SC Murseline Bacchus laid to rest; deemed an inspiration to colleagues

Prominent Attorney-at-Law Murseline Bacchus SC was on Sunday laid to rest after a home going ceremony fittingly held at the lawns of the Berbice High Court, where Bacchus was deemed an inspiration to all of his colleagues.
Tributes were paid to him by the Berbice Bar Association, the Guyana Bar Association, and the Judiciary.

Widely regarded as one of Guyana’s foremost criminal lawyers, Bacchus was a prominent and influential member of the Berbice Bar for nearly five decades. His legal career was marked by fierce advocacy, deep legal knowledge, and a commitment to justice that earned him respect among colleagues and clients alike.
An old African (attributed) proverb states, “When an Elder dies, a library burns to the ground,” and this was maintained when Attorney-at-law Mirza Sahadat, representing the Berbice Bar Association, referred to the late Attorney as being someone knowledgeable in almost all aspects of the law.
“…Including maritime law, and what he did not know, he would research quickly and competently. He was always up-to-date with the latest cases and legislation… You could send to his office at any time for a copy of any case, and he was free to do it. He was a walk-in library, citing cases. He had a wealth of knowledge, which he was willing to share with any lawyer who asked,” Sahadat said about the late Bacchus, who is said to be one who thought quickly on his feet, and an excellent cross-examiner, especially in criminal matters. Meanwhile, President of the Bar Association of Guyana, Kamal Ramkarran, referred to him as a stalwart and a lion of the legal profession.
He said the late Bacchus was a fierce attorney.
“Behind that fierce demeanour, Mr Bacchus had the mental strength of an elephant and the physical stamina of an ox to be doing those trials one after the next. All the thousands of people in need of a good defence over the many years of his career, were carried by him and his strong shoulders through their cases. They handed their fate to him, and he took charge of it,” he pointed out.
Representing the judiciary, Justice Damone Younge said Bacchus, when he appeared before her, was always respectful to the court, helpful with cases, and provided advice to the court when needed.
“He is going to be missed,” she said.
His daughter Patricia, who followed in his footsteps, pointed out that the late attorney was not known to use unkind words. Referring to a conversation she and her father had two years ago, on her 40th birthday, she said she was told that he was lucky to have a daughter like her. She said it was the greatest honour of her life to hear those words.
“To reciprocate that honour in equal measure: Father, I will call him father, and he will say, yes, lady. Father, to the arrogant, you showed humility. To the afflicted and the downtrodden, you showed kindness. In the face of adversity, your integrity never faltered. When the load became too heavy for those around you, you gave them strength. When there was sadness and grief, you showed compassion. For the things that were left undone, and the things that were broken, you were there to fix, to mend, to nurture, and of what was best. Never expecting anything in return,” the attorney said.
The eulogy was delivered by long time friend Attorney-at-Law Leo Robertson, who studied law with Bacchus and graduated at the same time in November 1978.
Bacchus is survived by his wife, Pamela Bacchus, and four children, including his daughter, Patricia Bacchus, an Attorney-at-Law and CEO and Chairperson of Caribbean Containers Inc., and his son, Blayne Bacchus, a medical doctor.