Senior Counsel Clifton Mortimer Llewellyn John, who had a legal career spanning over 50 years and had been one of the campaigners for Guyana’s independence, passed away yesterday morning.
He was 95 and would have celebrated his next birthday in just under two weeks.
The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) confirmed his death. John had held multiple ministerial portfolios during the early PNC-led government. He had also been the party’s Assistant General Secretary at one point.
As news of his passing circulated, many expressed shock as they recall he was in good health despite being aged. He was remembered as a heavyweight in the legal profession who had made tremendous contributions in local government legislation and court matters dealing with election laws. He is also well known for his expertise in civil matters, such as those related to land.
Former president and Leader of the PNCR David Granger expressed condolences to John’s family. It was Granger who conferred him with the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH) in 2015, and later ‘Silk’ in 2017.
In a statement, the PNCR said John served as a Member for Parliament from 1964 to 1969 while holding the portfolios as Minister of Local Government, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Agriculture. John had also founded his own party, the People’s Democratic Movement.
He had also been a local leading member of the League of Coloured Peoples, a civil rights organisation that campaigned for racial equality across the world.
‘One of the most experienced’
Attorney General Anil Nandlall said John was one of the first solicitors to return to British Guiana and made a mark in both politics and the legal profession.
Nandlall, who related that he and John shared a warm and cordial relationship, said that his passing represented a great loss to the legal fraternity.
Nandlall added that John had a wealth of knowledge on elections matters and was a part of every elections petition case filed in the court, except the one brought by the PPP/C in 2015.
With a career spanning close to six decades, the AG said John had become a fixture in the Supreme Court building and pointed out that many of cases he appeared in were recorded in the Guyana and West Indian Law Reports.
He noted that John was very experienced and had a passion for law and the practice.
John, who had also served as a city councillor, also represented the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown in a number of cases.
“He can be considered one of the most experienced lawyers in the areas of local government, municipal law and city bylaws. He also had a vibrant practice and was learned in the areas of land laws as well as prescriptive title application,” Nandlall recalled as he noted that John will be missed.
According to Nandlall, John will also be remembered as a patriot as he was a part of the Forbes Burnham delegation for talks in London to negotiate Guyana’s independence.
“He was a hard worker and developed his own peculiar and unique style of advocacy and attire. He was unique in such a way that when everyone wore suits, he wore a shirt-jac,” the AG recalled.
Nandlall mentioned that John always joked about serving as Prime Minister for a day during his days a member of Cabinet.
‘Good health’
Former Prime Minister and Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green related that he first met John while he was an active member of the League of Coloured Peoples. He said it was there they started a relationship as they both serve in politics and later as councillors at the Mayor and City Council.
According to Green, John was among the first beneficiaries of the Burnham-introduced fusion of solicitors and barristers as attorneys.
He fondly recalled that John was one of the first owners of a Cutlass Supreme vehicle in the country and after the car deteriorated, John refused to purchase another vehicle and walked everywhere. “I think that kept him in good health. He remained fit and even when the young lawyers make their way up the Supreme Court stairs and blow, he did that with ease,” Green recalled.
Even in his final days, Green said, John’s legal knowledge were intact as he offered advice on several legal matters.
The former mayor said that he was sadden to learn of John’s passing and extended his condolences to his children.
Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon while extending condolences to the family, said the PNCR will truly miss John’s presence as he made it his duty to be present at Congresses and meetings held.
He recalled that even during the campaign for elections, despite being ill, John would voluntarily make his way to the campaign office to offer his advice and services. According to Harmon, John was always willing to serve as a commissioner of oaths on documents as they prepared to go to court. “He voluntarily gave his service to the every election matter and most times it was for free or a minimal sum,” Harmon related.
“He is well respected in the legal fraternity and it is a great loss to us. He had a particular methodology when it comes to his cases. He will let you think that he doesn’t know anything but then he comes in and secure a win,” Harmon recalled as he spoke of John’s career.
He recalled that apart from the two meeting in the courts, they met within the party and it was there he benefitted from John’s knowledge.
John was married to Evelyn Rose Arthur in 1956 and had five children – Helen, Richard, Dina, Marie and Hannah.
