Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court receives honour
The honour of Dame Commander in the Order of the British Empire (DBE) has been conferred upon Chief Justice Janice Pereira.
His Excellency the Governor Boyd McCleary is delighted to announce that the honour of Dame Commander in the Order of the British Empire (DBE) has been conferred upon Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Eastern Caribbean Honourable Mrs. Justice Janice Pereira by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to the administration of justice. The DBE is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V.
An announcement in the London Gazette said ‘THE QUEEN has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointment to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) DBE to The Honourable Mrs Justice (Janice Mesadis) PEREIRA, Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.’
“My warmest congratulations go to Honourable Mrs. Justice Janice Pereira on receiving the DBE. I think I can speak for all in the Territory when I say that the BVI feels a great sense of pride in her tremendous achievements. We can be proud not only that she is from the BVI but also that she is the first ever female Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme court. She serves as a source of inspiration for all Virgin Islanders.” Governor McCleary said.
Further information
Honourable Justice Pereira is the first ever female Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme court. A native of Virgin Gorda, she obtained her law degree with honours from the University of the West Indies in 1979 and the Legal Education Certificate from the Norman Manley Law School in 1981.
She was called to the Bar in the British Virgin Islands in 1981 and again in St Kitts and Nevis in 2000.
Between 1981 and 1984, Justice Pereira served in various capacities in the legal system including Ag. Magistrate and Registrar of Companies in the BVI, Acting Registrar General and Acting Registrar of the Supreme Court.
She served as a High Court Judge from 2003 to 2008 and was elevated to the position of Justice of Appeal on 9th January 2009.
The jurisdiction of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court comprises the six OECS countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Christopher and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as the three overseas territories of Anguilla, BVI and Montserrat.