FORMER Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Kenneth George died at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital on Monday, after a brief illness.

He is survived by his wife, Hazel and four children, Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire, Dr Kenneth George, Mrs. Andrea Harrowen and Mr. Michael George.

Justice George was Chancellor from 1988 until his retirement from the post in 1995.

His judge daughter remembers him as strict, dedicated and uncompromising in his principles.

Born March 12, 1930, he was the recipient of the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (C.C.H.) and Order of Roraima (O.R.).

He had qualified as a barrister-at-law from Gray’s Inn in 1955 and secured the LLM and a Certificate in International Taxation from Harvard in 1964.

Justice George also attended several international conferences pertaining to justice and its administration.

Among the positions held in Guyana after being a private practitioner, were Magistrate, Crown Counsel and Assistant Legal Draftsman, Senior Crown Counsel, Registrar of Supreme Court and Deeds Registry, Puisne Judge, Justice of Appeal, Chief Justice, Chancellor of the Judiciary and President of the Court of Appeal.

He was also Chairman of the Cane Grove Flood Relief Committee; Chairman of the 1969 Reform Commission; Chairman of the Commission to enquire into operations and workings of Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) and make recommendations for improvements; Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission, Chairman of Advisory Council on the Honours of Guyana; Chairman of the Supreme Court Rules Committee; Chairman of the Committee to enquire into the cause and effect of the escape of millions of gallons of cyanide that contaminated one of the main river system in Guyana.

After retiring from the local Bench, he was Justice of Appeal and President of the Appellate Courts of The Bahamas and Belize.

Between March and October 2002, Justice George had prepared the first draft of amendment rules of the High Court of Guyana, which would come into effect shortly.

A number of judges and members of the legal fraternity have spoken about his commitment and dedication.

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang referred to Justice George as an astute legal mind that shaped the law here by contributing a considerable amount of important decisions, particularly in the area of civil law.