14/12/2025
๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐
๐๐ป ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ข๐๐ป ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐...
๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐-๐ฎ๐-๐๐ฎ๐, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฒ๐น๐๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฒ
To the Honourable Chief Justice, Honourable Justices of the Court, Members of the Legal Profession, Family, Friends, and Well-Wishers.
May it please the Honourable Court,
My name is Davanna Cassiana Melville, and I respectfully seek Your Honourโs permission to respond.
Today is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life. Standing before this Honourable Court, I am filled with immense gratitude, humility, and pride as I take this significant step in my legal journey โ being admitted to the Bar of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
It is often said that every journey begins with a single step. Mine began years ago in the riverine town of Bartica, where, as a young girl, I dared to dream โ to serve justice, to use the law as a force for good, and one day to return home and make a meaningful contribution to the land that shaped me.
That dream was not always easy to hold on to. The path was marked by late nights, financial hurdles, bouts of self-doubt, and moments where giving up seemed far easier than pressing on. But today, as I stand here, I know that every challenge, every sacrifice, and every tear was worth it.
Returning to Guyana, and more specifically to my beloved hometown of Bartica, is more than just a homecoming. It is a reaffirmation of my commitment to serve my country and my community โ to help shape a legal system that is fair, accessible, and truly reflective of the people it exists to serve.
Your Honour, I am deeply conscious that with this honour comes great responsibility. The practice of law is not merely a profession โ it is a calling. It demands integrity, compassion, discipline, and unwavering dedication to justice. I do not take lightly the duty I now carry โ to represent my clients with honesty and fairness, to uphold the rule of law, and to be an advocate for those who need it most.
Before anything else, I give thanks to God โ for His grace, for the strength He provided through every trial, and for guiding me to this day. Without Him, none of this would have been possible.
To my family, who have stood by me through every high and every low โ words will never truly capture the depth of my gratitude. You are my anchor, my refuge , my greatest cheerleaders, and my constant source of strength. Thank you for believing in me, even when I struggled to believe in myself. Your love and support made this moment possible.
To my dad, Davan Melville โ Daddy thank you for always having my back, for every sacrifice, for every word of encouragement. Your unwavering belief in me has brought me to this moment. Daddy, your sacrifices were not in vain โ look at where we are today.
To my mom, Eileen Joan Andries-Richards โ Mommy, thank you for nurturing me, for standing by me during the most difficult moments, especially during those taxing weeks of law school exams. I truly donโt know how I would have made it through without your love and care.
To my stepmother Synolda Mccubbin and stepfather Hansel Richards, thank you for being the incredible bonus parents that you are. Your support and presence in my life have been a blessing, and I am forever grateful.
To my siblings โ Cleon, thank you for being a dependable big brother and for every contribution you've made toward this journey. Fiona, thank you for believing in me and for always being the most supportive sister. To Ryan, Davan Jr., Sasha, Trevon, and Alison โ thank you for your prayers, love, and steadfast support.
To my nieces and nephews โ I worked hard with you in mind. I hope that by watching me, you see that no dream is too big. I want you always to be proud to call me Aunty.
To Declon and his family โ thank you for embracing me as your own. Your love and support have lightened the burdens of this journey and made the hard days bearable.
To my dear friends, now colleagues โ Meshonn, Shania, Larina, Jada, Justin, Samantha, and Alexia โ thank you for standing by me during some of the darkest times. We made it โ and I couldnโt be prouder to have walked this path with you.
To my lifelong girlfriends โ Nikella, Khasheva, Shonae, and Kitonna โ your prayers, encouragement, and belief in me carried me further than you know. I appreciate you all deeply.
To my mentors, lecturers, and members of the legal fraternity who took the time to guide me, especially Ms. Dawn Palackdharry Singh โ thank you for imparting wisdom that I will carry with me throughout my career.
A special thank you to Mrs. Pamela Fung-A-Fat and Former Chief Magistrate Mr. Paul Fung-A-Fat for facilitating my admission to the Bar on such short notice. Your willingness to assist, without hesitation, made what felt long overdue, finally possible.
To Mr. Marcel S. Bobb and Ms. Charlene Fung-A-Fat โ it is truly an honour to be called to the Bar by two distinguished attorneys. Thank you both for your guidance and words of wisdom.
To anyone whose name I may have inadvertently omitted โ please know that your support has not gone unnoticed. I am grateful for each and every one of you.
And finally, to this Honourable Court, and particularly to Your Honour Madam Justice Kumar-Chetty โ I am honoured to be granted the opportunity to practise law in my homeland. I pledge to carry out my duties with dignity, respect, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
I promise to strive always to be an attorney of good reputation โ not just by name, but in action. I will work every day to uphold the values of honesty, diligence, and justice. I understand that the trust placed in me is sacred, and I intend to honour it. As I begin this new chapter, I do so not for accolades or recognition, but with a heart full of purpose โ to serve, to advocate, and to contribute to a more just society.
To every young girl or boy in Bartica or anywhere across Guyana who has a dream โ believe in it. Work hard for it. The journey may be difficult, but I assure you, it will be worth it.
Thank you, and may I always be worthy of the trust this profession demands and worthy of the robe I now wear.
If I may be of no further assistance to this Honourable Court, this concludes my response.
