George Singh

George Bawa Singh (died 9 March 1999) was a Belizean judge, who served briefly as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.^[1]

Career

Singh entered public service in 1955, but later changed course to pursue a legal career, and went back to school.^[1][2] He held the posts of Solicitor General and Director of Public Prosecutions, and later played a significant role in the establishment of the Family Court, on which he also served as its first judge.^[1][2] In 1991 he was named a Justice of the Supreme Court.^[2] He was sworn in as Chief Justice on 2 February 1998, along with Supreme Court Puisne Justices Manuel Sosa and John Rivero. He took up the CJ position at a busy time, when there were plans to add two temporary justices from Australia to help with processing the sizeable number of civil cases before the court.^[2] However, with Singh's failing health in mind, just a few months later PM Manuel Esquivel transferred him to a less demanding position as a judge of the Court of Appeal and named Manuel Sosa in his place as CJ, in a controversial move right before the Belizean general election, 1998.^[3][4] He died of illness the following year.^[1]

Personal life

Singh is the son of a Sikh immigrant from India, but was raised Christian.^[2][5] Singh graduated from the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica in 1978.^[2] He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters, and five grandchildren.^[1] Among his sons is former Minister of Police Douglas Singh.,^[5] and current CEO of Trade and Investments for Belize, Michael Singh

References