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George Bawa Singh (May 1937 – 9 March 1999) was a Belizean judge who served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1998 and as a Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court from 1991 to 1998. He previously served as Solicitor General and Director of Public Prosecutions.

Early life

Singh was born in May 1937. His father Bawa Singh Mann was a Sikh who had immigrated from India in the 1930s. Singh himself converted to Christianity. He graduated from Wesley College in 1954. That same year, he wrote three poems: "Dawn", "Dusk", and "Soliloquy of a Murderer". He received the Gold Medal for the last one in a national poetry competition.

Career

After his graduation, Singh briefly worked as a primary school teacher before joining the public service in 1955. Starting as a clerk, he eventually became a customs inspector. Looking for a change in career, Singh entered the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica, where he graduated in 1978. Singh 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. In 1991 he was named a Justice of the Supreme Court. 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. However, due to Singh's failing health, PM Manuel Esquivel transferred him to a less-demanding position as a judge of the Court of Appeal on 26 August 1998, naming Manuel Sosa as the new CJ. The timing of this decision was criticised by the opposition during the 1998 election campaign.

Family

Singh was married and had three sons, two daughters, and five grandchildren. Among his sons is former Minister of Police Douglas Singh and former CEO of Trade and Investments for Belize, Michael Singh.

Death

Singh died of a long-term illness on 9 March 1999.

References

1. ^ "Justice George Singh dies". News 5 Belize. 9 March 1999. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
2. ^ Belizean Poets. Belize Government Information Service. 1977. p. vii. OCLC 947238185.
3. Virk, Hardev Singh (2012). "Review of "Sikhs in Latin America: Travels among the Sikh Diaspora"". Abstracts of Sikh Studies. XIV (2). Chandigarh: Institute of Sikh Studies – via Academia.edu.
4. ^ "Immigrant Stories: Belize". Sikh Global Village. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
5. ^ "Chief and two new justices sworn in". News 5 Belize. 2 February 1998. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
6. "New Chief Justice to be appointed before election". News 5 Belize. 19 August 1998. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
7. "Sosa sworn in as Chief Justice". News 5 Belize. 26 August 1998. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
8. "CEO Singh Says Puerto Azul Project Needs Downscaling". Tropical Vision Limited. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
9. "Mike Singh challenges Santi for Caribbean Shores". News 5 Belize. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2021.

• 1937 births
• 1999 deaths
• Belizean Christians
• Belizean people of Indian descent
• Chief justices of Belize
• Converts to Christianity from Sikhism
• Directors of Public Prosecutions of Belize
• People associated with the Norman Manley Law School
• Solicitors-general of Belize