Lawyer “hangs” with judges in Grand Court

(CNS): Senior attorney Ramon Alberga, QC is the first ever attorney to find himself hanging alongside the legal heavyweights of Cayman’s judicial history. Alberga’s portrait joins a photo gallery that features past judges of the country’s Grand Court as a tribute to the lawyer’s many years service at the Cayman Islands bar. During a brief ceremony on Friday Alberga described the honour as being one of his most significant. He said it was in keeping with the tribute accorded him – also by the Chief Justice – at the formal opening of the Grand Court’s 2011 session, to commemorate his six decades of service.

Alberga said that since 1964, he had cherished his appearances before the court and deeply valued the Cayman court’s respect for fairness, integrity and independence. Chief Justice Anthony Smellie together with Justices Charles Quin, Angus Foster, and Sir Peter Cresswell, welcomed Alberga and family members to witness the portrait’s placement on the east wall of the Grand Court foyer.

The Chief Justice said the prime reason for honouring Alberga was simple.

“To us, you epitomise what a lawyer should be; you have provided the public of these Islands with legal services at the highest level across the broadest spectrum of cases for more than 35 years” the country’s top judge said. “But not only that, more to the point of this humble recognition that the judges now offer to you – you have always recognised and fulfilled your duty as an officer of the Court and the elder statesman of the bar to uphold the administration of justice by your unstinting support of the judiciary over the years in circumstances too numerous to mention,” adding that despite his decision to retire, Alberga would still be called upon occasionally for advice.