Reporter
carisa.lee@cnc3.co.tt
The late Michael de la Bastide is credited with introducing technology to the Caribbean Court of Justice during his tenure as the court’s first president.
Some who worked alongside him while at the CCJ said the Caribbean had lost a brilliant mind.
Justice de la Bastide died on March 30.
He was sworn in as President of the Caribbean Court of Justice on August 18, 2004 and retired in 2011.
Yesterday, a condolence book was opened at the CCJ, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain for those who knew de la Bastide to pay their respects. Several ambassadors also turned up to pay tribute.
According to Information System Manager Ayinde Burgess, de la Bastide was dedicated to the CCJ during his seven years there and was an advocate for the use of technology.
“He laid the foundation for everything that we see here today,” he said.
Burgess who worked as the Systems Administrator then, said it was through de la Bastide that the CCJ started using the assistive technology they utilise today.
“We introduced low vision readers through him and we also introduced our interpretation system which doubled as an assistive hearing technology for those with impaired hearing,” he explained.
An employee since 2006, Burgess added that seeing de la Bastide manoeuvre through the use of technology and his willingness to adapt to the digital world meant a lot to him and the other staff.
“It showed that he was dedicated to doing whatever it took to show that he was able to perform the best that he can and do the work that he wanted to do,” the Information System Manager shared.
Chief Librarian Sheryl Washington-Vialva, who has been at the CCJ for 18 years, had similar interactions with de la Bastide. She said even though ageing inevitably affected his abilities, de la Bastide persevered. She said he even had issues using the stairs or reading due to his vision.
“There were instances when I recalled like I had to do things like blow up the reading material for him so that he will be able to view the documents,” she said.
Other than his push for technological advancement at the CCJ, Washington-Vialva remembered him for his attention to detail and his sharp mind which she said helped him to author the kinds of decisions the CCJ is known for.
It’s a mind she said that was not only quick and keen for the CCJ but also those who worked alongside him. Washington-Vialva remembered how de la Bastide ensured that staff’s personal needs were taken care of.
“In my daily interactions, I interacted with somebody who was kind, who was committed, and who was also dedicated to the members of staff ... I worked with a very caring and understanding individual,” she said.
Justice de la Bastide, who was also a former chief justice, will be laid to rest on April 11.
Life and career achievements
Michael de la Bastide was a former student of St Mary’s College who worked at the Office of the Attorney General, after completing his legal studies at Christ Church College of Oxford University in the United Kingdom. In 1975, he was made a Queen’s Counsel at the age of 38. After serving as an Independent Senator between 1976 and 1981, he served as Law Association president from 1987 to 1990.
He served as this country’s seventh post-Independence Chief Justice in 1995 and the following year, he was awarded the Trinity Cross, the country’s highest honour before it was replaced with the Order of the Republic of T&T (ORTT).
After he retired from the T&T Judiciary in 2002, de la Bastide became the first President of the CCJ from 2004 to 2011 when he retired.