Michael Gregory Wyllie called to the Bar

The legal profession here welcomed its latest member last Friday when Michael Gregory Wyllie of La Croix in the Mesopo­tamia valley was called to the bar.{{more}}

Wyllie was sponsored by Stanley “Stalky” John of Elizabeth Law Chambers and seconded by Kay Bacchus-Browne. The ceremony was presided over by Justice Bruce-Lyle.

Wyllie is also a member of the Bar of the State of New York, U.S.A, and Trinidad and Tobago Bar, and the Middle Temple Inn.

In presenting Wyllie, John urged him to let his conscience be his guide when dealing with his clients. Bacchus-Browne emphasized the positive aspects of the profession, highlighting the hard work, sacrifices and dedication of the majority of the profession, rather than the negative comments that one often hears. Justice Bruce-Lyle, having heard and reviewed his resume, was of the view that there was very little he could say to him in terms of the conduct of his affairs in the legal profession in St Vincent and the Grenadines given his vast experience. He however, agreed with him that St Vincent and the Grenadines was the most beautiful place on earth despite our many problems.

Wyllie is a former student of the Marriaqua Secondary School (now the St Joseph’s Convent) and the St Vincent Teachers College and taught at the Calliaqua Primary School. Since leaving St Vincent and the Grenadines over 30 years ago, he has lived, worked, and or studied in nine different countries; acquiring degrees in four different disciplines. His legal studies took him to the United Kingdom, USA, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. He has a varied professional background, having also worked as a manage­ment and human resources professional, CEO of his own clothing business, and served in the diplomatic corps; having held several senior positions with the Organization of American States (OAS), as a member of the joint OAS/UN Human Rights/International Civilian Mission to Haiti and later headed the OAS component of that mission in Washington D.C; advisor to the Assistant Secretary General, and Director of the OAS office in Guyana.

In his address to the court, he made reference to the views of those who are of the opinion that the legal profession is saturated. While that might be the case for those at the bottom in terms of ability and the quality of services rendered, he is of the view that there is an abundance of opportunities for those at the top of their game in terms of their competence and the quality of services. Moreover, he said, the emerging areas of alterna­tive dispute resolution are rich with opportunities for those who equip themselves.

He thanked his many relatives and friends who have contributed to his success over the years. Special mention was made of his grandmother, Geraldine Wyllie, in

whose house he was born and raised; his mother and father Doris Wyllie and Rawle Wyllie; aunt Sylvia Caesar, children, and his ten siblings including Ms Judy Ann Prescod. His goal in returning home is to make a contribution wherever possible, not necessarily as a practitioner in the legal profession.