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Justice Hugh Rawlins is new ECSC Acting Chief Justice

Contact:  Julita Peter

Justice Rawlins signs after taking the Oath of Office, while GG Dame Pearlette Louisy looks on

Tuesday, April 29, 2008 – Justice Hugh Anthony Rawlins is the new Acting Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), headquartered in Saint Lucia.  Justice Rawlins was sworn in by Saint Lucia's Governor General Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy on Monday April 28^th, before taking up his position on Tuesday April 29^th.  

A national of St. Kitts, Justice Rawlins is a Court of Appeal Judge with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and takes over from Dominican-born Sir Brian Alleyne, who retired on April 28^th this year. 

Justice Hugh Anthony Rawlins New Acting Chief justice of the ECSC

Commenting on his first order of business, Justice Rawlins identified a few ongoing initiatives which need to be advanced, including the Judicial Education Institute, the reconstruction of the courts, and the Criminal Justice Improvement Project—being piloted in St. Lucia.

“At the moment I cannot say that there is anything new that I would be introducing.  I think since 2000 we have been concentrating on these projects; the Criminal Justice Project and the Courts Project.  Those are projects that have come on over the last two to three years, and we have to focus on those,” Justice Rawlins said.

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is in the process of setting up a commercial division, particularly to assist the international business sector in the British Virgin Islands. Justice Rawlins also wants to see that project expedited.

“That is very, very imminent,” he said in a GIS interview. “An appointment should be made shortly, and we are focusing on setting up that, in conjunction with the government of the British Virgins Islands, and I think that would be one of the priority areas.”

Justice Rawlins was called to the Bar in his native St. Kitts/Nevis in 1985, having completed his LLB at the University of the West Indies and his Certificate in Legal Education at the Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica.

Given that such appointments are made by Her Majesty the Queen, Justice Rawlins will serve in an acting capacity, until the necessary instruments to secure his appointment have been received from Her Majesty.

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