Dame Janice M. Pereira Honored
Dame Janice M. Pereira, who has had a distinguished career as a Virgin Islands lawyer, and most recently, as the first female Chief Justice at the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, has now added to her string of honors by being appointed to the UK’s Privy Council.
To honor the appointment, the Virgin Islands Government is noting the achievement with a week-long celebration honoring her retirement as Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court earlier this year, and her appointment to His Majesty’s Most Honorable Privy Council, where she will sit on its Judicial Committee.
The Privy Council is comprised of advisors to the King who provide advice on matters of state and the use of prerogative and statutory powers. They also advise the monarch on giving formal effect to Proclamations and Orders in Council, and serves as a link between the executive powers of ministers and the constitutional authority of the sovereign.
Of note for the Virgin Islands, The Privy Council also has a Judicial Committee that serves as the highest court of appeal for some Commonwealth countries, crown dependencies, and United Kingdom overseas territories. Dame Pereira will sit with the Judicial Committee Privy Council (JCPC) for a week in December to hear scheduled appeals.
Virgin Islands Premier, Natalio D. Wheatley, said of the appointment: “Dame Pereira has had a remarkable career of service to the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean, which is evident through her recent appointment to His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.”
Dame Janice was born in the British Virgin Islands, and attended the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, where she received an LLB (with honors). She was called to the bar in 1981. Her notable career continued when in 2013 she was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2012, she was appointed Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and 2018, she was called to the Bench as an Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple – one of four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the Bar of England and Wales.
The National Celebration, which will be held from Monday 21 October through Sunday 27 October 2024, is entitled: “Celebrating our Radiant Daughter: A Journey from the Virgin Islands to the Privy Council.” It will begin with the airing of a Primetime Special that examines the life and story of Dame Janice and also features daily General Knowledge Quizzes on ZBVI; school visits; courtesy calls and a youth brunch.
As part of the celebrations, the public is invited to attend a Special Lecture by Dame Janice at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, a Special Sitting of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court at the Multipurpose Sports Complex and a Celebratory Church Service at the Church of God (Holiness) in North Sound, Virgin Gorda.
In announcing the celebration honoring Dame Janice, Premier Wheatley said, “As a Virgin Islander, she has set an incredible example, proving that the sky is not the limit, but our only limit is ourselves.” He went on to encourage the entire Territory to join in on the celebrations.
Learn more about the UK’s Elizabeth II who awarded Dame Pereira Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
