Dear Editor,
Last Friday carried me into new waters. I was invited to attend an admission to the Bar of Guyana in the chambers of the Chief Justice (ag), The Honorable Mme. Roxanne Wiltshirene-George, SC., with Ms. Meshonn G. M. Persaud freshly graduated out of the University of the West Indies Law School being presented. It was a joyful, proud, and inspiring moment for the approximately three dozen attendees, which included a small platoon from the legal fraternity. Editor, I share this admission to the local Bar because it is such a grand story, of which I am equipped to furnish only the barest sketch.
I first met Ms. Persaud about eight years ago, and immediately realized that this student was a cut above the rest. That elusive element known as effort was there. This prompted a call to her mum, which led to an arm’s length meeting, and a memorable exchange. I learned that her mum was a single parent, one who had made tremendous sacrifices to have her only child attend a private school. When we chatted about occasional lapses in effort, her mum said to me, “you have the fullest authority from me to push her to get the best results possible.” That is what I call partnership and commitment of a singular sort.
On the way from the Chief Justice’s chambers back to the Marian Academy with Principal Sister Marie Harper, OSU, there was this gem that was shared with me, which was news to me. According to Sr. Marie, Meshonn’s mum used to go to the effort and expense to bring her lunch daily from Nursery’s cradle all the way to the CAPE level. Now that was dedication and sacrifice of an incredible kind. From humble beginnings this child never looked back, and today has done all of us proud. From the Marian Academy to the Guyana Gold Board to the University of the West Indies, and now the Guyana Bar. An accredited practitioner. An advocate for justice. A possible fighter for the people at the roots from whence she came.
Chief Justice George softly spoken words to her included this lovely counsel “be an inspiration…” I have every confidence that she will be in a profession that could use such a facelift. From the very first day in secondary school classes shared with her and her fellow students, the charge was whatever is done do it honestly, do it ethically, do it consistently. The reports were that she did just that at the Gold Board. What was academically enhanced and refined at the St. Augustine, Trinidad campus is now a gift to the people of Guyana. I really do believe so.
Through the challenges of the family environment, the great pluses and the not inconsiderable voids, the heavy fears of the then rampaging COVID-19 viral pandemic, Ms. Meshonn G. M. Persaud now takes her place on the starting rungs of the legal ladder in Guyana. May her ascent be assured and swift and always clean with the clearest visions and the most cogent representations. I am blessed to have been a part of her journey. The next chapter has now begun.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
