DON MITCHELLS LAW BOOKS WIDELY WELCOMED IN ANGUILLA

A series of six Law Books, just published by retired High Court Judge, Mr.  
Don Mitchell, CBE, QC, and prepared as lectures for Anguillian students  
sitting the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), is seen as  
one of his most practical, praiseworthy and perpetual contributions to  
jurisprudence in Anguilla and the rest of the Caribbean. The attractively  
designed books, written in a light, but academic prose, were officially  
launched by Governor Christina Scott on Monday evening, February 15, at the  
Teachers’ Resource Centre, in the presence of a large and appreciative  
audience.

The text books were described as not only of much learning value and  
significance to students, but to all and sundry across Anguilla including  
the law fraternity and groups and individuals in the public and private  
sectors in general. The volumes, each available at US$25, have crowned a  
mass of written texts over the years by Mr. Mitchell, a prolific legal  
writer and historian, whose published papers, blogs, and other works have  
well informed the people of Anguilla over the many years of his busy,  
vibrant and multi-faceted career. The books, now a legacy of his once  
extremely active profession, carry the following titles: Criminal Law,  
Caribbean Legal Studies, Law of Tort, Principles of Public Law, Law of  
Conflict and Law of Real Property.

The book-launch ceremony was chaired by Mr. Thomas Astaphan, QC, one of Mr.  
Mitchell’s long-time colleagues, conversant with his legal prowess and  
sterling contributions. Mr. Astaphan, who spoke about Mr. Mitchell’s  
extensive career path and other biographical information, described him,  
among other things, as “a true Caribbean person who, despite all of the  
accomplishments he achieved, remains a very humble and modest person”. His  
career path in Anguilla from 1976, when he moved to the island from St.  
Kitts, included: Magistrate and Registrar of the Supreme Court, Coroner,  
Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Registrar of Companies,  
Trade Marks, Patents, Newspapers, Trade Unions and Archives. His more  
recent accomplishments included High Court Judge, Appeal Court Judge, Law  
Teacher at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School since 2007 and his  
appointment as Chairman of the Constitutional and Electoral Reform  
Commission in Anguilla.

Resident Judge, Madam Justice Cheryl Mathurin, congratulated Mr. Mitchell  
on behalf of Chief Justice, Janice Pereira, and the other Judges of the  
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court including herself. She said the publishing  
of the books was particularly gratifying when it was considered that the  
beneficiaries were students and teachers. She noted that, with the author’s  
extensive experience, knowledge, wisdom and guidance, the books would also  
be of much assistance to a more harmonised Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court  
in terms of advice in the future. “Congratulations, Mr. Mitchell and thank  
you very much for sharing yet again your wisdom and your knowledge,” she  
concluded.

Mrs. Chanelle Petty Barrett, Permanent Secretary, Education, in a more  
comprehensive address, lauded Mr. Mitchell for his legal work. She said in  
part: “As a Lawyer, he was always a Teacher. He nurtured and moulded many  
young Attorneys. As a result of his legal acumen, coupled with warm  
humility and humour, young Counsels often felt comfortable enough to visit  
his Chambers – not only to use his extensive library – but also to tap into  
his vast knowledge and experience of various legal issues, and for guidance  
and support. Unfailingly he always gave of himself and his  
resources…Personally, when I chose to pursue a law degree, I spent several  
summers in his Chambers under his tutelage. I was but one of the several  
aspiring Attorneys to whom he was a mentor, teacher and a storehouse of  
legal knowledge.”

Mrs. Petty Barrett said that through Mr. Mitchell’s teaching of law he had  
“nurtured a generation of citizens with an increased awareness of their  
rights, responsibilities and operations in the legal system.” She added:  
“Justice Mitchell, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, I thank you for  
your years of dedicated service to our students and congratulate you on the  
launch of this textbook series. Yet again you have found a better way of  
giving of yourself: this time by providing an invaluable resource for  
anyone studying or teaching CAPE Law. Not only have you made life easier  
for students and teachers, but you have ensured that future generations can  
benefit from your wealth of knowledge on the various subject areas. This is  
indeed a commendable legacy.”

Ms. Jean Dyer, President of the Anguilla Bar Association, congratulated Mr.  
Mitchell on behalf of the Association, and herself, for having  
“singlehandedly researched and produced what has now become essential  
reference guides…at a very affordable price.” She said the Association was  
grateful to him “for having undertaken this labour of love for the past  
eight years”. She urged students in Anguilla to make the most of the Law  
Books now available to them.

There were three special overviews of Mr. Mitchell’s books. The first,  
Criminal Law and Contract Law, was presented by Barrister-at-Law, Mr.  
Kerith Kentish on behalf of his Aunt, Mrs. Joyce Kentish-Egan, QC; the  
second, Real Property and Caribbean Legal Systems, was by Mr. Stanley Reid  
OBE, Deputy Governor and a trained Lawyer; and the third, Law of Tort and  
Principles of Public Law, by Barrister-at-Law, Mrs. Keesha Carty. Ms. Ojeda  
Vanterpool, a past CAPE Law Student, nurtured by Mr. Mitchell and now a  
Barrister-at-Law, was also listed to deliver remarks. In her absence, her  
address was delivered by Mr. Karim Richardson, a former classmate. She  
noted that through Mr. Mitchell she had not only qualified as a Lawyer,  
eight years after his tutelage, but had already been called to the Bar in  
England and Wales. She will be called to the Anguilla Bar in the near  
future.

Earlier, the proceedings were graced by two poems, one each by Mrs.  
Patricia Adams and Mrs. Hyacinth Hughes which were both well received.

Responding to the various presentations, Mr. Mitchell said: “I have been  
honestly overwhelmed by the turnout heretonight and by the kind things so  
many of you have said about me and the six little books that I have now  
published.” He was grateful to the Principals and Deputy Principals, other  
teachers and students (past and current) of the Albena Lake-Hodge  
Comprehensive School, and others, who facilitated his teaching of law  and  
other persons who were also helpful towards the preparation and publishing  
of the Law Books. Included in the list was the Senior Magistrate, Ms.  
Ivenia Benjamin, who assisted in arranging the book launch and who, in the  
first place, facilitated the publishing of the books by Emanuel Publishing  
House in Dominica.

Governor Christina Scott observed that while the books were an excellent  
contribution to education and civil society, they would also be of much  
value to several areas of the public service including land law,  
registration and licencing issues. The Governor thought it would be a good  
idea for Mr. Mitchell to roll out the books right across the region and  
possibly even wider. “It is a real fantastic achievement and it is an  
enormous privilege for me to declare these books officially launched,” she  
added.

The book launch ceremony was followed by refreshments and the signing and  
purchasing of books.
The Anguillian Newspaper

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