Advocates Caribbean 4th biennial conference to be hosted in SVG

Advocates SVG, a group of Christian lawyers, will this year host the Advocates Caribbean 4th biennial conference.

Lawyer Mandela Campbell, who is Advocates SVG’s chair said this week that the Advocates Caribbean 4th biennial conference will this year be held in St Vincent and the Grenadines under the theme “Fundamental rights and Freedoms: Free Indeed?”{{more}}

For those who are unfamiliar with Advocates SVG, the group is part of Advocates Caribbean and Advocates International which are organizations aimed at promoting justice and integrity. In addition to judicial officers and parliamentarians, the groups are made up of medical and other professionals. There are similar groups in other Caribbean islands including Advocates Guyana and the Jamaica Lawyers Christian Fellowship.

Advocates SVG is the newest member of the family which has 40,000 members in 158 countries that encourages a global network of skilled advocates committed to religious liberty, human rights, conflict resolution, reconciliation, and professional ethics.

On Monday, during a press conference at Campbell’s Legal Chambers at Egmont Street, chairperson Campbell revealed that the conference will be held from November 7 to 9 at Beachcombers Hotel in Villa.

This year, the conference seeks to explore rights that are enshrined in the constitution, for example, freedom of expression, freedom of belief, parental rights and freedom of the press.

Campbell said that persons who attend the conference will hear from United Kingdom based speaker Paul Diamond who will give a legal overview of fundamental rights and freedom.

Also, deputy executive director of the Global Council of Advocates International Ruth Ross will speak on, “Contending for your Faith,” while freedom of the press will be dealt with by Hyacinth Griffith.

Griffith will present a case study on Professor Brendon Bain, the university professor who was dismissed because of his views on the changing of buggery laws in Belize.

The conference begins Friday, November 7 with a gala dinner and Reverend George Frederick as key note speaker. On Saturday, it runs from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., while on Sunday it goes from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. There will also be a cocktail reception and cultural extravaganza on Saturday night.

Campbell stressed that to attend the conference, persons will have to pay EC$120 for Friday’s dinner, EC$200 for Saturday’s session and EC$40 for the cocktail. Sunday’s price is EC$105.

Campbell is encouraging youth leaders, faith based organizations and the press to come out to the conference, while youngsters who want to attend, but have financial restraints, may come and speak to the members of Advocates SVG.

Other members of Advocates SVG include public relations officer Kesron Walters, secretary Anika Russell, treasurer Sejilla McDowall, committee members Jelani Williams and Andrew Russell, all of whom are lawyers.