Chancellor, Bar Association mourn death of fmr Judge

Condolences have been pouring in as the country learnt about the passing of former Chancellor of the Judiciary and Appeal Court Judge, Senior Counsel Keith Massiah.

In a statement, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards signalled her deep sadness at the passing of Massiah, once considered a key figure in Guyana’s legal fraternity. He would’ve died on Friday at the St Joseph’s Mercy Hospital at the age of 93.
“His long and illustrious career saw him holding the positions of Chancellor of the Judiciary, Attorney General and Professor of Law. He was a true legal luminary whose indelible contribution to the jurisprudence of Guyana is known throughout the Caribbean and the Commonwealth. He will always be remembered for his intellectual prowess, and his rich, passionate and poetic judgments. His many landmark judgments in constitutional and public law, as well as criminal cases, changed the legal landscape of Guyana,” the Chancellor penned.
While stating that the legal fraternity has lost a great jurist and orator, it was indicated that a special Full Court sitting will be convened when Public Health conditions permit.
Meanwhile, the Bar Council of The Bar Association of Guyana also shared similar sentiments as they recognised Massiah’s stellar contribution. It went on to say that Guyana has benefitted significantly from his service to the law.
“A reading of any judgment written by the Former Chancellor highlights the importance of research, scholarship, industry and purity of writing. For those who walk the halls of justice in Guyana, and seek to ascend to the Bench, his is an example to be emulated…His legacy will leave an indelible impression on the manuscripts of his reported judgments, the content of laws passed in his legal service, and the minds of the legal profession in Guyana.”
Massiah served as Chancellor of the Judiciary from 1984 to 1988. He then served as Attorney General from 1988 to 1992 under President Hugh Desmond Hoyte. He has also served as an Appeals Court and High Court Judge, as well as a law lecturer at the University of Guyana.
Following the death of the former Chancellor, there have been several tributes from his former students, some of whom have gone on to make their own impact in society. Leading those tributes is former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who in a social media post on Sunday expressed sadness on hearing of the loss of Massiah.
“It is with profound sadness that I learnt of the passing of one [of] our great Judges of that remarkable era. I was taught by him and practiced law alongside him. I never had the honour of appearing before him. He presided over a generation of which I was not a part. Perhaps his greatest legacy will remain his extraordinary literary prowess,” Nandlall said.