The appointment of Chief Justice ‘Louise Esther Eugenie Blenman’ has crossed the hurdle of notifying the ‘Leader of The Opposition’ and it reads as follows
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“Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie has written to Opposition Leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow informing him that Prime Minister John Briceno intends to advise Governor-General Dame Froyla Tzalam of the appointment of Louise Esther Eugenie Blenman as Chief Justice of Belize. Louise Esther Eugenie Blenman will replace Acting Chief Justice Michelle Arana.”
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Louise Esther Eugenie Blenman graduated from the University of the West Indies in 1986 with a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B.) She is a native of Guyana, where she began her legal career, and after serving in various judicial posts, was a Judge in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeals.
There are rumblings in some political circles and by supporters of acting Chief Justice Michelle Arana; indicating that she should have been appointed to the post, and that she was the first acting female and local CJ that held the post.
But according to reliable information within the judiciary, acting Chief Justice Michele Arana did not apply for the post, and apparently didn’t because it was announced that applicants must have high-court experience; such as being on the bench of an apelet court in the Caribbean Union.
Acting Chief Justice Michele Arana, who has been in the post for 2 years, will be elevated to sit on the Court of Appeals.
On the evening of Thursday June 23rd. the government of Belize said, via it website that
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“Under the Senior Courts Bill that was recently tabled in the National Assembly earlier this month, the restructured office of the Chief Justice is expected to be the judicial leader for both the Supreme Court of Belize and the Court of Appeal. The Prime Minister believes that the Hon. Justice Louise Blenman’s candidacy, therefore, brings a wealth of experience having sat on both courts in the region”.
Written & Compiled by: channel1Belize.com / digitalBelize,LIVE Staff writer – Friday, June 24th. 2022 – channel1belize@gmail.com