Guyanese law students once again made their country proud at the Hugh Wooding Law School graduation ceremony on Saturday evening in Trinidad. Out of the 200 students who successfully completed the two-year Legal Education Certificate programme, an impressive 42 hailed from Guyana, a testament to the nation’s growing footprint on the regional legal stage.
Leading the way was Rodley Mathoo, who emerged as one of the most celebrated graduates of the evening. Mathoo received three prestigious awards, including the Council of Legal Education Prize for Most Outstanding Student in the Legal Aid Clinic, the Marlon Moore Social Justice and Service Memorial Prize for embodying passion and empathy in service to clients, and the Miles Greeves Fitzpatrick S.C. Prize for the Best Performance in Legal Aid by a Guyanese student. His journey of service, leadership, and academic brilliance has made him a beacon of inspiration for fellow students and young professionals alike.
Rodley Mathoo on the left and Keona Higgins on the right.
Equally inspiring was Keona Higgins, who secured two coveted awards, the Guyana Government Prize for Best Overall Performance by a student from Guyana and the Book Specialist Prize for Second Outstanding Year II Student. Her achievement highlighted the determination and skill that Guyanese students continue to bring to one of the region’s most competitive law programmes.
Mathoo’s journey at Hugh Wooding Law School was marked not only by academic success but also by leadership. He served as President of the Guyana Jurisdictional Committee (GJC), the official body representing Guyanese students at the institution, and became the first Guyanese student to represent the school at the Queen Mary University of London Law Exchange Programme in October 2024. Now employed as a State Counsel in the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Guyana.
The evening also celebrated the success of other Guyanese students, including Andre Griffith, recognized for outstanding performance in Civil Practice and Procedure, and Lucas Jonas, who earned accolades for excellence in Roman Dutch Conveyancing.
Andre Griffith on the left and Lucas Jonas on the right
