Belmopan, Belize 17 August (BelizeBlog.com) One of the founding fathers of modern day Belize and key architect of the Belize Constitution, Hon. Vernon Harrison Courtenay died on Saturday August 15. V.J. as he was affectionately known, was a key player along with the Hon. C.L.B. Rogers, Rt. Hon. George Price and Hon. Assad Shoman in the quest for Belizean independence from the British colonial masters.
Hon. V.H. Courtenay was an outstanding Belizean patriot. An attorney-at-law by profession, he was a partner in Belize's largest and best known law firm W.H. Courtney and Company.
V.H. Courtenay won three General Elections to the Belize House of Representatives. He was Belize's first Attorney General and served in the Belize Cabinet as Minister of Works, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
An accomplished orator and Senior Counsel, he was feared by political adversaries during debates in the House of Representatives. A memorial service for the late V.H. Courtenay will be held this Wednesday at St. Mary's Church in Belize City. A biographical summary of this Belize son of the soil follows:
VERNON HARRISON COURTENAY, S, C. born Belize, 1932; admitted, 1960, England and Belize. Education: Belize and Lincoln's Inn, London. PRACTICE AREAS: Administrative Law; Business Law; Chancery Practice; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Company Law; Constitutional Law.
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