Ombudsman Winston Moore laid to rest

An outpouring of tributes filled the auditorium of the St Andrews Kirk Presbyterian Church on Friday, as the life of Ombudsman and retired Judge, Winston Moore, was remembered.

Justice Winston Lennox Mclennan Moore was remembered in many ways, first, as a husband and father, a confidant, a church and community leader, a helper and by no lesser extent, a judge and Ombudsman.

Memories of his life’s journey were shared by those who knew him well, his children, close associates and friends and members of the legal fraternity.

The retired Judge, who served as Guyana’s Ombudsman, died on the evening of Friday, September 16, 2016, at the St Joseph’s Mercy Hospital after a short illness.

His children said that the retired Judge was a “no-nonsense” person who, during almost every occasion, urged them to “get to the point”.

“I have to say that he is someone I highly respected with integrity… Once he was confident that he saw all sides of the story and some of the positives and negatives, he made his decision and I respected him for that,” his daughter said, before breaking down in tears.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who said he knew Justice Moore personally from growing up on the Corentyne, described the late Ombudsman as a great all-rounder.

“Today we all share your loss. You have lost the head of your family, this church has lost an elder, civil society has lost a leader and the Government has lost an outstanding public servant. Born in Alness on the Corentyne, Justice Moore was my “countryman”, and that was how we greeted each otherwhile he served as a Judge, lawyer and then Ombudsman. He was a great all-rounder that was also said from the first tribute that was made and his score-board is impressive.”

Justice Moore had worked in the private and Public Sectors for some 55 years as a clerk, soldier, lawyer, lecturer, judge and finally as Ombudsman.  He also gave sterling service as an elder of his church and as a leading member of the Lions Club of South Georgetown and Georgetown Stabroek.

“The fact of his appointment as Ombudsman – ‘an official who is appointed to receive and investigate complaints of abuses and capricious acts of public officials’ and who is ‘expected to achieve equitable settlements’ – is testimony to his character; to the perception of his honesty, fairness and to his ability to dispense justice,” the Prime Minister said.  Following his retirement from the judiciary some years ago, Justice Moore returned to the Guyana Defence Force as a judge advocate. He had previously served in the Army between 1967 and 1973 as a Lieutenant and was also a member of the Lodge.

In 2014, he was appointed Ombudsman, after the office was closed for the some eight years. He was responsible for investigating and resolving complaints by citizens with the aim of identifying issues that were leading to poor services or breaches of citizen’s rights.

Justice Moore leaves to mourn his wife, Vera, and three children, along with grandchildren.