Law lines volume 5, issue 1

Volume 5, Issue 1 LAW LINES 1

Volume 5, Issue 1 February 2014

LAW LINES

Deputy Dean’s Message 3

Reflections of a Canadian 10

Letters to the Editor: Article 13

The Façade of February 14

A Look Back 16

Teachers Say 18

On Being a Law Student 20

History Book 22

When I Grow Up 24

Real Views 26

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :


Dear Readers:

Thank you all for waiting so patiently for this issue of ‘Law Lines’. My

team and I hope that you will find this one very memorable, and worth

your time!

It is my hope that we have provided something for everyone, while at

the same time producing a high quality magazine which covers areas as diverse as our Caribbean culture. This

is regardless of whether you are interested in the Arts, sports, or the otherwise intellectually stimulating topics

of discussion within the following pages. Take it all in, soak it up, and strike up a conversation of your own,

among your circle of friends! When we talk about things that affect us, we begin the process of change.

Speaking of change, Law Week is here! This is celebrated during the week of February 16-22, 2014 across all

campuses. While each campus has its own set of activities planned, we at Cave Hill have pledged ‘To Go

Where No Man Has Gone Before’. If you have not yet caught the fever of the best week on campus, now is

the time! Become involved.

Also, Elections are almost upon us again, so let us consciously make the choice to elect leaders of good char-

acter, and who have our best interests at heart. Become involved in the democratic process.

As we go about this semester, let us remember that time waits on no man. Work hard, work smart, and have

fun! Only you can make this experience a worthwhile one.

I would like to commend my team for their dedication and hard work, and express my gratitude to all the con-

tributors.

Finally, ‘Law Lines’ aims to facilitate the development of creativity, and freedom of expression. As such,

please feel free to contribute at any time. Write to us and tell us your concerns, share your poems, short stories

and photography, and advertise your ventures. Send us an e-mail at: [email protected].

Best regards,

Sherene Francis

Chief Editor

Publications Committee Chairperson 2013-2014

EDITOR’S NOTE


To the Law Society:

I should wish to express, on behalf of the Dean and members of the Faculty and,

especially, on my own behalf, heartiest congratulations to the Chairman and

members of the Publications Committee of the Law Society and, of course, to the

contributors for their production of this year’s volume of the e-magazine, “ Law

Lines”.

Having been graciously supplied with a copy of last year’s issue, I feel proud that you have been able to

put together and sustain an eclectic mix of materials for the pleasure of its readership, content ranging

from the amusing and colourful photographs of the students in their finery during Legally Insane Week to

the creative efforts of the poetically inclined and to the more traditional case commentaries and notes.

Essentially, the magazine is a light-hearted one and a deserved respite from the academic labours to which

we are constrained subject you during the course of the semester. But it should prove to be much more

than a diversion from present toil. It has been my experience that these student publications serve, long

after your sojourn in the Faculty, as “aides-memoires” of a wonderful experience that assisted in prepar-

ing you for whatever you have turned out to be.

And so, in years to come, as you scroll through its pages and reflect nostalgically on the long forgotten

face of some former fellow student, ponder on some comment of a favourite lecturer, or relive moments

of silliness or insightfulness spurred by a contribution in this issue, do recall the fun times you had here

and please feel a need to give back some token of appreciation to your good old Faculty of Law.

Enjoy!

Jeff Cumberbatch

Deputy Dean [Student Affairs]

Deputy Dean’s Message


The Law Society of the University of the

West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill is the official student

representative body comprising all students within

the Faculty of Law. We represent Law students and

Cross-Faculty students at Faculty Board, Academic

Board, Guild Meetings and other meetings with the

University Administration, and indeed we are among

the loudest of campus organizations with similar

mandates.

Law Society is also a welfare organization.

That is, the Law Society is there to assist law stu-

dents in need, for example if a student cannot afford

to pay a bill, tuition or purchase groceries we will

assist. We also seek to give the students the educa-

tional experience that they deserve by hosting educa-

tional events. It is, so to say, the support group for

students studying law.

During the first semester, the Law Society

hosts an event known as the Lex Caribbean: Eminent

Speakers Lecture. This time Lex Caribbean and Law

Society hosted the first female Chief Justice of the

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, the Honourable

Dame Janice Pereira, who gave a tour de force of the

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court's role in the Su-

preme Court. The Eminent Speakers Lecture is an

extremely important part of the Law Society's man-

date, and gives students the opportunity to interact

with esteemed legal minds.

During the second semester Law Society

hosts Law Week, which includes a sports day, moot-

ing, a cocktail, a wellness day, Beerly Legal, and Le-

gal Regal. One of the most important events in the

second semester is the Clarke Gitten Farmer Mooting

Competition. The CGF Mooting Competition is open

to all students studying law. Each year has a first,

second and third place prize along with the best oral-

ist and best memorial. The CGF Moot gives students

an opportunity to interact with members of the legal

fraternity/sorority, test their legal research skills and

ability to present proper legal arguments before

members of the bench both verbally and written.

Additionally, this semester, Starcom Net-

works, Red Stripe and Guiness are sponsoring our

annual Beerly Legal Law Fete, and Bagatelle is spon-

soring Legal Regal (the Law Society Dinner).

Overall the University of the West Indies Law

Society at Cave Hill seeks to make the life of law stu-

dents both entertaining, pleasurable and fruitful.

For comments and/or feedback on any issue mentioned in this

article, you may e-mail Mr. Davies at

[email protected].

Daniel Davies—Law Society President

President’s Reflection


On the 13th of March, 2014, the students of The Uni-

versity of the West Indies will be called upon to de-

cide who will lead the Guild of Students at the Cave

Hill Campus. However many students have a very

tainted view of the Guild and its operations over the

years and rightly so. Time and time again we have

seen the manifestations of poor decisions and insuffi-

cient efforts on the part of our elected student lead-

ers. The question to be asked then is, ‘How can we

correct the student leadership dilemma at the Cave

Hill campus?

In my humble opinion, this problem will persist un-

less students who realize the importance of honest,

efficient and innovative leadership put themselves up

for service and take advantage of the electoral pro-

cess. In an effort to improve our candidates, the elec-

toral office will be hosting Administrative Work-

shops, Speech and presentation Workshops. We will

also engage the candidates in outreach activities as

we try to encourage the incoming student leaders to

give back to those in need.

With that said, The Electoral Office of UWI Cave

Hill seeks to implore students to ask questions, com-

pare the candidates and actively engage the candi-

dates during the campaigning period. Make the ef-

fort to attend the Guild debates on March 10th.

And on March 13th, be informed, be prepared and

avail yourself to VOTE WISELY.

- Vanessa Campbell, Guild Returning Officer 2013-

2014

“Together, We Build a Better Guild”

Vanessa Campbell,

Guild Returning Officer


Dear Law Family,

It is an honour to be given the opportunity to

share a few words with you especially during such a

time— LAW WEEK 2014! I can still remember viv-

idly LAW WEEK 2013 and the hard work and prepa-

rations made to ensure that the week was second to

none on campus. This year I see that the 2014 execu-

tive wishes to take you to a place where no man has

gone before. In this regard, I wish them the very best

as they strive to continue the tradition and ensure that

LAW WEEK remains the most anticipated and best

week on the Cave Hill Campus.

I encourage every law student to take part in

the activities planned and to show his/her support

during the week. Your time at Cave Hill does not

last forever, and sooner or later you will all be at Law

School where the work load seems never ending. It is

therefore moments like these that will last for years

to come when your time at Cave Hill is nothing but a

memory.

First Years, it is my hope that your transition

and your time at the Faculty of Law thus far has been

a rewarding experience, and that your expectations

for the most part have been met. You will be amazed

how fast the years go by. Second

Years, the transition from first year to second year is

not always easy for many. For some, this year is the

most challenging year. I encourage you to persevere

– you are halfway there! Enjoy the journey.

Third Years, the end is in sight, as this is your last

semester. For many, third year is the last opportunity

to improve that GPA and secure that class of honours

that you want and have been working towards. You

know that Law School is near, since January was

spent filling out those applications! I am sure that

many of you are excited to take the next step. Your

first day at Law School will be very exciting, like

your first day at high school. Time will be one of

your greatest resources and the way you manage your

time will be very important.

In closing, I wish all of you the best in your endeav-

ours. To the Executive, continue the hard work, and I

thank you using your time and talent to ensure that

the Cave Hill experience lives on. To those of you

thinking of going up for office, I encourage you do

once you are sure you can manage the responsibili-

ties of position and remain focused on your studies.

May the Law Society continue to grow from strength

to strength!

- Azard Gumbs

Message from Past

President


UWI Law

Reflections of a Canadian law

Student on exchange with

University of West Indies,

Faculty of Law, Cave Hill

Academics

When it comes to the school side of things,

the academic programme at UWI is very comparable

to what I experience at home in Fredericton, New

Brunswick at the University of New Brunswick. This

was a prerequisite for me even being given the green

light to exchange with UWI in the first place. I had to

ensure my Associate Dean, Janet Austen that I would

be able to fulfill my required courses for graduation

through the programme offered at Cave Hill.

Once on the ground, however, a myriad of

differences began to surface. For example here in

Canada, law students must have an undergrad Bache-

lors’ Degree or equivalent before entering any law

faculty. Further, as in the US, we are required to

complete the LSAT, a standardized entrance exam

that is written on the same day by hopeful law stu-

dents all across North America. After enrollment has

been achieved we work our way through three gruel-

ing years of legal studies much like UWI Law stu-

dents.

Similarities and Differences

However, in contrast to the UWI experience,

Canadian students do not attend two years of law

school once our LLB or JD has been completed.

Written by Andrea Emms


We are expected while in

school to seek an articled clerk

position with an existing law firm.

Upon graduation we work for one

year with this firm and depending

on jurisdiction write the bar exam

either at the beginning or comple-

tion of this work term. This is a

paid internship so to speak.

The practical application

courses, such as evidence and civ-

il procedure, which are offered to

Caribbean students within law

school, are peppered throughout

Canadian students LLB/JD course

work.

Other differences I noted

were more stylistic, such as how

the university or the professor

structured class lectures. Here at

UNB we do not have tutorial ses-

sions. We are expected to do all

readings and know all material on

our own time. I found this struc-

ture to be helpful in pushing me to

stay on top of material.

Almost all exams at UNB

are open-book, which effects

preparation. For example in crimi-

nal law, we bring the code in with

us and do not need to memorize

statutes. That being said, it is usu-

ally helpful to have as much infor-

mation stored as possible to avoid

wasting time flipping pages in an

exam.

Legal Perspective

Notably, UNB is a very

small school situated in a small

Canadian town. My third year

graduating class has approximate-

ly 75 persons. This was quite dif-

ferent from my experience at UWI

where each year had hundreds of

students. Although, as mentioned

above, we had no tutorial ses-

sions, our professors are able to

make themselves very available

to us to answer questions outside

of class time. Impressively, I

found this to also be the case at

UWI.

Having spent time volun-

teering in St. Lucia going back to

2006, I was interested in how the

legal system of the Caribbean op-

erated. I was very pleased to be

introduced to concepts of Caribbe-

an integration, and in general the

much more international perspec-

tive of law from within the Carib-

bean. It changed how I view Can-

ada’s position in international re-

lations and I’m so grateful for the

opportunity and education.

“...I was interest-

ed in how the le-

gal system of the

Caribbean oper-

ated.“

REFLECTIONS continued

on Page 21


The Law Trust

Fund: A Ray of Hope

Each year, some watch helplessly as their closest

friends leave UWI prematurely because they cannot

afford to pay tuition fees. Perhaps the situation hits

closer to home – others have themselves had a brush

with Fate – that dreadful letter from the Bursary

warning of placing them on compulsory leave of ab-

sence if fees are not paid before a certain deadline.

Thankfully, since July 2007, on the initiative of, and

with the initial significant contribution of past Facul-

ty dean, Professor Patchett, three less students have

to worry about this problem. Each year, three stu-

dents are granted $3000.00 BDS each, towards tui-

tion fees.

As little as this may seem to the more fortunate

among us, this money is a lifeboat for those to whom

it is granted. It is a glimmer of hope, and the ticket to

the continued fulfilment of a dream.

On that note, ‘Law Lines’ congratulates the Academ-

ic Board of the Faculty of Law on creating another

opportunity for the upliftment of students! Indeed,

this initiative is far-reaching, as it is a helping hand

on the road to becoming great attorneys who will

leave lasting, positive impacts on our society.

Also, it is hoped that this will serve as a good exam-

ple for students, who actively seek ways to give back

to our beloved Faculty. This attitude of giving will

make it easier for us to contribute to the Law Trust

Fund when we are financially better off. That way,

the ‘well’ will never run dry.

EDITORIAL

Do you have an issue that you want us to look into?

E-mail us at: [email protected], subject

line: “LAW EDITORIAL”.


Letters to the Editor

Commendable Move by Faculty

of Law

The Editor, Madam:

I must commend the Faculty of Law for introducing

new methods of evaluation for students.

For students like me who dread examinations, this is

welcomed change. Tutorial presentations will be grad-

ed and there will mid-semester papers. I believe that

will mitigate the stress of exams because coursework

helps students to determine their comprehension of

specific topics, and this will translate into better prep-

aration for exams. I can only see advantages to this

new system, unless you consider the lecturers and tu-

tors who will have to mark these assignments. How-

ever, if students complete the assignments, they will

have adequate time to get feedback and amend any

mistakes in the reasoning or writing process. This

change is a sign of progress, which is often slow and

painful, but is truly worthwhile.

I tip my hat to the faculty and to the other students

before me who have lobbied for a change in the sys-

tem.

M. Richards

Friendly Rivalry The Editor, Madam:

Law students usually know how to stay in their quiet little cor-

ner, to the point where other students on campus refer to use as

an elitist society.

However, the build-up to Law Week and Sports Day in particular

has made us out to be normal, competitive students. By now,

everyone on campus is familiar with the names of the four hous-

es— Privy Council (red), CCJ (yellow), House of Lords (green)

and of course ICJ( blue). Wherever your loyalties lie (and mine,

by the way, are rooted in ICJ), the preliminary events have

demonstrated that we not only work hard, but we play hard as

well. This is the season we put friendship aside for a little while,

and embrace to colours that divide us. Let friendly rivalry (and

cheers to the best week on campus) continue.

S. Smith

Arctic Circle? The Editor, Madam:

I would just like to draw your attention

(and that of the relevant authorities) to

the unbearable cold of the Law Library.

This state of affairs is certainly not con-

ducive to studying, nor does it encour-

age me as a student to sit in the library

and read. I have to spend money printing

lengthy cases so as to avoid the cold.

The Air Conditioning system ought to

be adjusted, before some of us turn blue

from the cold.

C. Alleyne


In some parts of the world Febru-

ary is celebrated as Black History

Month. What I am about to say

may be controversial in the eyes of

many, but let me hasten to say that

I am black, I love my race, my her-

itage, my ancestors, - everything

about being black. However, I do

not celebrate ‘Black History

Month’. This is not another rant

about me hating on ‘the oppres-

sors’ or ‘Babylon’, it’s just that the

utopic veil has been lifted from my

eyes.

Years ago my aunt, Valrie Ka-

micka, said, “I don’t celebrate

Black History Month,” she then

went on to explain and that expla-

nation will be expounded upon fur-

ther down. Just this week, my

friend, Petulia Taylor, who is Ja-

maican and of mixed race, pointed

out to me that she did not celebrate

Black History Month because

while growing up she would al-

ways feel left out in a black class-

room as she didn’t have a month in

which her people were acknowl-

edged.

How wonderful it must be to have

an entire month dedicated to cele-

brating your ancestors and the

struggles that they went through to

make them the great people they

are today. Wrong! This is nothing

more than a gruesome reminder of

the hardships our ancestors had to

face to regain their freedom when

in truth all men are equal in the

eyes of the Creator. The slavery

movies that are aired during this

month can actually cause more

harm than good. When you see a

re-enactment of the way a white

person is beating, harming, muti-

lating, trading, raping, abusing,

murdering and devaluing a black

person, it may just cause hatred to

be harboured in your heart towards

all whites. These movies, books,

articles and interviews seek to be a

constant reminder of who we are,

where we are coming from and in

some regards, the fact that they

keep reminding us of this shows

that they have not forgotten. It is

somehow a cruel reminder that

neither should we. Some may feel

that we are being granted a great

opportunity to be reminded of

these struggles.

Why are we the only set of people

being reminded? Why is it that the

other races don’t have months to

celebrate their struggles as well?

We love to feel special but we also

like for our other brothers and sis-

ters of different races to feel equal-

ly special. They tell us that it’s im-

portant for us to know where we’re

coming from in order to know

where we’re going, but if you re-

mind us in a negative way, how do

you expect us to move forward?

What really did they expect to gain

from this?

The Façade of February

Written by Denneil Larmond


Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not

saying that our ancestors should

not be celebrated. However, I’m

saying that we need not be re-

enslaved under the guise of a

‘celebration’. I am all for cultivat-

ing black pride in the hearts of our

people, but why should we set

aside a specific time? We should

celebrate our heritage everyday.

We’re not only black for a twelfth

of the year. We are black 24/7/365.

When we as a people can get to a

point where we say that for Black

History month we’ll wear our

kinky hair to pay tribute to our an-

cestors then we know that we truly

have a problem. We are still men-

tally enslaved. Why not wear your

kinks all year round? Oh, I’m

guessing you’re going to say that it

takes too much effort, is too

‘tough’ and that it’s much easier to

spend money on hair extensions,

weaves and wigs so that society

can ‘accept’ you. If you cannot see

that this is just another form of en-

slavement, I weep for you. We

need to break free of the prisons in

which we have enclosed ourselves.

Bob Marley could not have said it

better:

‘Emancipate yourself from mental

slavery, none but ourselves can free

our minds!’

While on the topic of blacks and

their hair, I could not end without

touching the locs, the rastas, the

‘dreads’ or whatever name you

which to refer to us by. As I

scrolled through my Facebook feed

this morning I saw a post from a

friend: “Western Culture has taught

black people that they have to wear

“appropriate hairstyles. When I

started locing, my Dad told me I

was not in Africa. That’s brainwash

in the system. Black people’s hair

is their crown and should be worn

however and whenever!” I second

this message. I have locs, and peo-

ple have come to me on various

occasions saying things such as:

“You should cut your hair because

I you won’t get a job with that hair-

style.”

“Why did you do that? How is any-

one going to take you seriously in

your profession?”

“Rastas are dunce. You made a stu-

pid mistake.”

“You looked better with your pro-

cessed hair.”

“You have locs, do you wash your

hair? Do you smoke weed?”

All these statements were made by

blacks. The funny thing is that

when non-blacks see my hair or

many other people I know with

locs they commend us on the beau-

ty of it. Society has brainwashed us

so much that some may see nothing

wrong with these statements. When

did we begin to evaluate a person’s

intellectual abilities based on

his/her hairstyle? Who do you feel

to be going around and telling peo-

ple that the way they chose to

groom their hair is unacceptable?

When did it become the norm for

people to be following you once

you enter a store because you’re

black and have locs or have a rasta-

farian hairstyle? As Rasheeda said,

“Rastas get discriminated a yard

but get praised and worshipped

abroad.” Don’t let society dictate to

you what you should be based on

your hairstyle or the pigmentation

of your skin. What is important is

that you know who you are and

your worth in life.

For the month of February and on-

ward do yourself a favour learn to

love yourself and emancipate your-

self from mental slavery.

Denneil Larmond is a Second

Year Law Student. You may read

more of her blogs at

http://direaldenzi.wordpress.com/


A Look Back


To Semester One


We all know which house our Deputy Dean is a part of – ICJ (Blue). And if you didn’t, then you would

have found out on that memorable t-shirt day when we all stood in the boiling sun waiting to be counted.

He was dressed in his bright blue shirt. So, what about the rest of our lecturers? Do they support any

house?

‘Law Lines’ briefly interviewed some of our lecturers to find out what house they are in, and asked them

a few other questions along the way to get to know them a little better. We interviewed Mr. Westmin

James, Mr. Tom Durbin, Mrs. Karen Tesheira and Mr. Samson Owusu.

Lines Asked: Are you a member of any house for Sports Day? If yes, which house is that? Did

you participate in sports as a student? What sport?

“Yes, I intend to attend. I am a member of CCJ – yellow house. I use to cheer for

my house, but I did not participate in any sport activity.”

“I’m not sure which house I am a part of. I think it is Privy Council. I did not attend

school here, however; I participated in cricket and football.”

“Yes. House of Lords. I did not participate in sports but I cheered for my team and

supported sports day.”

Sampson Owusu: “Yes. Blue house (ICJ). I did not participate in sports day, but I

played table tennis.”

Teachers Say...

Mr Tom Durbin

Mrs Karen Tesheira

Mr Sampson Owusu

Mr Westmin James


REFLECTIONS continued from Page 9

Friends, Food and Culture

Had I chosen to live off-

campus I never would have made

the amount of friends and acquaint-

ances from all across the Caribbean

and the globe, as I did on Frank

Worrell Hall. Sisters of Sarafina on

Block 7 were a super supportive

group of people to live with. I re-

member a lot of laughter, stories,

and delicious dishes being stewed

up on the daily.

At first I was dragging my

feet at participating in the grubbing

activities, which seemed to be

some kind of rites of passage cere-

mony that I didn’t think I needed to

subject myself to. However, when I

got over myself and got out there

and got involved it ended up being

one of the best ways to get to know

people who I was living on hall

with. There really is no better way

of getting to know one another as

getting awoken in the middle of

night by pots and pans and shout-

ing just to be humiliated and ridi-

culed (in my case by people who

are quite a bit younger than me!)

until well after the sun has come

up! I didn’t keep my nametag but I

will never forget my Freshette

namesake. But I will also not men-

tion it here…

It was incredible to me to

get to share and talk with folks

from all over the Caribbean. I

learned so much about each

of the islands and countries

that my flat mates were from.

Time with them was invalua-

ble. It was so interesting to

hear about the unique cultural

and political nuances of each

country. Living on hall was an edu-

cation in itself learning about cur-

rent events and history of the Car-

ibbean.

Beyond that there is culture on hall

that I was so happy to have been a

part of. The activities that are orga-

nized such as the competitions be-

tween blocks and the cultural

weeks pushed people to do the very

best they could. It was an encour-

aging, creative, and inspiring at-

mosphere.

Last but not least, and maybe even

most importantly – the food!! Eve-

ryone was a chef or at least an ap-

prentice. I tasted so many delicious

things that I am missing badly back

here in Canada. Most notably: cur-

ry chicken, fish stew, ackee and

salt fish,

bakes,

doubles,

jerk

chicken,

roti, and

fried

breadfruit (non-exhaustive list).

Thank you for the oppor-

tunity to share my experiences with

“There really is no bet-

ter way of getting to

know one another as

getting awoken in the

middle of night by pots

and pans and shouting

just to be humiliated

and ridiculed…”


First, there are no ‘reputable’

sources cited in this piece. At least,

not any source that you have come

to accept as reputable. This article

– if I may be bold enough to call it

so – is opinionated and rife with

bias. For those of you enterprising

and objective legal thinkers who

are interested in nothing more than

hearing your own stream of bias,

and of course, achieved the most

enviable marks on your first at-

tempts at Legal Methods, Research

and Writing, you may stop reading

here. Read on, others who scraped

by on humbler grades. To be cer-

tain, at the very end of the day we

have all become products of the

same experience – we are law stu-

dents. This article is completely

skewed – entirely biased – simply

because it has been written by one.

If you are thinking like any kind of

lawyer you should, at this moment,

be fumbling with the question:

well, is she not in fact a reputable

source if she belongs to the group

being discussed? For the slower

thinkers among you, the answer is,

truly, you can have a thousand

good sources in the most biased

argument. Just ask a lawyer.

Indeed, this is the point in your

journey where you will find it nec-

essary to always be asking. Some-

one. Everything. For not one of us

can most confidently declare that

we have developed such skills,

where we can, for the greater per-

centage of the time, simply rely on

our own judgment. The writer

(that’s me) in no way encourages

self-doubt, but calls for the effort

towards pursuit of worthwhile

knowledge. Here is the point. That

is all this headache of life is about

– that is all this dream (and it is a

dream, isn’t it?) of ‘Being A Law-

yer’ entails. It is just finding out

something new. You are some-

where stuck trying to figure out

whether or not this ‘new-ness’ is

worthwhile. If you are not stuck in

this place, it should be because you

have already solved that equation –

and not because you have yet to

read the question. Some of us have

not realized that that problem is

even there. That is how we have

come to be painstakingly manag-

ing to fail the exam.

Understand there is a reason I have

asked if this is ‘the dream’? To be

perfectly honest – it better be. For

as much as some of us may be too

diplomatic to admit, this ‘getting a

law degree’ stuff is not very inter-

esting.

“...As much as

some of us may

be too diplomat-

ic to admit, this

‘getting a law

degree’ stuff is

not very inter-

esting...”

STUDENT, continues on Page 23

On Being a Law Student Written by Mahiri Cunningham


Life after Cave Hill

So you’ve gotten your LLB, what

do you do now? Whilst some

might think that this is a pretty ob-

vious question, it isn’t necessarily

straightforward. This article will

only raise a few ideas that are

worth being considered. Who

knows what’s the best option for

you?

Law School

Law school is pretty much the

standard choice for most of us.

Whether it is Hugh Wooding, Nor-

man Manley or Eugene Dupuch,

law school provides a different

take on the law that you would not

have been exposed to at university.

No longer will you be concerned

about what the law is, why it exists

in that current state or what can be

done to improve it. Law school is

only concerned with “how”. How

does one bring an action before the

court? How does one effectively

address a client’s needs? How does

one become a more effective advo-

cate? Success at the university

level does not necessarily equal

success at law school, but it is an

interesting experience that gives

you a great feel about what it

means to be a lawyer.

Master’s Degree

So your time at Cave Hill has ex-

posed you to areas of study that

you find completely interesting?

Do you have no interest in prac-

tising law and are more interested

in the actual study of the law?

Consider pursuing a Master’s De-

gree in whichever area suits you. A

Master’s Degree will give you a

more detailed and focused under-

standing on points of law that

piqued your interest during your

LLB.

Other Career Paths

Even though you have a Law de-

gree, this does not mean that you

must practise law. Many CEOs of

successful companies have started

out as lawyers. Kenneth Chenault.

CEO and Chairman of American

Express, Sumner Redstone, CEO

and Chairman of Viacom and

Richard Anderson all studied law

before beginning their successful

careers in business. Even in the

Caribbean, Gerry Brooks COO of

ANSA McAl Group of Companies

also has a law degree. A law de-

gree provides you with the analyti-

cal skills to succeed in business.

Part of answering problem ques-

tions on your exams requires you

to look at a situation from different

points of view. Believe it or not

that’s just what you need to sur-

vive in business!

Remember that these aren’t the

only options but just a few sugges-

tions. There are many paths one

can take after university. It’s up to

you to determine what works best

for you.

- Dane Elliott-Hamilton is the

immediate past Publications Com-

mittee Chairperson. He is cur-

rently pursuing his Legal Educa-

tion Certificate at the Hugh

Wooding Law School in Trinidad.

Written by Dane Elliott-Hamilton


The History Book

January 28, 2000 was the day the

past grew claws and sunk its teeth

into the depth of my soul. I stood at

the windowpane and watched as

slanting silver gleaming drops of

rain sliced petals off my grand-

mother’s marguerites. Darkness

filled the morning sky as God

threw lightning bolts across the is-

land and breathed thunder, making

the galvanized roofs jerk from side

to side.

The bewitching smell of hot cocoa

drifted through the air of the small

wooden house intertwined with the

aroma of hot bakes on the fire. It

was my birthday, and my mother

and grandmother (who we lovingly

called Mama) were preparing a

special breakfast for me. Another

loud peal of thunder shot through

the air, shaking the windowpanes

as it came and taking the electricity

as it left.

Mama motioned for me to bring the

kerosene lamp to her side and invit-

ed me to sit on her lap. She started

telling me a story about her mother

and as she spoke, words fell out of

the dust-covered history book she

had long kept hidden in the crevic-

es of her memory. Her father was

white with blue-grey eyes of

French descent and her mother was

black with a bloodline deeply root-

ed in Zaire. In her shadow, cast on

the wall by the light of the kerosene

lamp the people came to life. She

reminisced about watching her

mother and grandmother carrying

cane to and from La Sikwi, the old

sugar mill that now lay deserted at

the edge of the village. The lines on

her faced turned into words as she

conjured up the past from the

depths of the abyss that she kept

locked behind the tiny grey cata-

racts that had started to form in her

eyes.

I watched as the past shook itself

free and manifested itself in the

present. It entered my nostrils, my

ears, my mouth and lodged itself

onto the tip of my tongue, readying

itself to be unleashed in my future.

My grandfather’s father was from

India and his mother was one of the

last pure blood Caribs that still

lived in the village. “The blood of

your ancestors”, she said, “se sa te

ban ou lavi; It is what gave you

life”.

My mother pulled me over to her

side and planted an album in my

lap. There were pictures of my

great grandparents, great-great-

grand-parents and so much more.

After I turned 17, the pictures my

mother owned were given to me

and they are among my most prized

possessions. I sometimes take them

out of the little wooden box where

they are kept to look at them or to

show others. These pictures were

the reason I decided to start writing

a book about my family’s history.

And to think I would never have

gotten the inspiration, had it not

been for a freak thunderstorm that

made three generations of women

sit down on a kitchen floor.

Kin-z is a Cross-Faculty Student.

Written by Kin-z Francis

“The blood of your

ancestors...is what

gave you life…”


Do not lie to me about the sublime

ecstasy you experience diving into

pages and pages of random Law

Lord poetry before they deign to

reveal to you just precisely what

was held in that case. There is the

drudgery of the 8 am class; the

struggle through the tutorial where

the particularly perceptive tutor

persists in gazing into the depths

of your tiny under-prepared soul

while everyone else appears to

have nicely assembled case briefs

flaunting on their desk tops; the

confusion as to why the statute

books and all the wonderfully

worded Constitutions cannot simp-

ly be brought into update with lan-

guage from this century; and then,

the tortured awareness that these

hundred cases are only for this one

topic out of these 15 that you are

required to know, for this one ex-

am out of the five that you are re-

quired to do.

These realities are not fun.

So then, why do we do this? What

purpose, if any, exists? That ques-

tion is one only the particular indi-

vidual can most ably answer,

though I will suggest this: I put to

you that any passion to be drawn

from these realities must emanate

not from the task or the prospect of

performance, but from the per-

former. Drag it out of yourselves.

The inspiration, drive, determina-

tion (whatever sentimental phras-

ing you prefer to use) – reach into

your gut and pull it out. If there is

one thing we will learn from being

on this specific path, it is that the

true pursuer of ‘the dream’ is not

of timid disposition – does not

mute herself or stifle her argument

when she knows it holds rele-

vance. In essence, does not remain

the obstacle in her own path.

So, the point – get used to the fact

that you belong here. When you

have become comfortable with

that truth, make it obvious. Read

the case because you are a better

student knowing that rule, and not

because the tutor will expect you

to repeat it to him. Appreciate the

poetry of Lord Denning, Devlin,

Scarborough [insert your preferred

great legal luminary here]. This

poetry will perhaps enhance your

mind to the point where you real-

ize all that literature isn’t so ran-

dom after all. By all means get ex-

cited about late night reading and

the occasional swatting of the cas-

es. Yes – deny yourself the ever-

tempting beer lime, even once a

month, for you must learn to crea-

tively take your breaks, and then,

without hesitation, dive right back

in.

Here is a frightening truth. The

next time you glance around the

packed lecture theatre, realize that

out of the mass of us there seated,

only a limited number will survive

to the end of the journey. This

statement is not about failure – it is

about persistence. Persisting is an

achievement on its own and it is

one that is only attained if we are

somehow inspired towards it.

Why are you here? Because you

belong here – pursuing a law de-

gree so you may stretch it into

something greater. Whether or not

you actually want to become a

lawyer is to be stressed over in

some other moment of philosophy

– but you do belong here.

Now prove it.

Student continued from Page 20


This issue’s featured poet is none other than the King of Halls himself (and our beloved Constitutional

Chairperson), Mr. Travis Benain. Travis is a second year student, who is passionate about the arts, inspiring

young people, and being a positive role model and promoting social change through his poetry.

‘When I Grow Up’

By Travis Benain

When I grow up,

I will be nothing but a distant memory forever picking at my mother’s mind,

Nothing but a school uniform drenched in blood as she reminisces in her old, broken and beaten rocking

chair.

Chaining every liberated spirit from my carcass with tears pelting from her eyes,

Like bullets to my chest or led pouring into my flesh.

I can do nothing but stand and watch, listening to her sing old Negro spirituals and church hymns,

Comforted by the thought that her baby is in heaven she sings.

Sounding as if she devoured by lifeless heart, which hasn’t been able to pass her throat, after they took hers

by taking me.

Shhh, Listen!

Can you hear her singing?

Her voice cracking, voice changing, the awfulness of her tone drowned by emotions,

Yet still, she sings.

I stand there flustered, shouting at this woman!

Mom you know what?

I need you to stop crying!

Break these chains because my voice will echo like the sound of a thousand wolves from my grave.

Mom, stop! Be comforted by the fact that I passed the life expectancy of a child in my generation.

These would be men, kill would be children, who could be would be gangsters yes but lawyers and teachers

too,

Mom don’t worry, in May, I would have been 10.

That’s two years older than Kevin Limonth. Buggered, his neck broken and his corpse disposed of by the

beach like an old kitchen rag That’s four years older than Keyana Cumberbatch. Beaten, raped, stuffed in a plastic bag, hidden in a barrel, Like the ones I used to play hide and seek in, “Peek-a-boo….I see you”

Poetry Corner


The smell of her decomposing carcass illuminating the room. That’s 6 years older than, Natasha

Brown. On her way to

school, beheaded by her father’s lover, tied in a plastic bag and thrown in a sink

hole. That’s 8 years and 2 month older that the 18 month old child buggered

to death by his own uncle. See it’s sad but having a child for a decade

in the Caribbean is slowly becoming extinct!

History has it that white men killed black men, black men killed black men, now black men are killing chil-

dren,

And have the audacity to call such mass genocide, sanitation.

See when you grow up, you can decide what you want to do.

You can go to school, get a degree, get a job, start a family, grow old, retire and die a life filled with empti-

ness.

But as for me, when I grow up, I am going to be the mouth piece for every child that has been robbed the op-

portunity to speak! Because this child has just given me that right.

‘Can You Hear It’

By Sheri Sevanell

Can you hear it?

Can you hear the rumble of hunger?

Can you smell the deprivation all around?

The famine is sweeping like a new broom,

The dry bones get drier and drier still.

Will no one listen to my pains?

I am Hunger.

I am Thirst.

I am your mother Earth.

Will nobody give a listening ear?

A helping hand?

A kind word?

I am a broken spine,

I am your rib-cage showing through your torn meri-

no.

I am your sunken cheekbones.

I am Hunger.

Can you see the gust of wind

Lifting my body - paper - off the ground?

And yet you dine in fine style,

Feast on the best of food.

But for me?

Scraps of nothing.

So here I am, Hunger, Screaming at you!

Will you hear me

Above the humdrum of your own satisfaction?

Will you hear me?

I am calling out with a LOUD Cry...

Can you hear it?


Real Views In each issue, ‘Law Lines’ takes to the pathways of the campus in search of views on trending top-

ics. This time, we asked, “What do you think about legalizing marijuana in the Caribbean?”

Marijuana use has been a part of the Caribbean culture from as far back as the Amerindians were in occu-

pation. History books have recorded how smoking this herb was a religious ritual which enable our an-

cestors to speak to their gods when they were in search of guidance and assistance. Later, it was largely

Rastafarians who popularized the use of marijuana for religious as well as recreational smoking. Now,

even though the possession and use of the substance are strict liability offences in most of our legislation

(see, for example, sections 7A and 7B, Dangerous Drugs Act Jamaica), many people smoke marijuana in

the region. In fact, it is easily accessible and inexpensive. With some governments in the region ponder-

ing the economic viability and the social implications of decriminalizing its use, and with some places in

North America already going ahead with legalization, we found it quite refreshing to see what students

had to add to the debate.

The following are their views:

“Legalize it. There’s a right to privacy and to choose what you want to do. Cannabis is a drug such

as tobacco or any other over-the-counter drug, and it will clear up the black market and violence

that comes with it.” - KR

“Legalize it. It could be used for medicinal purposes and will take away a lot of the allure. It cer-

tainly is a big source of revenue. And it is a lot safer than other drugs.” – EP

“It’s neither here nor there for me. I don’t smoke. But for medical purposes? Regulate it. The

question is: How are we going to regulate it? And how will it be enforced?” – X


“No, I don’t think it should be legalized. Legalizing it would cause people to abuse it.” – TD

“I think it’s about time [that we legalize it]. From an economic standpoint, there is something called

‘comparative advantage’ and we have that. In other places where it is legal, they have a demand for

it, so places like Jamaica (where it is in abundance and better quality) can sell it for revenue to places

where it is legal and there is a demand…It is not a drug – it is not chemically enhanced. It could be-

come a drug but its uses are mostly recreational. With regulation, it would bring about a greater con-

trol of marijuana, and produce more options for a small and developing state’s economy.” – RA

“Legalizing now would not make sense because everybody is planting their own stuff now. So there is

no money to get, unless we plant different types, go to different parishes depending on the types of

fertilizers they use.” – JE

“It’s taboo because it’s been stigmatized so long.” – Z

“It should be done. It can generate a lot of income, can be controlled, and it can be challenged on un-

constitutionality and privacy issues if you are smoking in your own home.” – DA

“I don’t see anything wrong with it. I don’t think they should legalize it. I think they should decrimi-

nalize it. Decriminalization is more of a regulatory thing.” – TS

“[Legalizing is] not a bad move. But our people won’t know to use it to our benefit.” – CS

“Legalizing it would be a good thing, but we need to educate the public first. I think the masses are

looking at it like, “Free the weed”, but no substance.” – DM

What do YOU think about the legalization of marijuana in the Caribbean? SEND us an e-mail at

[email protected].


Flashback Continues… CGF

Mooting Competition.


Law Lines is a publication of the Publications Committee of the UWI Cave Hill Law

Society. All rights reserved.

© 2014

Faculty of Law

University of the West Indies

Cave Hill Campus

Barbados

UWI Cave Hill Law Society

Credits E-mail: [email protected]

Chief Editor

Ms Sherene Francis

Managing Editor

Ms Opal Pitter

Photographs

Ms Jeneice St Romain

Ms Samara Reid

Graphics

Mr Christopher Harper

Ms Sherene Francis

Writers

Mr Marvin Richards

Ms Kin-z Francis

Ms Sherene Francis

Ms Mahiri Whitingham

Contributors

Ms Andrea Emms

Mr Jeff Cumberbatch

Mr Dane Elliott-Hamilton

Mr Azard Gumbs

Mr Travis Benain

Law lines volume 5, issue 1

Documents

Transcript of Law lines volume 5, issue 1