Belize’s First Woman Attorney, Hadie Goldson Laid to Rest

She was married to Belize’s National Hero, Philip Goldson and studied law so she could defend him when the government prosecuted him for standing up. On Wednesday, that woman, Hadie Goldson was laid to rest here in Belize City.  Today, News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with her eldest child, Philip Goldson Junior, to find out about this woman who, in her own right, was also a hero. Not only did she represent her husband, but she also defended other women who could not afford legal fees. Here’s that report on the life of Hadie Goldson.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Not much has been said publicly about Hadie Goldson, the wife of national hero, Philip Goldson, but she is as much a hero as he was. She was committed to serve those who needed legal representation, including her husband. Hadie Goldson became an attorney because Philip needed someone who could represent him well in court when he came under pressure and prosecution.

 

Philip Goldson, Jr., Son of Philip and Hadie Golson

“After my parents got married. my mom became aware of my dad’s legal predicament, much more aware of the fact that he was not properly represented in court. And my dad spoke to her about his difficulties getting an attorney. And that triggered my mom’s desire to go to England to study for her law degree. You could say that my dad at the time was part of a group of revolutionaries, challenging the current system that existed then. And for any, groups that are challenging the existing systems, the system will tend to use the laws that are on the books.to beat back those challenges. In Belize, the number of attorneys who were practicing was a very small group, only I would say seven or eight attorneys, and most of that group depended on the system, meaning the government for their income. And so they were reluctant to represent anyone who was challenging the system.”

 

Philip Goldson Junior says that when his mom went to study law at Lincoln’s Inn in London, she left her four small children with relatives and that upon her return, he could recall the celebration when she became the first woman attorney in Belize. But better than that, she came back to champion her husband’s cause and the women who needed her service.

 

 

 

 

Philip Goldson, Jr.

“Her being the first woman was not just as the first woman to be called to the Bar, but also someone who also took up cases that were considered too small for the lawyers who were currently practicing at the time. That changed the legal landscape for customers as well as for the legal profession. The court system at the time existed only for men and they had to make adjustments, many adjustments, some big, some small.”

 

 

Goldson explained that when his dad wanted to marry his mom, he had converted from Anglican to Catholicism.

 

Philip Goldson, Jr.

“My dad expressed interest to her mom in meeting her, and my mom said, her mom insisted that before my dad could be, could meet my, mom, he would need to be of the correct religion. My dad grew up Anglican. My mom’s family was Catholic. And so according to my mom, my dad had to become a Catholic person before my, her mom would agree to a meeting.”

 

 

 

Goldson explained that his mom fought for not only her husband, but for women who needed legal services.

 

Philip Goldson, Jr.

“She was interested in helping women, especially who are not represented  by attorneys, at the time that she started practice. It was very difficult for women to get, find attorneys who would represent them, for many cultural reasons mostly because I believe women, the attorneys would feel that women would not be able to compensate them properly, but maybe other reasons.”

 

 

 

Hadie Goldson is survived by four children. Marion Ali for News Five.