– after a moving thanksgiving service
RETIRED Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Kenneth Montague George O.R., C.C.H, was laid to rest in the churchyardon Wednesday, following a moving Thanksgiving Service at St. Sidwell’s Anglican, on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.

During the religious proceedings, presided over by Reverend Leslie Edmondson, glowing tributes were paid to the deceased, who was remembered for his long and distinguished legal career and service to the nation in various capacities.

He served in the local judiciary and other Caribbean countries, among them The Bahamas and Belize, as President of their Courts of Appeal in 1996 and 2000, respectively.

Hailed as one of Guyana’s pre-eminent jurists; an astute legal mind who shaped laws in Guyana and was an inspiration to others in the field, Justice George was Chief Justice from 1981 and Chancellor from 1988 to 1995.

After retiring in 1995, he was a consultant in the chambers of De Caires, Fitzpatrick and Karran, where he was an asset and a source of guidance to younger and less experienced lawyers.

Justice George also prepared the first draft of amended rules of the High Court in 2002.

Prior to the worship at St. Sidwell’s, his body was viewed at Merriman’s Funeral Home, Lime and Bent Streets, too.

Joining the bereaved family in the mourning and paying their last respects were Acting Chancellor, Justice Carl Singh; Minister of Legal Affairs, Senior Counsel Charles Ramson; People’s National Congress Reform PNCR Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin; Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman, other attorney-at-law Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, more members of the Judicial Service and Guyana Bar Association, senior Government officials and others.

Justice George was born at Rose Hall, Canje, Berbice and lived in Bel Air Park before he died at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, also in Georgetown, last April 6, following a period of illness. He was 79.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Hazel George nee Mc Lean; daughters, Justice Roxanne George and Mrs. Andrea Harrowven of England; sons, Dr. Kenneth S. George of Barbados and Mr. Michael George, brothers, sisters and other relatives. (Shirley Thomas)