Former Justice Ricardo Marques Dies

The former Supreme Court Justice Ricardo Marques has died. This tribute was given by former Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson.
STATEMENT BY MRS. ALLYSON MAYNARD-GIBSON QC
ON THE PASSING OF
JUSTICE RICARDO MARQUES (RETIRED)
16th NOVEMBER 2017

It is with a deep sense of personal loss that I mark the passing of Justice Ricardo Marques (Retired).

Justice Marques came to The Bahamas in the early 1980s to work at the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) and The Bahamas became his home. He was a well-educated man, who loved the law and possessed a deep sense of justice.

Ricardo Marques was an outstanding and highly skilled legislative draftsman who became the Director of Legal Affairs (DLA) at a time that the DLA was in charge of all work in the OAG, including criminal work. After serving as the DLA, he was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court. Upon his retirement from the Bench he was appointed the Law Reform Commissioner. In each of these Offices Justice Marques served with distinction. Those who encountered him will recall his love for the law, attention to detail, delight in mentoring young lawyers and courtesy towards all whom he encountered.

I was so delighted when he agreed to serve as a Consultant at the OAG while I was the A-G. Justice Marques, although “retired” possessed abundant energy. He worked hard, thoroughly researched matters, benchmarked Bills that he and his team drafted and, importantly, he continued to mentor younger lawyers.

My family and I extend condolences to Mrs. Marques and their family at the loss of their husband, father and grandfather. Justice Marques made tremendous contributions to Bahamian jurisprudence and the Rule of Law, for which The Bahamas will be forever grateful.

May his soul rest in peace.