FORMER chief justice the late Michael de la Bastide has deeply shaped the workings of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) said CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders at his funeral, amid several calls for Trinidad and Tobago to join the CCJ in tribute to de la Bastide as the regional court's inaugural president.
De la Bastide was given an official funeral on April 11 at the Church of the Assumption, Maraval. Those attending included President Christine Kangaloo, former president Anthony Carmona, Chief Justice Ivor Archie, Acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert, Attorney General Reginald Armour, DPP Roger Gaspard and businessman Ken Gordon.
Saunders and Archie gave tributes. Saunders said de la Bastide now occupies a special place in the heart of the CCJ's staff and judges.
"As inaugural president of the court, it naturally fell to Justice de la Bastide to establish the norms, rules and processes that would shape the operations of both the CCJ and the regional judicial and legal services commission for well into the future."
He said this was difficult, as the region had no other court or institution similar to the CCJ.
"There was no template or precedent to follow. Our first president did an excellent job in discharging these pivotal responsibilities."
Saunders hailed de la Bastide for administering the court and advocating for its acceptance, throughout the region.
"The leadership and guidance he provided during those formative years were critical to the success of the court."
He hailed de la Bastide for executing the CCJ's remit in the region under the Caricom arrangement and for developing regional jurisprudence.
"We were extremely fortunate to have such an exceptional jurist as our first president."
Those taking the occasion to advocate for the CCJ included former Senate president Danny Montano and Law Association president Lynette Seebaran-Suite.
Montano told reporters it was no surprise de la Bastide had risen to the level he had, but could have done even more.
"The only thing – that he had nothing to do with – but it would have been nice if he could have taken us into the CCJ and made the CCJ part of our legal system and the 'supreme' court of our country.
"That I would have liked to see. That would have been a great honour for him."
At present, TT's highest court is the UK-based Privy Council, above the High Court and Appeal Court. There have been calls for the CCJ to become TT's highest appellate court.
Seebaran-Suite said, "The best TT can do in his honour is to accede to the CCJ. He was the first president of the CCJ."
She said it was "a bit ludicrous" that TT did not have the CCJ as its highest court, despite the court being located here and TT having provided the CCJ with many eminent judges including de la Bastide, and currently Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee and Justice Peter Jamadar.
Seebaran-Suite said getting a job at de la Bastide's law firm as a young woman, showed his recognition of a need for diversity in his firm.
Asked about her favourite memories of him, she re
