Judge Duncan Gaswaga takes his allegiance and judicial oaths before His Excellency James Michael, the President of the Seychelles, at State House in Victoria yesterday at the start of his new term as judge of the country's Supreme Court for a two-year term.
President James Michael welcomes his guests ahead of the ceremony at the State House in Victoria
Judge Duncan Gaswaga chats withother dignitaries at the ceremony
Mr Gaswaga took his allegiance and judicial oaths before the President at State House yesterday at the start of his new term as a judge.
Among those present at the ceremony were Vice-President Danny Faure, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Herminie, Chief justice Fredrick Egonda-Ntende, president of the Court of Appeal Francis MacGregor, former chief justice Ranjan Perera, attorney-general Ronny Govinden, secretary of state for cabinet affairs Mohamed Afif, secretary of state Barry Faure and principal secretary for information Rene Morel.
Also present was member of the Constitutional Appointments Authority Marlene Lionnet, judges of both courts and the registrar of the Supreme Court Jude Bonte.
Mrs Lionnet said Mr Gaswaga is a good judge and has been appointed for a further term because exceptional circumstances make it necessary for him to continue. There are many part-heard cases – both criminal and civil – before him that he needs to rule on, which in his absence would have to be restarted.
It was also noted that Judge Gaswaga is the head of the recently created Criminal Division of the Supreme Court and has greatly contributed to the reforms of Seychelles’ criminal justice system.
In an interview, Mr Gaswaga said by the time his contract ended he was dealing with half of all the criminal cases before the court, which he hopes to complete within the next two years.
He said he has done his best to serve the people of Seychelles by delivering justice, as he promised when he was first appointed judge in 2006.
He thanked the people of Seychelles for trusting and giving him a further term to serve them. Mr Gaswaga also thanked God for enabling him to do what he has done so far, adding that he prays daily before starting work.
Asked to comment on the claim that he is “harsh” in his rulings, he said a criminal judge “is charged with the safety of the people and their property, as well as peace in society”.
“These are not easy tasks to take on. One must be strict so as to give people the peace they want and security they need.”
He said his wife, Elizabeth, is working as a legal officer with the United Nations in Europe and could not make it to the ceremony – “much as my family would have wanted to be here”.
JAMANI NAOMBA NIFUNDISHWE KIDOGO KUHUSU HILO WIGI ALILOVAA MHESHIMIWA JAJI.NINI MAANA YAKE? NA NI LAZIMA LIWE LA BLOND NA SI RANGI NYENGINE?
ReplyDeleteCould you elaborate more..?Is he a Tanzanian citizen or a Tanzanian decent?
ReplyDeletekwa nini imekuwa ivyo ? naomba kuelimishwa kigogo hapo , nchi kuchakuwa judge mkuu wa nchi nyingine ?
ReplyDeletemdau china
Nchi inaweza kuwa na judge kutoka popote pale kwa mkataba kama Judge Gawaswa alivyo huko kwa mkataba (inategemeana na sheria)hili lilikuwa lina fanyika sana miaka ya mwanzo baada ya uhuru kwa nchi za jumuiya ya madola ...ni njia moja wapo ya kujenga uwezo na kuziba mapengo
ReplyDeleteWigi ni ...alama tu ... kuiga tu ...utamaduni wa kiingereza wa enzi hizo
Jamani huyu judge ni mtanzania kweli au alisoma tu LL.B Dar es Salaam, kumbukumbu zangu zinanionyesha kuwa ni mganda na sio mtanzania.
Duncan is Ugandan...he was my classmate at the University of Dar es Salaam. Please dont lie that he is Tanzanian, OK?
ReplyDeleteHave a good day!
Michuzi, I think this Judge is Ugandan. He was a grade one magistrate at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court in Kampala. He was also the Secretary General of the East African Magistrates and Judges Association before been appointed an expatriate magistrate to work in the Republic of Seychelles.
ReplyDeleteHe left Uganda at the level of grade one magistrate in 2002, and has worked as an expatriate in the Seychelles Judiciary as a roving magistrate and senior magistrate in charge of the Rent Board Tribunal, Juvenile Court and head of all magistrates in the country.
He was hired in 2002 as a Grade One Magistrate to reinforce the Seychelles Judiciary. In 2005, he was promoted to senior magistrate. Hardly, six months after he was elevated to a senior magistrate in Seychelles, Mr Duncan Gaswaga was appointed to the country's Supreme Court as a judge in 2006.
In the legal field, Judge Duncan Gaswaga, is well remembered in Seychelles in case involving a young Russsian woman. His Lordship, shockingly dismissed the woman’s case in a summary manner at an initial application.
The woman appealed to the Court of Appeal of Seychelles. In a landmark and historical decision in Seychelles, the Court of Appeal quashed the decision of Judge Duncan Gaswaga which had ordered the Russian to leave Seychelles. More about the case: http://www.seychellesweekly.com/August%2022,%202008/page1_front.html
Watanzania tuliohapa kisiwani Shelisheli tumeongezeka aaah
ReplyDeleteDear all,
ReplyDeleteI apologize for the typo that said Tanzania's Judge. As a matter of fact what Prochesa and others who have said he is Ugandan are correct.
Any inconveniences caused are regretted.
Yes Gaswaga is a Ugandan, studied at UDSM 1993-96 under the interuniversity council exchange programme between Makerere university and UDSM. He was a resident of Hall 3 (Holi thiri)
ReplyDelete