The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Saturday hailed late Guyanese jurist Desiree Bernard as “a tremendous role model” and said it “is well nigh impossible that the region will ever produce another trailblazer” as her.

“While it is tempting to focus on her contribution in inspiring generations of women regionally and internationally, her influence in the region generally, in the creation of the OCCBA (Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations) and in the development of our Caribbean jurisprudence, must not be forgotten,” CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders said in a tribute.

“It was an absolute privilege and pleasure to work alongside her,” he added, and pointed out that the regional appeal court will open a condolence book to the public on Wednesday, April 8, 2024 in recognition of her sterling contributions.

Justice Bernard, an internationally renowned Guyanese and Caribbean jurist, died in Trinidad and Tobago last Thursday morning. She was 85.

Bernard was a member of the inaugural CCJ Bench in 2005 and provided exemplary service to the court until her retirement in 2014.

In its tribute, the CCJ noted that Bernard achieved a number of professional firsts, among them the first female High Court judge of the Supreme Court of Guyana in 1980; first female justice of appeal, 1992; first female chief justice of Guyana and in the Commonwealth Caribbean, 1996; and first female chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana and in the Commonwealth Caribbean,2001.

During her long and distinguished career, Justice Bernard held memberships in various regional and international organisations, having been the founding secretary of the Caribbean Women’s Association (1970-1974); first president of the OCCBA, 1976; and member and chair of the Caribbean Steering Committee for Women’s Affairs, later established as the Women and Development Unit of The University of the West Indies, 1978.

Internationally, Justice Bernard served as both rapporteur (1982-1984) and chair (1985-1989) of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, during her membership which ran from 1982 to 1998.

She also presented many scholarly papers and participated in numerous international seminars and colloquia, both regionally and internationally, on a variety of subjects relating to the law, gender, and other matters of public interest.

“Justice Bernard was a great friend, mentor, mother, and sister to all,” said CCJ judge Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee.

“She was the first patron of the Caribbean Association of Women Judges. We stand on her shoulders. What amazed me most about Justice Bernard was that she was so self-effacing. She just couldn’t understand why we thought so much of her. Kindness and humility were her virtues. May she rest in peace, and may her memory be a blessing,” said Rajnauth-Lee.

Guyana President Dr Irfan Ali described Bernard as “a true icon of the legal profession”, adding that she “left an indelible mark on our legal landscape, one that all Guyanese should take pride in”.

“Her stellar legal career, personal integrity, and her outstanding legacy, I am confident, will continue to inspire all who seek to serve within our legal system,” he said.

“The loss of Justice Bernard is deeply felt, not just within our country but throughout the region,” he added.

Justice Bernard began her legal career in 1964. For her exceptional contribution to the improvement of the status of women and to the development and practice of law, she received several awards, the most notable being the Cacique Crown of Honour, and the Order of Roraima, Guyana’s third and second highest national awards, respectively.

In July 2005, she was awarded the Caricom Triennial Award for Women. She was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by The University of the West Indies in November 2007. In February 2011, Justice Bernard was appointed a judge of the Inter-American Development Bank Administrative Tribunal. In February 2023, the University of Guyana visited in person to confer on her an honorary Doctor of Letters in Trinidad and Tobago where she resided.