Legal luminary, Senior Counsel Rex Mc Kay passed away yesterday and was hailed for the sterling contributions he made to jurisprudence here. scheduled to be buried today, according to Muslim rites.
Viewing of his body is from 10 AM to 12 PM at the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana, Woolford Avenue then to the Queenstown Jama Masjid for service from 1:30 PM.
The Guyana Bar Association (GBA) yesterday reflected on the contributions of Mc Kay to this country’s jurisprudence ever since he was admitted to practice in then British Guiana in 1958.
“As is expected of the rank of Senior Counsel, Mr. McKay was formidable, competent and knowledgeable as he distinguished himself at both the criminal and civil bars,” the GBA stated.
The Association also noted the contribution of his law firm to the development of young lawyers, several of whom have over the years been elevated to judges. “The Chambers of Mc Kay and Moore, has provided the foundation and home for many distinguished legal professional and judicial careers,” it added.
Among those who benefited immensely from Mc Kay’s “beacon of excellence” is Attorney-at-Law Abiola Wong-Inniss.
“I was fortunate to have him as a mentor from the beginning of my journey as an Attorney-at-law when he presented my petition to practice law in the courts of Guyana. I remain indebted to him for the wealth of knowledge he imparted and which has served me well through my career as an Attorney-at-Law,” she said.
Wong-Inniss described Mc Kay as an “exceptional lawyer and legal Titan” whose life and legacy have left an indelible mark on the legal landscape of Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean.
Attorney General, Anil Nandlall SC added that Mc Kay’s body of legal work, is recorded in the Law Reports of British Guiana, the Guyana Law Reports, the West Indian Reports and the Commonwealth Law Reports in connection with the many leading cases in which he appeared, both in Guyana and in the Caribbean.
“His contributions will continue to guide lawyers, judges and future generations in many years to come. The void left will certainly take a long time to fill,” he said.
Nandlall recalled that Mc Kay had appeared in several political cases including election petitions for the People’s National Congress, prosecuted in the Arnold Rampersaud murder case and the arson cases against Walter Rodney and Rupert Roopnaraine for their alleged role in burning down a PNC property on Camp Street.
Despite appeared on the opposing side in several cases, he said he appreciated the fact that Mc Kay’s only motivation was to win. The Attorney General acknowledged that competing against Mc Kay at the bar table has aided in his own professional development.
“Like every counsel who appeared against him, I endured my fair share. Notwithstanding, you knew that you were facing one of the best and that realisation propelled excellence. I enjoyed the challenges and learned greatly from them.
“His aggression to win was another motivating factor. If the ruling is ever against him, rest assured a Notice of Appeal will be filed and served in the shortest possible time. His zeal was exceptional and dogged determination inspiring, and sometimes infuriating.,” he added.
Mc Kay was recently recognised by the Caribbean Court of Justice Academy of Law and honoured among 48 outstanding Caribbean lawyers and jurists.
He was also the recipient of Guyana’s National Awards- the Order of Roraima and the Cacique Crown of Honour.
