Abdulai Conteh
Encyclopedia
Dr Abdulai Osman Conteh is a lawyer and politician from Sierra Leone
.
where he won the Harold Porter Prize for Land Law in 1968, and subsequently continued his education at King's College, Cambridge
. He was a member of Lincoln's Inn
and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1970.
(1977–1984); Minister of Finance (1984–1985); Attorney-General and Minister of Justice (1987–1991) and First Vice-President
and Minister of Rural Development (1991–1992), as well as standing as an elected Member of Parliament in the Legislature.
In late 2007, Conteh was nominated as a candidate to become Chairperson of the African Union Commission in early 2008, but he was not successful, with Jean Ping
of Gabon
being elected.
of the Belize Supreme Court.
In 2008 and 2010, Conteh authored two decisions affirming the common law
doctrine of aboriginal title
and the existence of Maya
customary land tenure in the Toledo District
of Belize. Only the villages of Conejo and Santa Cruz were parties to the 2008 ruling; however, the 2010 ruling was the result of a representative action on behalf of all the Maya communities. The ruling voided all government leases, concessions, grants, and contracts adverse to the Maya tenure. The "landmark victory" is predicted to have "far-reaching implications" for "logging, mining, and petroleum concessions in what the Maya community claims is over 500,000 acres of ancestral homeland." The government intends to appeal the decision to the Caribbean Court of Justice
.
Conteh turned 65 on August 6, 2010, forcing him to retire since his contract was not renewed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow
. Barrow's decision not to offer Conteh a renewal was condemned by the Belize Bar Association in a resolution criticizing the "unseemly manner in which the tenure of the chief justice has been treated by the government of Belize." His retirement became a "national political issue because the Chief Justice is popular with the masses of the Belizean people, and is regarded by many as fair-minded and fearless. Several of his landmark rulings particularly on constitutional issues are considered “anti-government” and “anti-establishment,” and many were made even under the former Musa administration."
.. In 2010, he was appointed to the Court of Appeal of the Bahamas.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
.
Early life and education
Dr. Conteh graduated with LLB (Hons) from King's College LondonKing's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
where he won the Harold Porter Prize for Land Law in 1968, and subsequently continued his education at King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. He was a member of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1970.
Political career in Sierra Leone
Conteh's public service in Sierra Leone has included holding the offices of Minister of Foreign AffairsForeign Minister of Sierra Leone
Here is a list of Sierra Leone's Foreign Ministers.* John Karefa-Smart * Cyril B. Rogers-Wright * Maigore Kallon * Leslie William Leigh * Luseni A.M...
(1977–1984); Minister of Finance (1984–1985); Attorney-General and Minister of Justice (1987–1991) and First Vice-President
Vice President of Sierra Leone
The Vice President of Sierra Leone is a position in the executive branch of the Republic of Sierra Leone.-History:When Sierra Leone was declared a Republic in 1971 by then Prime Minister Siaka Stevens, the position of Vice President was created...
and Minister of Rural Development (1991–1992), as well as standing as an elected Member of Parliament in the Legislature.
In late 2007, Conteh was nominated as a candidate to become Chairperson of the African Union Commission in early 2008, but he was not successful, with Jean Ping
Jean Ping
Jean Ping is a Gabonese diplomat and politician who is currently the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union...
of Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
being elected.
Chief Justice of Belize (2000-2010)
In January 2000, Conteh became the Chief JusticeChief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Belize Supreme Court.
In 2008 and 2010, Conteh authored two decisions affirming the common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
doctrine of aboriginal title
Aboriginal title
Aboriginal title is a common law doctrine that the land rights of indigenous peoples to customary tenure persist after the assumption of sovereignty under settler colonialism...
and the existence of Maya
Maya peoples
The Maya people constitute a diverse range of the Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The overarching term "Maya" is a collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however, the term...
customary land tenure in the Toledo District
Toledo District
Toledo District is the southernmost district in Belize, and Punta Gorda the District capital. Although the least developed region in the country, it features some of the most pristine rainforests, extensive cave networks, coastal lowland plains, and offshore cays...
of Belize. Only the villages of Conejo and Santa Cruz were parties to the 2008 ruling; however, the 2010 ruling was the result of a representative action on behalf of all the Maya communities. The ruling voided all government leases, concessions, grants, and contracts adverse to the Maya tenure. The "landmark victory" is predicted to have "far-reaching implications" for "logging, mining, and petroleum concessions in what the Maya community claims is over 500,000 acres of ancestral homeland." The government intends to appeal the decision to the Caribbean Court of Justice
Caribbean Court of Justice
The Caribbean Court of Justice is the judicial institution of the Caribbean Community . Established in 2001, it is based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago....
.
Conteh turned 65 on August 6, 2010, forcing him to retire since his contract was not renewed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow
Dean Barrow
Dean Oliver Barrow is Prime Minister of Belize and leader of the United Democratic Party. An attorney by trade, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 1998 and was then Leader of the Opposition until the UDP won the February 2008 election...
. Barrow's decision not to offer Conteh a renewal was condemned by the Belize Bar Association in a resolution criticizing the "unseemly manner in which the tenure of the chief justice has been treated by the government of Belize." His retirement became a "national political issue because the Chief Justice is popular with the masses of the Belizean people, and is regarded by many as fair-minded and fearless. Several of his landmark rulings particularly on constitutional issues are considered “anti-government” and “anti-establishment,” and many were made even under the former Musa administration."
Court of Appeal of the Cayman Islands
In December 2008, Dr. Conteh was appointed as a Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Cayman IslandsCayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
.. In 2010, he was appointed to the Court of Appeal of the Bahamas.