CHIEF Justice (CJ) Ivor Archie mourned former CJ, the late Michael de la Bastide, as his mentor, and hailed his contribution to TT's system of justice.

De la Bastide was also first president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ.)

Archie's remarks were contained within the Judiciary's statement of tribute to de la Bastide who died on March 30.

"He was a strong man and a great visionary, who wielded power with grace, kindness and compassion," Archie said.

"He lit the torch of judicial reform and I am honoured and humbled to walk in his footsteps."

The judiciary expressed its deep sadness and sense of loss. It said de la Bastide had been an avid sportsman and bridge player, teacher and jurist.

De la Bastide was "a giant in the law and a true statesman" who dedicated his life to developing law and jurisprudence in TT, the Caribbean and beyond, the judiciary said.

He had delivered many scholarly papers and lecturers, published his memoirs titled Within the Law, whose profits he donated to the charity, The Children's Ark.

De la Bastide was born on Charlotte Street, Port of Spain, as the last of eight children. At St Mary's College he won an open scholarship and in 1956 went to Oxford, England where earned a first class BA degree in Jurisprudence and a first class Bachelor of Civil Law degree. He was a member of Gray's Inn, and was called to the Bar in 1961.

He returned to TT as a Crown Counsel in the Office of the Attorney General and in 1963 entered private practice with Anthony Jacelon, SC.

"He was a member of both the Wooding and Hyatali Constitution Commissions and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1975." He was an independent senator in TT's first republican parliament.

The judiciary said de la Bastide's tenure as CJ was emblematic.

"He was a staunch defender of the judiciary.

"He encouraged excellence and innovation, and advanced the principle that the courts as a full entity and not lawyers must determine the course of litigation."

De la Bastide encouraged continued judicial education, later leading to the establishment of the Judicial Education Institute, with board, staff and budget.

"Two years after retiring as CJ, he was appointed a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, (later) and became the first president of the CCJ."

The statement said he was grieved that Caribbean States were reluctant to let go of the "apron strings of a colonial system", as he had long advocated discontinuing appeals to the Privy Council.

The judiciary offered its deepest condolences to de la Bastide's wife, Simone; his children, Michele, Juliet, Simon, Chantal and Christian; his grandchildren; and other family members and friends.

The Industrial Court in a statement extended its condolences on de la Bastide's passing, as a former practitioner at that court when first established at the Red House in the 1960s.

The statement related him recounting his experiences at the court's 50th anniversary in 2014.

"I benefited from practising in the Industrial Court. It brought one up agai