By Shakara Trott/BIS
The new judicial calendar year opened on Grand Bahama with a traditional religious service attended by Justices, Magistrates and members of the Bahamas Bar Association.
The ceremony was held at the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King on January 16, 2026, marking the official Opening of the Legal Year.
Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, the Hon. Ryan Pinder was in attendance and participated in the service by reading the Old Testament lesson from Micah 6:6–8. He noted that the annual observance serves as a time to celebrate the legal profession, reflect on progress and inspire future generations.
“First of all, it’s always nice to come together once a year; both the judiciary, the bar, public and private bar and the executives represented by the Attorney General’s Office…fully regaled in all of our pomp and pageantry to celebrate another year and the official opening of the legal year. That’s always a good opportunity and we’re certainly glad we can be here in Freeport as well,” Pinder said.
He emphasised that the occasion also provides an opportunity to encourage young people to pursue careers in law through exposure, mentorship and training initiatives.
“We’re very anxious and excited to continue what we have been doing in this administration to provide better access to justice and to provide the necessary criminal reform to assist in the criminal justice system,” he added.
Pinder highlighted the importance of unity within the legal profession and the role it plays in inspiring students.
“Many of the students aspire to be lawyers, aspire to be judges, aspire to be involved in the justice system and I think it’s important for them to see the private bar, the judiciary and leaders in the law come together as one to celebrate our profession. It’s a noble profession and it’s something we all believe in — to help them along, to advance their careers and to encourage them.”
He also outlined several initiatives aimed at developing future legal professionals.
“In the Office of the Attorney General, we do summer school programmes for students every year. We invite a cadre of students to come and spend the summers with us to learn about what we do and the practice of law,” Pinder said.
“We offer a significant amount of pupilage to law students and we think it’s our obligation to encourage those who are interested in the law and to provide those opportunities. We also have students placed in the Freeport office of the DPP.”
During the service, the Rev’d Father Kirkland H. Russell Jr., Rector of the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King, delivered a passionate and thought-provoking sermon, issuing a strong call for fairness and reform within the justice system.
“I ask you to work toward reforms that ensure that all Bahamians are dealt with fairly; that the widow, the orphan and those who cannot help themselves receive the same justice as the millionaire and the billionaire,” he said.
He further highlighted delays in the judicial process, calling them unacceptable.
“When people take off from work, lose a day’s pay, come to court and the lawyer isn’t there — that’s not right. When people wait 10, 15 or 20-plus years for a ruling, or die before receiving money rightly owed to them, that’s not right. We must work to change it,” he said.
A moment of silence was observed in honour of attorneys who passed since the 2025 observance, including the late Harvey Tynes, K.C and Jethlyn Burrows.
The observance concluded with a formal procession from the church to the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre, symbolising the solemnity, tradition and continuity of the judicial system.
(BIS Photos/Andrew Miller)
