MAGISTRATE DIES AFTER BLACK EYE MEAL; WIFE CRITICAL
(Guyana Chronicle April 20, 1980)
Police were yesterday “pursuing every line of investigation” into the death of Berbice Magistrate Abdullah Subhan who died at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital a week after he was admitted suffering the effects of food poisoning.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Cecil “Skip” Roberts said yesterday that foul play was one of the angles being investigated.Magistrate Subhan’s wife Azeema is still a patient at the hospital where she was admitted at the same time as her 39-year old husband last Sunday morning.
The couple was air dashed from New Amsterdam when their condition worsened after two days of treatment by a doctor in Berbice.
Police said yesterday that Magistrate Subhan who was the presiding officer at Whim Corentyne just before his death was taken to a doctor for treatment after eating a meal of boiled blackeye peas.
It was reported that the Magistrate and his wife had eaten the blackeye peas on Friday night and had left some on the table when the pet cat began eating it.
As a result the rest of the meal was thrown away and the dogs and the chickens in the yard of their No, 19 Corentyne home were found dead the next morning by a handyman.
The Magistrate and his wife were immediately taken to a doctor who prescribed some medicine but on Sunday morning their condition worsened.
They were flown to Georgetown for further treatment and admitted to the St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital but the Magistrate died on Friday.
Reports from the hospital said his wife’s condition was still considered “critical” and a close watch was being kept on her.
A meeting of the Magistrates Association morning sent a message of condolence to the surviving relatives of the Magistrate yesterday.

FUSION: FIRST SOLICITOR IN COURT AS ATTORNEY
(Guyana Chronicle March 22, 1980)
Kenneth Benjamin became the first former solicitor to appear as an Attorney-at-Law in a Guyana court following the fusion of the legal profession.
Formerly solicitors were not permitted to plead cases in open court, only Attorneys-at-Law.
Following the fusion, the distinctions between solicitors and lawyers were removed and they are now designated Attorney-at-Law and they all now wear gowns.
Mr. Benjamin appeared before Justice Rudolph Harper in the High Court on March 12 in the case of Ulric Henry against the Guyana Mining Enterprise.
Mr. Benjamin who graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago, had opted to become a solicitor.
Other solicitors who now practice as Attorneys-at-Law include Speaker of Parliament Sase Narain, Ayube McDoom and Co., R.S. Persaud, Laurie Persaud, L.L. Doobay, H.B. Fraser, H. Bruton, Miss. Desiree Bernard, Miss. Sheila Chapman, S.M.A. Nasir , H.W.DeFreitas, F.I.Dias and Oliver Valz.

A FAITHFUL DOG
(Guyana Chronicle March 28, 1980)
Since the death of Berbice Barrister Bhairo Prasad some two weeks ago his pet dog “Russ” has stopped eating and is almost uncontrollable despite the efforts of members of the Prasad family.
Russ usually slept in the kennel under the late Barrister’s house but since his late master’s death it has taken up a 24-hour vigil at the front door.
When the body of the late lawyer was being taken away for burial Russ followed the hearse and attempted to jump into it.
Members of the Prasad family recalled that shortly before the lawyer’s death he left home motoring to Georgetown and despite his efforts the dog joined the lawyer at the ferry stelling.
The lawyer returned from Georgetown the following day and found the dog still waiting at the ferry selling.

GEORGETOWN CHAMBER TO CHANGE ITS NAME
(Guyana Chronicle March 29, 1980)
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce is to change its name to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).
A motion to this effect proposed by the veteran businessman Eric Stoby was accepted and a special general meeting to effect the change and consider the matter will be held on April 10.
The announcement was made by President of the Chamber Mr. Ernest Christiani who said the motion was accepted at the Annual General Members meeting (AGM) of the organisation.
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce was incorporated by statute in 1891 and the change of the name will have to get Parliamentary approval.
Meanwhile Ernest Christiani has been returned as President of the Chamber for 1980 at the AGM.
Other officers are John Yates, Senior Vice-President, Leon Rockcliffe, Junior Vice President, Wainwright McKenzie, Treasurer and Mike DeAbreu, Secretary.
Other members returned to the Council are Eric Stoby, John Shepherd, William Lieu, Thakhur Persaud, C.O. Persaud, Raymond Ali, J.V. Dos Ramos, Lewis Singh, A.A.Peron, C. Cho Shee-Nam, H.A.Belgrave, Maurice Williams, Alfred Yhap, John Tilley with John DeFreitas and Vincent Young as new members.

LEGAL PROFESSION HONOURS SUBHAN
(Guyana Chronicle April 24, 1980)
A High Court Judge Magistrates and Lawyers were among the large crowd of mourners at the funeral yesterday afternoon at # 19 Village Corentyne of Senior Berbice Magistrate Abdullah Subhan who died last Friday nine days after he and his family were stricken by chemical poisoning.
A special religious ceremony was held before burial at the village Mosque in memory of the Magistrate who was its President.
Justice Clifford Baburam and Magistrate Fizul Mohamed were among pall bearers.
Meanwhile police are still probing the poisoning of the Magistrate after a meal of black eye peas had caused tragedy in the Subhan family.
His 36 year old wife is still a patient at the St Joseph’s Mercy Hospital while his three children have since recovered.
Police are probing reports that the blackeye peas which touched off the tragedy was bought at a liquor restaurant.

P.H. DALY: (HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE) WHEN ENGLISH BECAME THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
(Guyana Chronicle April 19, 1980)
The English language was made official language of British Guiana in 1812 when it was introduced to the Court of Justice and Court of Policy by Sir Hugh Lyle Carmichael, the Governor.
The British took control of Guiana in 1803.Senior
Up to 1812 there still existed in Guyana, the College of Kiezers or College of Electors which was a Dutch Institution.
Governor Carmichael had succeeded Governor Bentick, a Dutchman who had been retained as Governor of a British colony but who had left authority in ruins..
The introduction of English as the official language had its roots in a dispute.
Bentick had ordered investigations to be made into charges against Van Berkel, the First Fiscal.
The First Fiscal and the Advocate charged each other with offences including perjury.
One official charged that the other was unfit and unqualified to be a member of the court because he could not speak Dutch language.
The Governor ended the argument by proclaiming : ”From henceforth English shall be the official language of this colony.”

(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell phone # 657 2043)