Attorney Leon Oswald Rockliffe has died. He was 90 years old.
In a brief interview with this newspaper yesterday, President of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) Teni Housty said that Rockliffe practised law for just about half a century, following his return from London where he studied.
The GBA president described Rockliffe as the “guru of the legal profession” on the land transport system in Guyana, and as the person who had been able to trace its evolution back to the 1800s.
His contribution in the field Housty, said, would not be soon equalled by anyone in practice; even as he noted that Rockliffe’s practice of law demonstrates the indelible mark one can leave on the profession given their commitment.
Housty fondly reminisced that when one thinks of a friend and teacher in the practice of the law, Rockliffe comes immediately to mind, while further describing him as being perpetually generous to his colleagues, and particularly the GBA, for imparting his knowledge on coveyancing.
To this end he said that the now deceased attorney has written a number of papers and made several presentations over the span of his career, on the elements of the transport system.
The GBA president recalled Rockliffe as being approachable—the type of person he said, who when called upon would respond.
“He was really a genuine friend to the practicing Bar in Guyana and would be sadly missed,” Housty said.
The Bar president memorialized Rockliffe as the epitome for young lawyers of the saying “to whom much is given, much is required.”
Rockliffe had worked for some time as the Registrar of Deeds and at the Land Court before proceeding to London to pursue his legal studies.
Fondly called `Uncle Gun’ Stabroek News understands that Rockliffe died sometime late on Saturday evening.
