A viewing and tribute service was held at the Berbice High Court before the final farewell to Senior Counsel Murseline Bacchus on Sunday.
Following this, another service took place at his home in Sheet Anchor Canje, where family, friends, and colleagues gathered to pay their respects before burial at the Stanleytown cemetery.
At the Court, numerous lawyers and judges expressed their admiration and sorrow as they said their goodbyes to Mr. Bacchus.
Attorney-At-Law Mirza Sahadat, a member of the Berbice Bar Association, emphasised Mr. Bacchus’s approachability and his extensive expertise across several areas of law, including maritime law.
He noted, “He was always up to date with the latest cases and legislation. He had a wealth of knowledge which he was willing to share with any lawyer. Mr Bacchus was knowledgeable in almost all aspects of the law, including maritime law. And what he did not know, he would research it quickly and competently. He was always up to date with the latest cases and legislation. He was a walking library…citing cases and the ratio decided off his head. He had a wealth of knowledge which he was always willing to share with any lawyer who asked. He thought quickly on his feet, and he was an excellent cross-examiner, especially in criminal matters. The accolade of Senior Counsel came very late in life. He deserved it a long time ago. When other lawyers were in trouble, he freely and successfully defended them.’’
Senior Counsel Murseline Bacchus
President of the Guyana Bar Association, Attorney-At-Law Mr. Kamal Ramkarran, articulated the profound passion Mr. Bacchus had for criminal law and jury trials, declaring that his love for the Assizes was unmatched, encouraging other lawyers to embrace this passion as well.
Speaking on behalf of the judiciary, Justice Damone Younge commended Mr. Bacchus for his respectfulness and professionalism during their time together at the Berbice High Court, stating that he was among her favorite attorneys and would be deeply missed.
Mr. Bacchus’s wife, Pamela Bacchus, shared her gratitude for the privilege of being his partner in life.
She remarked, “Muchu was not only a remarkable husband, but he was also a generous teacher and a wise mentor to me and so many others. He was also an incredible father.”
Mr. Bacchus’s children celebrated his admirable qualities and the values he instilled in them.
Mr. Bacchus passed away on Tuesday, June 24, after a brief illness.
A pre-eminent lawyer in Berbice and one of Guyana’s leading criminal attorneys, Mr. Bacchus dedicated five decades to the legal profession with unparalleled distinction. He was an early Caribbean-trained law graduate of the University of the West Indies and the Hugh Wooding Law School, a lifelong friend and classmate of former DPP and Chief Justice Ian Chang SC. Together, they demonstrated that a Caribbean legal education was not only equivalent to English standards but also a source of pride that paved the way for generations of Caribbean-trained lawyers.
Appointed Senior Counsel by President David Granger in 2020 and inducted into the Inner Bar that same year, Mr. Bacchus earned esteemed respect from colleagues, clients, and the judiciary alike.
He was in his 50th year as an Attorney-at-Law at the time of his passing.
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