Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards Dedicates U.S. Congressional Award to Family, Teachers and the People of Guyana

NEW YORK – Former Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana and current Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Hon. Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, delivered an emotional and inspiring acceptance speech after receiving a prestigious U.S. Congressional Award, dedicating the honor to the many people who helped shape her remarkable journey.

Standing before a distinguished audience of Guyanese in the diaspora, Justice Cummings-Edwards reflected on the sacrifices, perseverance and unwavering support that carried her from her hometown of Linden to the pinnacle of the Caribbean judiciary.

Quoting the celebrated poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, she reminded the audience that greatness is seldom achieved overnight.

“The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, for they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward through the night.”

The words seemed to capture her own life’s journey.

Justice Cummings-Edwards has long been regarded as one of Guyana’s most accomplished jurists. She made history in 2017 when she became the country’s first female Chancellor of the Judiciary, serving as the nation’s highest judicial officer and helping to strengthen the administration of justice during a pivotal period in Guyana’s development. Her decades of service on the Bench earned her widespread respect for her intellect, integrity and unwavering commitment to the rule of law.

Even after her distinguished service in Guyana, Justice Cummings-Edwards answered another call to public service. In 2024, she was appointed Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands, once again breaking barriers and carrying Guyana’s reputation for judicial excellence onto the regional stage.

Yet, in accepting one of the highest honors bestowed by the Guyanese diaspora, she spoke less about her own achievements and more about gratitude.

She thanked her late parents “watching from above,” her children, siblings, relatives, teachers, pastors, mentors, neighbours and friends. She paid special tribute to the educators who instilled in her both knowledge and values and to the people of Linden, whom she described as an indispensable part of her journey.

“There is a proverb that says it takes a village to raise a child,” she said. “You are the village, and I am that child.”

The statement drew warm applause and reflected a profound humility from a woman whose career has inspired generations of young Guyanese, particularly women and girls who aspire to leadership in law and public service.

Justice Cummings-Edwards also dedicated the award to everyone who “stood in the gap” for her and never gave up on her, acknowledging the prayers, encouragement and sacrifices that sustained her throughout her career. She then shared the honor with the audience, declaring that the award belonged not only to her, but to all those who contributed to her success.

In recognizing the organizers of the event, she invoked the famous words of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” praising the Guyanese diaspora for its enduring service and commitment to the homeland.

The evening served as more than an awards ceremony. It became a celebration of perseverance, education, family and community, values that have defined Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards’ extraordinary career.

Her journey from Linden to the highest courts of Guyana and now to the leadership of the judiciary in the Turks and Caicos Islands stands as a powerful reminder that excellence, integrity and determination can carry a small-town girl onto the world stage, and that no achievement is ever accomplished alone.