Esteemed Guyanese Jurist Louise Blenman sworn in as Chief Justice of Belize

Esteemed Guyana-born jurist Louise Esther Blenman was on Friday sworn in as Belize’s new Chief Justice, becoming the first female to hold the post in that Caricom member state.

She took the oath of office before the country’s Governor General, Froyla Tzalam, at Belize House in the capital city of Belmopan.
She replaces Кеnnеth Веnјаmіn whо rеtіrеd іn Маrсh 2020.
Before her appointment, Місhеllе Аrаnа асtеd аѕ Belize’s Сhіеf Јuѕtісе, but did not apply for the substantive post. Justice Blenman will also be elevated to the Court of Appeal of Belize as a member of that court.
According to the Government of Belize Press Office, earlier this year, the Office of the Prime Minister caused to be advertised the position of Chief Justice.
As such, ads were placed on the Supreme Court of Belize’s website and were published regionally and through the Commonwealth Secretariat. The office of the Prime Minister received eight applications, none of which were by any Belizean applicant.
The country’s Press Office said that an interview panel consisting of senior members of the Bar conducted interviews of the eight applicants and a report on the interviews and the vetting of the applications was prepared for Prime Minister John Briceno for him to make his decision.
In that report and based on her qualifications, experience, and her interview, Justice Blenman, a retired Justice of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, was recommended favourably to the Prime Minister, the statement added.
Justice Blenman graduated from the University of the West Indies in 1986 with a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B.) (Upper Second Class Honours). She later obtained the Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad in 1988.
She was called to the Bar in Guyana, in 1988 and also served as a Magistrate in her native country. She is also the holder of a Master of Law Degree (LL.M.) with merit from the University of London.
Justice Blenman has served in a variety of senior legal and judicial positions in the region of St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua, Barbuda, and Anguilla. She was a Justice of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Court which serves nine states and territories.
The six independent states are Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and the Grenadines, and three British Overseas Territories: Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat.
“She, therefore, brings a wealth of experience having sat as a High Court judge for nine years and a Justice of Appeal for 10 years in the region. For more than six years she served as the Chairperson of the Judicial Education Institute of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and is a fellow of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute,” the Belize Press Office noted.
She served as the Chairman of the Sentencing Guidelines Committee, has a wealth of experience in mediation, is known for her dedication to the rule of law and public service, and most importantly, for her timely delivery of judgements that have been cited in the courts in Belize.
Justice Blenman is renowned for her prolific judgement writing, many of which have been affirmed by the Privy Council. Under the Senior Courts Bill that was recently tabled in the National Assembly earlier this month, the restructured office of the Chief Justice of Belize is expected to be the judicial leader for both the Supreme Court of Belize and the Court of Appeal.
Justice Blenman, who was a lecturer in law at the University of Guyana from 1992-2000, is the younger sister of Professor of Finance Dr Lloyd Blenman and the older sister of Guyanese-Jamaican Attorney-at-Law Gloria Blenman-De Clou.