–Attorney-General says, as Full Court remembers late legal luminary

By Feona Morrison
THE legacy of Justice of Appeal Prem Persaud, a titan in the legal realm of Guyana, was honoured on Tuesday in a solemn ceremony at a special sitting of the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature.
The late Justice Persaud, who passed away at the age of 91 in November 2023, was remembered not just for his legal acumen, but also for the complexity and richness of his life.

In a poignant tribute, the Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, S.C. reflected on Justice Persaud’s remarkable journey, highlighting how he traversed life with simplicity and humility, creating an illusion of ordinariness despite his extraordinary achievements.

“Nothing about Justice Persaud’s life is either simple or ordinary. He was quite an exceptional human being, leaving a legacy to boast, cherish and emulated,” remarked the Attorney-General, capturing the sentiment shared by many who knew him.
According to Nandlall, Justice Persaud’s ascent through the ranks of the legal profession was nothing short of remarkable.

Born into modest beginnings at Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD), he said Justice Persaud started as a technical assistant at the Botanical Gardens; he later transitioned to a clerk in the magistracy, laying the foundation for a career that would see him occupy some of the highest constitutional, judicial, and statutory offices in the nation for decades.

Throughout his nearly 60 years of service to his country and its people, Nandlall said Justice Persaud exemplified unwavering dedication and distinction. Despite holding powerful positions, he never succumbed to the allure of authority, instead remaining grounded and accessible to ordinary citizens with remarkable ease.

Reflecting on Justice Persaud’s illustrious career, the Attorney-General noted that he delivered several landmark judgements in various areas of the law,which will continue to guide lawyers and judges alike.
He said: “These judgements, though demonstrating scholarship, forensic legal reasoning and an industry of legal research, are written with great clarity and brevity.”

For her part, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, S.C. led a heartfelt tribute to the memory of the late Justice Persaud, reflecting on his longstanding and distinguished career in the Public Service and lasting impact on the legal fraternity of Guyana and the wider Commonwealth Caribbean, especially with his judgments on a wide array of legal subject matters and issues.

She added: “Justice Persaud’s name has been etched in the annuls of legal history in Guyana by the numerous cases in which he decided which have lend [sic] to the development of the jurisprudence of our country. And since many are reported in the West Indian reports and by extension, they have also added to the jurisprudence of the Commonwealth Caribbean.”

While alluding to a succession of decisions made by the late Judge, Justice George stated: “His judgments were not lengthy, capturing the issues to be decided. He believed in simplicity and clarity, and therefore exemplified [what] has become the newer thinking as regards communicating legal issues.”

The Chief Justice stated that she was honoured to have appeared before Justice Persaud in 1990, after becoming a prosecutor in the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Justice Persaud has left an indelible mark on the legal landscape of Guyana and the Caribbean.

According to Justice George, during his long and distinguished career, Justice Persaud was a well-respected jurist, a man of integrity, who was always humble and approachable, treating everyone with kindness and respect. “He will be remembered as a man most learned in the law,” she noted.

Also paying tribute to Justice Persaud was Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, who described him as “One of Guyana’s finest sons.”
She said: “He lived a life of simplicity, a life of love and humility, a life that was devoid of hubris and arrogance. [He was] one who loved to help and always gave a helping hand. He gave a helping hand to strangers, to lawyers, to friends, to family and everyone with whom he came into contact.”

In view of this, she stated that he should be recognised for his love of humanity.
Justice Persaud joined the legal profession in Guyana in the year 1960, after qualifying as a Barrister in the United Kingdom (UK). His was a career of service to the legal profession. First as a magistrate in the then British Guiana.

He was the longest serving magistrate in the British Commonwealth. The next step in the career of Justice Persaud was to the High Court as a Puisne Judge in 1986. After serving as a High Court Judge for several years, and Chief Justice for a short period, Justice Persaud was appointed a Justice of Appeal to the Court of Appeal of Guyana.

Upon his retirement from the Court of Appeal, Justice Persaud served in several posts, continuing his journey of service to Guyana. The posts included, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, a member of the Judicial Service Commission, Chairman of the Trade Union Recognition Board, and head of the Guyana Public Service Co-operative Credit Union Limited.
Justice Persaud was the father of Justice of Appeal Rishi Persaud; brother of Vidyanand Persaud, Senior Counsel; and the uncle of Prabha and Vidushi Persaud, both Attorneys-at-Law.