The legal fraternity in Guyana welcomed a new member on Thursday when Fenton Jonathan Budhram was formally admitted to practice as an attorney-at-law before the Courts of Guyana.
The petition for his admission was presented before Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh at the High Courts by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs. Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC.
Budhram, who hails from Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, is the son of Deputy Commissioner of Police Ravindradat Budhram and teacher Laleita Budhram.
Fenton told the News Room that he paid keen attention to his father’s experiences in the Guyana Police Force as a young boy. That insight into policing and how the criminal justice system works inspired the young Budhram to immerse himself in legal studies so that he could one day become an attorney-at-law.
On Thursday, in front of his father, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration), Ravindradat Budhram, other family members, friends and supporters, Budhram was admitted to the local bar.
His application was made pursuant to the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act, Chapter 4:01, and supported by a statutory declaration from the DPP affirming his good character and eligibility to be placed on the Roll of Attorneys-at-Law.
In his affidavit filed with the High Court, Budhram detailed a journey marked by academic discipline and service.
He began his education at St. Margaret’s Primary School before earning a place at St. Rose’s High School, where he achieved five Grade Ones and five Grade Twos at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
He later attended The Bishops’ High School, obtaining multiple distinctions at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) level.
In 2020, Budhram entered the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Law, where he graduated with Distinction in 2023.
That same year, he received a Government of Guyana scholarship to pursue his Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and Tobago. During his tenure at HWLS, he served as Secretary of the Hindu Students’ Society and completed ten weeks of in-service training at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Guyana between June and August 2024.
On October 4, 2025, he was awarded his Legal Education Certificate by the Council of Legal Education, officially qualifying him for admission to the Bar.
ONOURING FAMILY AND MENTORS
In a moving Bar admission address, Budhram expressed profound gratitude to the Acting Chief Justice Singh for granting his application and to the DPP for presenting his petition.
Reflecting on his journey, he quoted author Sidney Sheldon, saying, “Life is like a novel, it’s filled with suspense, you have no idea what is going to happen until you turn the page.”
Budhram paid heartfelt tribute to his father, whom he described as a model of humility and integrity, and to his mother, Mrs. Laleita Budhram, whose dedication as a teacher instilled in him perseverance and compassion. He also thanked his younger brother, Joshua, his nanny, Dorothy Sukhai, and his grandmother, Seenita Budhram, for their unwavering support and prayers.
He fondly remembered his late grandfathers, Rajanand Sukhai and Nandlall Budhram, whose legacies continue to inspire him.
Budhram credited Mrs. Ali-Hack, SC, for her mentorship during his training at the DPP’s Chambers, where he gained first-hand exposure to the workings of the criminal justice system and participated in community outreaches addressing issues such as domestic violence and sexual offences.
He also expressed gratitude to several senior attorneys and public law mentors, including Ms. Lake, Ms. O’Brien, Dr. Rahaman, retired Chancellor Carl Singh, and members of the Attorney General’s Chambers, among them Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, Mr. Nigel Hawke, and Ms. Shoshana Lall.
In his remarks, Budhram thanked his friends and colleagues from both Guyana and Trinidad, describing them as “the silver linings” throughout his academic and professional journey.
Reflecting on his motivation to enter the legal profession, Budhram noted that his early exposure to law enforcement through his father’s work in the Guyana Police Force inspired his interest in justice and public service.
He concluded his speech with a solemn commitment:
“I vow to execute my duties as an Attorney-at-Law with humility and integrity. I intend to serve with the values ingrained in me by my family, friends, and mentors, coupled with the teachings from my legal studies. It would be an honour to serve this noble profession and this Honourable Court.”
The ceremony concluded with Acting Chief Justice Singh formally ordering that Fenton Jonathan Budhram be admitted to practice as an Attorney-at-Law in and before all courts of Guyana, marking the culmination of years of hard work, discipline, and dedication.
The post Inspired by his father, Fenton Budhram now an attorney appeared first on News Room Guyana.
