Dame Janice in first Privy Council case this week
Dame Janice Pereira is set to make history this week as she participates in her inaugural case as a judge on His Majesty King Charles III’s Privy Council in London.
The sitting, which runs from December 9 to 13, 2024, marks a monumental achievement for both Dame Janice and the Virgin Islands. The BVI London Office announced the new development on Sunday, inviting celebrations for the monumental occasion in legal history.
“A true trailblazer, Dame Janice is the first Virgin Islander to be appointed to His Majesty King Charles III’s Privy Council and to sit on the Judicial Committee,” the London Office said.
The event will be live-streamed on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council’s website, allowing the public to witness this historic moment. A native of Virgin Gorda, Dame Janice has consistently broken barriers throughout her distinguished legal career. In 2012, she became the first female Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), a role in which she was instrumental in modernising the court system, particularly through the implementation of digital justice platforms.
Her leadership ensured the continued accessibility and efficiency of the judicial system, even amid challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Her appointment to the Privy Council, approved by the King in August this year, was viewed as a testament to her exemplary service and dedication to the legal profession.
The Privy Council, one of the United Kingdom’s oldest judicial institutions, is the final court of appeal for many Commonwealth countries, including those in the Eastern Caribbean. Membership is a prestigious honour reserved for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service in public life.
Dame Janice’s contributions have been recognised with numerous accolades. She was awarded the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of her services to the judiciary. Additionally, she received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of the West Indies, underscoring her significant impact on the legal profession in the Caribbean.
The local community celebrated her achievements with national events, including a week-long celebration in October 2024 to honour her retirement and distinguished career. Her leadership and dedication continue to inspire many in the region.
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Very proud of her ..
Blessings
Did she left the courts worse off than she met them? Throughout all this celebration, they never spoke about her record of accomplishments other than being appointed in these positions.
What new initiatives did she implement, and what successes did they bring? The justice system and the courts are a mess. We need to stop celebrating and promoting incompetence and ineffectiveness, and then we will see improvements on all fronts.
Ok hater. Blacks always tearing down blacks. Smh
To the hater. Someone must have done you wrong and instead of resolving it you have carried it into your adult life and it has now consumed you. Poor thing. You could have gone to school, studied, graduated with honors and achieved the same accolades, but then you have to have been born with the intellectual capacity to succeed. The Dame was born in Virgin Gorda and I know for a fact some folks like yourself don’t expect virgin Gordians to succeed. The Dame surpassed your expectations. She has excelled and has been given the highest honors by Queen and the king of England and you are wallowing in hatred for some one you don’t even know any thing about.
Guess what, the Dame and I went to school together and I am dam proud of her.
It’s too bad you can’t Celebrate her success. While you are wallowing in hatred the Dame is living her best life.