Magistrate receives special send off from court

(CNS): At a special court sitting on Wednesday 26 October the chief justice led the farewells to the departing chief magistrate, Margaret Ramsay-Hale, who  left on Friday to take up her new assignment as a Puisne Judge in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The court was unanimous in its verdict that the that Cayman’s loss would be TCI's gain. CJ Anthony Smellie said that from the time he welcomed her to the Cayman courts 13 years ago, she had proven her work ethic, her enthusiasm and her ability to think outside the box. He particularly lauded her pioneering work with Cayman’s Drug Rehabilitation Court, as well as her piloting work with the mental health, DUI and domestic violence courts, which are to be set up in the near future.

Other speakers were Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards QC, attorneys Raymond Alberga QC, Howard Hamilton QC (on behalf of the Jamaican Bar), Andre Ebanks (on behalf of the Caymanian Bar Association) and John Furniss (on behalf of the Cayman Criminal Bar Association).

At a reception that followed, court staff led by Human Resources Manager Patricia Muschette presented the departing Chief Magistrate a gift in appreciation of her services. Ebanks handed over a certificate denoting Ramsay-Hale’s honorary membership in the Caymanian Bar Association.