Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Attorney General and longtime professor at the University of Guyana, Keith Massiah SC passed away yesterday following a period of illness.
He was 93 years old.
President David Granger yesterday expressed condolences to Massiah’s family.
The Guyana Bar Association was among those paying tribute yesterday.
“The Judiciary in Guyana, in the embodiment of the Bench, may at first glance be seen to be the substantial beneficiary of the service of the Former Chancellor. However, a closer examination of the judicial service of the Former Chancellor demonstrates that both the Bench and the Bar benefited simultaneously from his service. A reading of any judgment written by the Former Chancellor highlights the importance of research, scholarship, industry and purity of writing. For those who walk the halls of justice in Guyana, and seek to ascend to the Bench, his is an example to be emulated,” the Bar Association noted in a tribute.
“The practicing Bar witnessed the movement from the Judiciary to the service of the State as Attorney General, and considered that shift to be somewhat of an anomaly for its time. A lesson that service to the law can be delivered in several ways and through various paths. Learned Senior continued his illustrious career in law by serving as a Consultant to several Legal Chambers,” it added.
Giving insight into Massiah’s life, the Bar Association which lauded his service to this country said that his most recent call was service in the University’s Department of Law, as a distinguished Professor and a former Head of Department.
“The Department of Law, provided a unique opportunity for the present and next generation to benefit from knowing Learned Senior. His legacy will leave an indelible impression on the manuscripts of his reported judgments, the content of laws passed in his legal service, and the minds of the legal profession in Guyana. Guyana has benefited significantly from the distinguished service of Keith Stanislaus Massiah, Senior Counsel. The chapters of his legal memoirs may have come to an end, the pages will continue to be turned. The Bar Council of the Bar Association of Guyana extends its deepest condolences to his widow, children and other members of the family of Keith Stanislaus Massiah, Senior Counsel, of blessed memory,” the legal body stated.
Similar expressions came from the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards.
“His long and illustrious career saw him holding the positions of Chancellor of the Judiciary, Attorney General and Professor of Law. He was a true legal luminary whose indelible contribution to the jurisprudence of Guyana is known throughout the Caribbean and the Commonwealth. He will always be remembered for his intellectual prowess, and his rich, passionate and poetic judgments. His many landmark judgments in constitutional and public law, as well as criminal cases, changed the legal landscape of Guyana,” Justice Cummings-Edwards said in a statement.
“As Chancellor of the Judiciary he conducted himself and his court with admirable grace, decorum and integrity. He was an inspiration to us all. The legal fraternity has lost a great jurist, orator, teacher and friend,” she added.
Following removal of COVID-19 restrictions, a special Full Court sitting will be convened to honour the memory and legacy of Massiah, according to the statement.
Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall said Massiah made learning easy by simplifying complex laws.
“I was taught by him and practiced law alongside him. I never had the honour of appearing before him. He presided over a generation of which I was not a part. Perhaps his greatest legacy will remain his extraordinary literary prowess. He employed it splendidly in his voluminous written judgments. His prose style of metaphoric writing laced with influences of Greek mythology, political philosophies, biblical references and excerpts from the classics, created that fertile figurative canvas upon which he wrote those scintillating legal judgements. Reading any of them is an excursion in poetry, art and jurisprudence all in one,” he said.
“As a lecturer, he made complex public law concepts appear as simple elementary principles. He spoke of authors of renowned fame whose books he used as teaching materials, Judges of the Commonwealth and the Law Lords of the UK with a collegial sense of familiarity that never failed to amaze me. But then again, perhaps he saw them as intellectual peers. Professor Massiah played his part on the stage of life and did so with distinction,” he added.
Unforgettable was how many other students such as SASOD’s Joel Simpson, and attorney Diane Barker described him.
The UG law professor was remembered by his former student Shakisa Harvey for his humility, care and wit. “My idol, former Chancellor Keith Massiah. I cannot put in words the admiration and respect I have for him. He is truly brilliant, erudite and witty. It is and always will be an honour and privilege to have been under his tutelage. For someone with his portfolio, he has the most humbled heart. And sweetest smile. Hands down, he is my favorite lecturer,” she posted on Facebook.
