IT was a momentous occasion for the Mohamed family of Middle Road, La Penitence, on Thursday, when 34-year-old Rizwaun Mohamed was admitted to the Bar.

Mohamed had successfully completed the Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Hugh Wooding Law School, University of the West Indies after earlier graduating from the University of Guyana with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law.
Rizwaun is the son of Zareefa Mohamed and former Registrar of the Supreme Court, Rashid Mohamed, who passed on just over a year ago.
Last Thursday, he was admitted to the Bar by Justice Nareshwar Harnanan, with Senior Counsel Robin Stoby and Attorneys- at-Law Kashir Khan and Imtiaz Baig presenting the petition on his behalf.

Court 5 of the High Court was filled to capacity with legal luminaries and the Mohamed family members and friends who had come to share in the joy of the moment.
But for the newly-accredited attorney, Mohamed, and evidently his mother, it was a ‘bitter-sweet’ moment, as he admitted in his response to being admitted to the Bar by the Honourable Justice Harnanan.
“Sweet”, because of his distinguished accomplishments and “bitter” on account of the death of his father who had so desperately wanted him to become a lawyer, and who gave him all the support he needed.

His father died last August when Rizwaun was just half way through his programme at the Hugh Wooding Law School. But wanting to do it for his dad, he mustered up all the strength and courage and determination, emerging successful in the end.
Reflecting on the journey he has just completed, the young attorney admitted that it was not an easy one. He told of having to contend with late study nights, the intake of more coffee than is medically prescribed, early morning studies, few hours of sleep per day, illness, fatigue and panic; but it was all worth it.
And noting that nothing comes easily in this life, he thought of how basic life would be without struggle, conceding that through struggle, persons gain experience and become stronger individuals.

But through his experiences, he said – both academic and personal–he can attest to the fact that nothing is possible without the guidance and mercy of God Almighty.
“For me, that is a lot, for without His (God’s) mercy and blessings, I would not be standing here before this Honourable Court to present my petition.”

BRAVED THE STORM
Meanwhile, presenting his petition, the young lawyer declared: “Your Honour, I stand before you as a proud individual, as I would have braved the storm to be able to present my petition.”

He expressed gratitude to the Honourable Judge; his presenters Senior Counsel Robin Stoby and Attorneys Kashir Khan and Imtiaz Baig, and others for their part played.
He also expressed profound gratitude to his parents.
“I would like to thank both of my parents – Zareefa Mohamed and my deceased father, Rashid Mohamed for always believing in me and for providing the way for me to have the support and necessary resources to finish this scheme of mine.
“I must say, this moment is a bitter/sweet one for me, for unfortunately my father is not here with me physically today to witness this momentous occasion in my life, for my dad was behind every step of my career, and more particularly during my three years at the University of Guyana and my first year at the Hugh Wooding Law School.”
He said that completing law school successfully was one of his father’s greatest desires. In fact, he said his father has always urged him to study law even though he had a preference for Information Technology.
When Rizwaun finally made the decision to pursue legal education, it was the best news his father received, because he himself had started legal education at the University of Guyana but was forced to discontinue because of work commitments.

DESIRE FULFILLED
Delighted over his final decision and that he was able to do his father’s will, Rizwaun declared: “Today, I can safely say that I have fulfilled that desire of his, and have filled another of his desires with the acceptance of my petition today – that is, to become an attorney-at- law.”

And with a sense of deep appreciation, he continued: “It is from the great depths of my heart that I say, ‘Thank you dad’, for everything that you did for me. I know that if you were with me today, you would have been delighted and overjoyed… but at the same time, I know that with the grace of God Almighty that you are in a better place now.
“And to my mother Zareefa Mohamed, I would like to thank you. There are not sufficient words in my vocabulary to express my gratitude to you. My mother has been my rock and my source and motivation throughout my journey.”
Rizwaun recalled that just after having started the LLB programme at the University of Guyana, it seemed he would not be able to handle his workload and studies, and contemplated quitting university. He discussed it with his mother and she urged him to continue, saying that if others could make it, so could he.

“It was with those words of advice that I was motivated to press on, and as a result, I am proudly standing here today, before Your Honour with my petition…. Mom, I thank you, for you are the true definition of a mother,” he humbly stated.
Rizwaun is from Middle Road, La Penitence and initially attended Ketley Primary School, Charlestown. He later attended Brickdam Secondary School and eventually Queen’s College. Moving on, he attended the University of Guyana and did Computer Science and later Business with Cambridge University. He also did a lot of Microsoft Exams while working as Systems Administrator, Information Technology Department at the Ministry of Legal Affairs from 2006 to 2015, when he resigned to complete his studies at The Hugh Wooding Law School.
The new attorney works in Khan & Khan chambers where they deal mostly with civil matters.