By Shirley Thomas

POSITIVE thoughts were expressed and pleasant memories relived of the late Justice Winston Mc Lenan Moore, Ombudsman of Guyana, during a Thanksgiving Service for his life at St. Andrew’s Kirk, Brickdam, Georgetown on Friday.Following that service, which began around 09:00 hrs, the flag-draped casket bearing his remains was transported to St. Saviours Presbyterian Church, Auchlyne, Corentyne, Berbice for a second service and viewing preceding his interment in that village.

Justice Moore transitioned this life on Friday, September 16, after a prolonged period of illness. He was 72, and left to mourn his passing is his wife Mrs. Vera Moore; their four children: Nicole, Gairy, Gavin and Kevin; and other family members and friends.

Hundreds turned out to join the bereaved relatives in paying their last respects to the distinguished legal luminary. Among the gathering were Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (performing the duties of President); Speaker of the House, Dr. Barton Scotland; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Attorney General Basil Williams, and former President Mr. Donald Ramotar.

Meanwhile, in paying tribute on behalf of the Government of Guyana, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo hailed Moore as “an outstanding public servant and a distinguished jurist.”

“I wish, on behalf of His Excellency President David Granger; myself; members of our cabinet, and our families, as well as on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, to extend sincere condolences and our deepest sympathy to Mrs. Vera Moore and the family of the late Justice Moore,” the acting Guyana President said.

Nagamootoo told Mrs. Moore: “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 other while 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 scoreboard is impressive,” the Prime Minister remarked.

“Mr. Winston Moore has worked in the private and public sectors for fifty-five years as a clerk, soldier, lawyer, lecturer, judge, and finally as ombudsman of our republic. He has also given sterling service as an elder of this church and as a leading member of the Lions club of South Georgetown and Georgetown Stabroek. His record of service to our nation is truly worthy of emulation.”

According to the PM, 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 (and) fairness; and to his ability to dispense justice.

“Madame Moderator, ladies and gentlemen, as we commiserate with the family of Justice Winston Moore at his passing, and as we celebrate his life, we may take this opportunity to reflect on our individual selves with regard to our mortality, humanity, and obligations to our society. Perhaps the best tribute to his passing would be for us to resolve to emulate this outstanding son of the soil in his contributions to our society,” Nagamootoo said.

Meanwhile, in the eulogy read by Moore’s sister, Claudette Whyte, she recalled that, at an early age, Winston exhibited a capacity for learning and displayed signs of being very mature-minded, and so naturally excelled academically.

He was remembered as thoughtful; an in-depth thinker; generous, and a stickler for discipline. And with a special bonding existing between him and their mother, he was soon to develop a love for classical music as well, which was her forte.

In his early working life, Moore became employed with the Demerara Life Assurance Company and the Inland Revenue Department, (IRD), the precursor to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). But it was perhaps the discipline inherent in him that led Moore to gravitate towards the Guyana Defence Force, where he became an army officer, serving until 1973. Making a radical shift, he eventually moved to Barbados, where he entered Law School in 1980 and began his legal career as an Attorney-at-Law in 1983, serving with distinction.

In 1998, he was appointed High Court Judge, and in 2007, served as the Judge Advocate for the Guyana Defence Force. On January 13, 2014, Justice Moore was sworn in as the Ombudsman of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana under the then People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration. That position had remained vacant for a number of years. His duties included the investigation and resolution of complaints relative to public issues.

According to his sister Claudette White in the eulogy, “A simple country boy [maturing into manhood], her brother had high regard for ‘The Queen’s English’. He lived for an occasion to give a speech, and cultivated a fine mind, which served him to the end. Each day he would listen to the BBC to ensure that he got the pronunciation of words correctly. He’d often read poetry lines and verses from the Holy Bible, and so kept himself in tune.

Expressing pride at all her brother’s achievements, she added: “But his most outstanding achievement was his appointment as Ombudsman.” And in perspective, he considered his children to have been ‘his greatest accomplishment in life’, she said.

Justice Moore’s son Kevin, who was among family members offering tributes, recalled the strength and courage his father demonstrated throughout his illness, and his absolute faith and trust in God to see him through.

He painfully asserted: “He [our dad] was prepared to face whatever eventualities might have come.”

Justice Moore was also acknowledged as having served the Presbyterian Church with distinction to the time of his passing. He was also appointed Legal Advisor of the Presbyterian Church in Guyana, and worked assiduously towards improving the management of the estate. Noting that he has transitioned and is continuing to serve the Lord at the highest level, Reverend Maureen Massiah observed that Elder Moore’s work was outstanding and thorough. She added that he has set examples in diligence to service.