New Barrister-at-Law promises to maintain high ethical standards

NEWLY ROBED Barrister-at-law and Solicitor in the state of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Chris-Ann Mofford, has promised to serve her clients diligently, as well as maintain high ethical standards.

Mofford was called to the Bar yesterday, November 16, before Justice Brian Cottle at the Supreme Court.

FROM LEFT: Kaylia Toney, Chris-Ann Mofford and Shackell Bobb who were called to the Bar yesterday at the High Court in Kingstown.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sejilla McDowall moved the application for Mofford’s acceptance to the Bar of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Assistant DPP Karim Nelson seconded it. Proof was offered to the court that Mofford had paid the requisite Bar fees, and had completed her academic qualifications; attaining her Bachelor of Laws at the Cave Hill Campus, University of the West Indies, and, subsequently, her Legal Education Certificate at the Hugh Wooding Law School of Trinidad and Tobago.

The DPP vouched for Mofford’s character, saying that she first encountered Mofford in 2019, while she was interning at the Office. She had joined them at a time when there was a big project underway, and they were in need of more hands on deck.

“She came right in the nick of time and swung right into action,” McDowall recalled. The young woman was assigned to work under the wings of a counsel at the Office of the DPP, while the DPP followed her progress.

“I found that in very short order Miss Mofford was able to familiarize herself with the ins and outs of the Office of the DPP and she became well integrated in the staff and she pleasantly interacted with the public that she interfaced with,” McDowall informed. Further, the young woman worked long hours, “her dedication was quite encouraging, and her respect for authority was unstinted.”

Mofford was one part of a trio, inclusive of Kaylia Toney and Shackell Bobb, that were accepted by the Supreme Court yesterday. “A trio of GHS (Girls’ High School) alumni, a dangerous combination of beauty and brains,” the DPP commented.

“I welcome any counsel to the Office of the DPP who has focus, who is attentive to detail, and has an insatiable thirst to improve at every turn and this is what Miss Mofford reflects,” Mc-Dowall assured the court, noting that Mofford has expressed an interest in becoming a Prosecutor.

She said that all the claimants are affable, and poised for excellence in their field.

Mofford, in her maiden speech which was delivered after she was robed, revealed that, for her, it was not by her might, but by the will of God that she was able to accomplish the “insurmountable feat.”

Particularly, she disclosed, “It has been an extremely challenging year considering the vicissitude brought on by the ongoing worldwide pandemic.”

She was ambushed by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic while going through her final year at the Hugh Wooding Law School, and life as normal went out the window. Mofford chose to stay in Trinidad and Tobago until the end of her program, “since I preferred to continue my studies there, believing that it would be auspicious to my success.”

Nonetheless, she was forced to isolate away from other persons, locked down from March until a date in July when she
departed to St Vincent.

“The school decided that it was safest to do online exams, which was challenging as we had to complete work within a 24hour time frame – but we made it!”, Mofford stated.

Her success, she says, could not be so without her friends and family, including her mother and father: Gwendolyn and Frankie Mofford. The Government paid 75 per cent of her tuition costs, and she thanked them, as well as Luke Browne, candidate for the Unity Labour Party in her constituency.

Finally, she prayed that in her new journey, “I will serve my clients diligently, to the best of my ability and to maintain high ethical standards.” “As attorneys we should be temperate and dignified, and should refrain from all illegal and morally reprehensible conduct. Obedience to law exemplifies respect for law, and respect for the law should be more than a mere platitude,” she continued.

Justice Cottle advised her that he was looking forward to seeing her in action in the court and, “Much will be expected of you, much will be demanded if you appear before my court. I feel confident however that with the support of the excellent chambers at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, that you will not disappoint.”