Legal profession admits first indigenous attorney

The Dominican Bar Association admitted its first Carib native last week.

The Hugh Wooding Graduate, Pearl Williams, is the daughter of the former Carib Chief Charles Williams. She took her oath at the High Court on Friday morning.

Williams said her admission to the Bar is the beginning of a new dawn for the Carib Territory and its people.

“Have Dominica’s indigenous people been adequately represented from a legal standpoint? Maybe not and that is why this is a new beginning,” Williams said.

Pearl Williams graduated from the Hugh Wooding law school on October 3, 2009, and according to the attorney general, her persistence and dedication makes her fit to take up the position of barrister and solicitor of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

“I have no hesitation in recommending her as a fit and proper person to be called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court,” said Attorney General Francine Baron-Royer.

In a brief discourse at the initiation ceremony, Williams quoted the words of the Honorable Chief Justice of Barbados Sir. David Simmons who spoke of integrity and the nobility of the profession and the ironic fact that its members are “hardly ever portrayed as worthy human beings”.

She said that irrespective of this known fact she intends to add nothing shy of integrity to the profession in Dominica.

“I believe, as a young attorney, our reputation is our greatest asset in the legal profession and in my opinion it is synonymous with integrity,” Williams said.

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20 Comments

  1. Congrats
    October 6, 2010

    Pearl, congratulations. I remember you from high school. It was quite a pleasant surprise hearing of your accomplishments. I know this is a geat victory for your people and I also hope the women in Dominica will see this as a victory for all the women who face obsticles in achieving their goals.

  2. marlaiseVG
    October 5, 2010

    Congrats “Missy” on your calling to the bar and your educational achievements. On another note,
    I am an indigenous person myself and any blind man can see the statistics: too many Carib (and other DA) youth in jail for ‘a little’ WEED: a non-violent offence.
    Their times served in jail could be better served doing cummunity service and teaching the carib culture within the territory itself.
    It is high time the debate on this initiative begin in parliament, for eventual implementation in the court system.

  3. Amoy
    October 5, 2010

    Is about time the Caribs get noticed. I ‘member in the old days they were treated like they were nobodies. Now I bet you all de man dem bavaying after the Carib women because they want zafa with belle chaveau and high color skin. Choooooops!!!.

  4. hellboy
    October 4, 2010

    Tiyani is a special gift, if that man convicts me i will still have the same level of love and respect for him… Honesty is a personal choice you have to make.. if you can be dishonest and have a normal heart all well and good…

    Pearl, just be yourself…..and serve your people with pride..

  5. Kharib
    October 4, 2010

    Must congratulate Ms Williams on the road that she has travelled so far. You have made us proud even when some of us don’t seems to understand what is best.

    Congratulation from all the way in the Mainland of the Peoples Republic of China

  6. Papa
    October 4, 2010

    @Watcher: Maybe Valda is screaming ok!!

  7. Jason John
    October 4, 2010

    Great job DNO. Two persons were called to the Bar on the same day yet you only carry the story on only one of the individuals!

  8. Watcher
    October 4, 2010

    @Valda Bruno – Durand: Congratulations Pearl. I wish you all the best and seek the Father’s wisdom in all you do. He is to be first in all we do as we are nought without him.

    Valda don’t get me worng, Just an observation I noticed that you always comment in all uppercase. Upper case indicates that the person who writng is screaming. This is writng etiquette. No hard feeling Val just an observation since I have noticed that you always write in uppercase,

  9. bata carib
    October 4, 2010

    the people of the carib Territory have not sit and let the world pass us by, we have stood up and fight, educate ourself, no longer will we stand and let people call us ‘sort’ because as the black man felt insalted when calles the ‘n’ word, so have we felt insalted. gone are the days when we would settle for anything, we have risen to higher hieghts, Doctors, lawyers, and other proffession even found in high places in overseas country, Congratulation Ms Williams, may you be an example for other young kalinago, many more to come!

  10. Valda Bruno - Durand
    October 4, 2010

    CONGRATUALTIONS DARLING AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST YOU HAVE MADE US PROUD

  11. Lord have mercy
    October 4, 2010

    DNO – a pic would be good too

  12. Lord have mercy
    October 4, 2010

    Nice! nice! nice!!!!!!

  13. bunny
    October 4, 2010

    congrats pearl all the way from germany.

  14. Dominicans!!!!!!!!
    October 4, 2010

    This is heart warming..It is a new beginning for our indigenous people…..Congratulations

  15. DocB
    October 4, 2010

    Wonderful News! Congratulations Ms. Williams.

  16. Chavez Jr.
    October 4, 2010

    Wow, What great news, what an inspiration to me and I think the same goes to my Kalinago people. The new days are dawning, slowly but surely. My people are arising, becoming conscious, becoming aware of their destiny, taking back their respective places. Long live my people , viva kalinago, viva waitikubuli. Its a revolution, viva la revolucion.

  17. CONCERNED
    October 4, 2010

    CONGRATS!

  18. Dominican
    October 4, 2010

    Congratulations Pearl on a job well done! I guess Marvin’s nose has now grown!

  19. DD
    October 4, 2010

    Congrats Pearl!!

  20. Muslim_Always
    October 4, 2010

    Congratulations Ms. Williams, I know another indigenous friend of mine who will join you soon God’s willing. You are new in the legal profession. Try your best not to get caught up in their politics and stay focused.

    There is a lot of injustices in the judiciary practices in Dominica. We hope young persons like you will at least be a ‘Tiyani.’

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