On the 27th February, 2025, the Bar Association of Guyana learnt of the passing of Mr. Justice (ret’d) Oslen Ainsworth Fitzgerald Small, CCH. Justice Small’s journey in the law commenced as a clerk in the notarial division of the Deeds Registry at the Supreme Court in the early 1960s. In 1962 he migrated to the United Kingdom and enrolled into Lincoln’s Inn where he was called to the Degree of an Utter Barrister in 1969.
On his return to Guyana, he entered private practise. His was to be a career in law distinguished by service at several levels of the judiciary. Having first served in the position of Magistrate on the East Coast Demerara Magisterial District for several years. Thereafter, in the late 1970’s he was promoted to the Registrar of the Supreme Court where he served in that position until 1986, when he was appointed a Judge of the High Court Judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature. Justice Small retired from the High Court bench in 1999. Justice Small through his physical stature stood head and shoulders above his colleagues on the Bench. Even with this stature, Justice Small did not dispense justice from any lofty heights. His justice was delivered with dignity and humility. On a historic note, on the 7th October, 1996 in a historic first, Justice Small presided over a bench of the Full Court with colleagues Justice Claudette Singh and Justice Nandram Kissoon, to admit 6 recent graduates of the Hugh Wooding Law School. Those graduates today are Madam Justice Jo-Ann Barlow of the Guyana High Court, Madam Justice Shona Griffith of the High Court of Barbados. The other practitioners are Ms. Roseanne Hermanstein, Mr. Teni Housty, Mr. Adrian Thompson and Mr. Samuel Legay.
After his retirement from the Bench, Justice Small continued his service in the law as Judge Advocate of the Guyana Defence force, a position he held until February, 2022. In a demonstration of the interconnected nature of life, Mr. Teni Housty commenced his service as Judge Advocate to the Guyana Defence Force in February, 2022. In addition to the Guyana Defence Force, Justice Small was appointed Chairman of the Parole Board in 2004 a position in which he served until his retirement in 2021.
In a demonstration that law provides a foundation for life in other areas, Justice Small for many years was a Pastor of Smith Memorial Congregational Church. Justice Small always had a kind and supportive word for a colleague, ensuring a balanced career of reward and service to the legal profession. His legacy in the law continues through his daughter, our colleague, Sharon Small.
He leaves to mourn his beloved wife Sheila, daughter Sharon, son Oslen Jnr, daughter-in-law Sabrita Small and grandsons Nathan and Jaeden Small.
Tomorrow, as our late colleague is laid to rest, we extend sincere condolences to his relatives and friends.
May his soul rest in peace.
