Three female attorneys have expressed feelings of elation and relief on finally being admitted to the Dominica Bar after the Sir Hugh Wooding Law School (SHWLS) in Trinidad refused to release their Legal Education Certificate (LEC) due to non-payment of the economic cost.
Joyette Morgan, Jamila Alleyne who were called on December 19, 2014 and Ann Riviere who was admitted on December 12, are the latest additions to the law fraternity in Dominica.
The three had to meet, individually, the TT$65,000 (EC$27,722.05) fee per student per year that the government owed to the institution.
Riviere said she tried to get a loan but that didn’t work out.
“In my case, my title I gave was insufficient so I had to get another source of income,” Riviere told reporters.
She said she feels a sense of accomplishment as they “could not hold on not knowing their fates” in this matter.
“We don’t know if it could have ever been paid and seeing we worked so hard towards our studies we had to move on. And we still have our hopes high that maybe we will get something back.”
Now with that hurdle behind her, Riviere’s feeling is one of elation. “I feel elated and it was a lot of hard work. I had a son I left behind, so to really accomplish what I set out to do. I really feel elated,” she said.
Meantime, Morgan, who is the very first police woman to be admitted to the Bar, said the occasion was long in coming.
“This is a great day that has been way overdue, I can’t even find the words to describe how I feel. I just feel alive and happy. It was a hard period but we had our family support. It was overwhelming, it was a bit of a frustration but eventually things worked out for me and I am grateful, that it did.”
She said she couldn’t have done it without the assistance of her colleagues.
Alleyne, who is the daughter of attorney Peter Alleyne and the niece of former chief justice, Sir Brian Alleyne, regards herself as a third generation lawyer. She said she had to apply for an addition to her “already hefty loan” but it hadn’t yet been approved and she had to borrow the funds from her family, which she has to pay back.
She said all their attempts at getting an audience with the government were unsuccessful, so something had to be done.
“It’s not like we even have a prospect of a meeting to say, ok let’s hold off until January to see how this goes. So we decided, let us be called and try to see how we can negotiate with them (government) to get some reimbursement, if not all,” she said.
Alleyne noted that the feeling was “overwhelming” to be finally called to the Bar after a ten-year journey.
She also has a master’s degree in Law.
At Friday’s function, Mrgan and Alleyne were described by the lawyers present as “honest, diligent, hard working, humble and organized.”
“You are servant of clients not boss, don’t make short cuts…give your best representation; keep abreast of the law, share and discuss the law with colleagues,” Felix-Evans told them.
Justice Bernie Stephenson urged the new comers to put God first, “be trustworthy and honest to the court and clients, work hard listen to others and peers and make no short cuts.”
Both young attorneys thanked all for words of caution and promised to uphold the ethics of the profession.
Quite frankly, these students families have the means to pay for the children education. Don’t know why the government had to pay for it. By no standards are these poor malaway children. Give me a break
So why is it that the other one whose father was a government minister got hers paid for couldn’t he have afforded too. You blasted people are so hypocritical.
So, govt has to pay for their education? They sound like a bunch of whiny kids looking for free candy. I am proud of them but they should grow up.
There is the old folk proverb that says “mother have father have but blessed is the child that has his/her own” ;you girls can give yourselves a part on the back on your achievements. That should set you up for better things to come and the trail that you have set for other women in Dominica. Special praises to miss Morgan for being a first; and to the rest of the WP’s in the CDPF it’s not all fun and games put your best foot forward and be the examples we expect of you. And to all you ladies out there your independence is far more important than your expectation of hand-outs and promises from others.
Congratulations ladies!!! The road to law school isn’t easy, but you did your best. As you go into the workforce, continue to be ethical in your daily duties. Shame on the Government for not helping you all out, but yet they can spend thousands of dollars on an election, and have entertainers who demand extremely high fees. There priorities are clearly up their a$$! Best of luck to you all, and maybe if the Government have a conscience they’ll reimburse you all. Either way, you all are winners, and you are more educated and qualified than probably all members of that useless cabinet.
congratulations ladies.
Now can we get some more specialist doctors..how many lawyers does our tiny population need?
Great strategy. Congratulations are in order.
Please use your offices or make efforts to curb the epidemic of jailed young men just for marijuana. Hope is that you bring something fresh to the table. Ladies this is your time to shine. Your generation has suffered enough from an outdated law that has tied the hands (so they say) of some of the older heads you will rub shoulders with. The world is more educated about marijuana today and is moving to legalize or liberalize it. You’d be wise not to join in the current Dominica frenzy of judges throwing our Youth in jail or crippling them financially just for some marijuana. Do us all a favor please. Good luck in your endeavors.
Congratulations!! Ladies hard works pays off, Keep the faith your bills will be taken care of in no times. just take only drugs cases big money in no time you Ladies will be laughing all the way to the Banks. Let us know how you all are doing in the next twelve months. I am Dominican, are You????
An attorney is a person who takes the place of another in legal contexts. Accordingly, it may refer to:
Lawyer, as a general synonym Attorney-at-law, an official title of lawyers in some jurisdictions
Attorney….
I salute your ability to complete your studies, however you FAILED miserable to negotiate
, the TT$65,000 (EC$27,722.05) fee per student per year that the government owed to the institution.
By you Riviere stating that you tried to get a loan but that didn’t work out, illustrates that you knew this fee was your responsibility, however you like many other ignored thinking government will bail you out…..
As attorneys future judges your eyes of justice is all ready tainted……She said she feels a sense of accomplishment as they “could not hold on not knowing their fates” in this matter, pure rubbish in words
“We don’t know if it could have ever been paid and seeing we worked so hard towards our studies we had to move on. And we still have our hopes high that maybe we will get something back.” This is typical of many Dominicans …stop trying to get OVER….
I had a son I left behind, so to really accomplish what I set out to do. I really feel elated,” she said. Good for you, where de DADDY????
Meantime, Morgan, who is the very first police woman to be admitted to the Bar, said the occasion was long in coming. AS a police officer you plan from start to finish….???/
Alleyne i aint feeling no pain especially for you….Family of lawyers cum on nah….You noted that the feeling was “overwhelming” to be finally called to the Bar after a ten-year journey. You also has a master’s degree in Law. Cum nah you just aint too bright then….
At Friday’s function, Mrgan and Alleyne were described by the lawyers present as “honest, diligent, hard working, humble and organized.” what about Rivers????
“You are servant of clients not boss, don’t make short cuts…give your best representation; keep abreast of the law, share and discuss the law with colleagues,” Felix-Evans told them.
Both young attorneys thanked all for words of caution and promised to uphold the ethics of the profession.
Dem Alleynes have so much land and money and dey cannot help one of their own go to school?
Nothing good comes easy…. the most essential commodity is oxygen and its free, although sometimes we have to fight for it. But your recent struggles should be reflective of the fact that nothing comes free. ……. You have been always a model and and inspiration to many….. now you got wings im waiting to see you fly way past the eagles….
In life nothing comes that easily, but your motivation and perseverance will be an encouragement to others who are going through the same grind. Congratulations to you all.
Well done Morgan, course 27 making and breaking history.
Happy for these the women 2 of whom l know very well. I also nice to hear that the government could come to their assistance but the said thing is later we see some of these very same ppl that government help to get the life or l should say work life rolling they turn and back stab them. Anyway Government continue to help them
They had to find their own finance in order to get their certificates to be called to the bar.Did you read properly? They could not have been called to the bar if they had not paid the college which the Government is still owing.In other words the money came from their own pockets dum dum.
Excuse me but the way I read this report is that these ladies had to find their own meas of paying the money, not the government a should have been the case
you read the story?
Could someone please hexplain what does this “call to the Bar” truly means???
Simply put: Now that they no longer owe an money, they are TRUE LAWYERS. They were in limbo until all the debt was paid.
Labour! My ***
Next in line is the civil servants to get a kick in their *** from DLP.
This is just the beginning.
they can bring all kind of band from overseas to steal election and cant pay for education that the promised they would… what a shame but that good for us…
It is unconscionable to put these women in such a situation, without responding to even a request for a meeting. It takes so many years of hard study to become eligible for the bar. I suppose the government really doesn’t support the advancement of women after all.
we need more Doctors too many lawyers
As it is said, a promise is a debt. Promises are to be fulfilled and debts are to be paid in full. Sorry to hear that this promise was not met. Happy to know, throw the help of others you were able to be called to the Bar. I hope in time you will be reimbursed.
Congratulations to all of you. Now you are able to pursue a career in Law.
Hello and good evening my people. Well I would like to congratulate the three ladies on their addmition to the Bar. I also want to know if any of the Attorneys specialized in Real Estate Law.
well done ladies
young ladies life will never be without one challenge or another . you all did great in spite of.
Congratulations!! The Government should reimburse these attorneys.
You all truly watch too much American TV. Reimburse them for what?
Amen! Thank God! I am happy that these women were able to get some type of resolution to this sad and embarrassing situation. Because they were promised support, I do hope they can get some of that promised money to pay back family and friends who loaned them money. Don’t care weekday ANYONE says… those girls fees were the cost of a billboard. Picture/imagine that. But God is continuously good!
I just love DNO. Someone found time on Saturday to moderate a comment which would start another round of skerrit bashing. I placed a bet that this comment will never see the light of day. I don t mind losing a few bucks.
I am very happy for these three. But why is it that the daughter of a certain ex minister got her fees paid so long ago and these are still waiting?
This is heartbreaking.
Amazing ladies. This is a testament to your commitment.
Congratulations!
GOD IS REAL…HE HAS TAKEN YOU LAWYERS ON THIS JOURNEY SO THAT YOU WILL MAKE IT YOUR DUTY TO FIGHT CORRUPTION AND INJUSTICE AT ALL LEVELS….MAY THE GOOD LORD GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE TO STAY ON THE CORRECT PATH…
Great job to these three on working hard for what they wanted. I applaud your hard work and determination.
I should also comment that I feel sorry for the youth of our country who have no one to push them. Why should these women have to seek money elsewhere when the government had promised to pay their economic fee? So much money was spent on just one billboard. Well then to Dominicans like it that’s why they voted them again.
What about great job ladies and keep your political comments to yourself.
Congratulations is in order I agree, however, knowing all the struggles the three ladies went through because the Government did not meet a committment it was required of paying their economic fees, it overshadowed that aspect. Added to that it is my understanding that an ex Minister’s daughter was allowed to take her walk and not them. Also, the lavish spending of money we experienced recently by the DLP. I will reiterate again congratulations, yes, but it was really oversahdowed.
yeh that is what you scum bags would like -that atrocities, neglect and dishonesty be covered up and that no one should dare speak about it.
Nothing’s easy in DA.
I aggree with you totally, Gratulations, ladies
DNO please explain y is it that some can say that the money went to the bill board and you won’t post my response to that…that is pure nonesense……the young ladies God bless them and congrats too – did all of that for themselves and they are not the only ones asked to pay the economic fees so y is it political in Dominica. they are professionals now and no one can take their education from them…..they did it all for themselves not for the government and certainly for the people of Dominica cuz they can pick up and go anywhere any time