Justice Louise Blenman Sworn in as Belize’s Chief Justice
Belize has a new Chief Justice. Justice Louise Blenman was sworn in on Friday at the Belize House in Belmopan. Acting Chief Justice Michelle Arana has since vacated the seat, after serving in that capacity for the last two years. On social media, Justice Arana said “I wish to thank God for the opportunity to serve Belize as the Acting Chief Justice since April 2020. With His divine help, and with the cooperation and support of my Judicial colleagues and staff at all levels of the courts, I have managed to steer the administration of Justice in Belize through the COVID 19 pandemic, shortage of Judicial personnel, and many other crises”. Here is a brief look at Friday’s ceremony.
Eamon Courtenay
Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“In the words of the Attorney General, I am grateful and I am unable to attend virtually as it gives me great honor and pleasure to attend virtually on the swearing in of our new Chief Justice, Her Honor Louise Esther Blenman, who is a Caribbean sister jurist from our region. Chief Justice Blenman is a Guyanese national who graduated from the University of the West Indies where most of us earned our law degrees. She also obtained her legal certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School, another regional institution and was called to the bar in Guyana in 1988. Chief Justice Blenman subsequently obtained a Master of Law with merit from the University of London. Madam Chief Justice has served in a variety of senior legal and judicial positions in the region, including in St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda and Anguilla. Prior to being selected as our chief justice she served as Justice of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Court, a regional court that serves nine states and territories. She therefore brings a wealth of experience, having sat in the region as a High Court Judge for nine years, and a Justice of Appeal for ten years. For in excess of six years she served as chairperson for the Judicial Education Institute of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and is a fellow of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute. She also served as the Chairman of the Sentencing Guidelines Committee. Finally, Chief Justice Blenman also brings a wealth of experience in mediation.”
Chief Justice Louise Blenman
Chief Justice Louise Blenman
“It is with humility but with the greatest pleasure that I stand here today having just sworn the oath of office of Chief Justice. It is an honor to be appointed as Chief Justice of Belize. I have undertaken to execute my duties without fear of favor, ill will and affection, in an efficient and effective manner. I come to this office with what I hope is a wealth of experience spanning over thirty four years.
