding is now rewarded. So it's a tremendous achievement for him. It is also a tremendous achievement for Belize."

"Quite frankly I was beginning to get worried. We are one of the earlier and still one of the few joiners of the court in so far as the its appellate jurisdiction - its replacement of the privy council in non-treaty matters in other matters is concern and one has to be careful, because the court cannot be political, but it wouldn't have been too long before they would have start hearing my mouth 'why can't Belize have a judge on the court?' Judges are drawn from very many of the countries which are not signatories unto the appellate jurisdiction and that's fine, because you want simply the best in the Caribbean. So long story short, Dennis Barrow in my view is one of the best in the Caribbean and it is good that he is on the court, simply on the basis of merit, but it is also good because surely Belize deserves a place on that court."

Denys Barrow is replacing a judge who leaves at the end of May.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize