Lawyer dies addressing court

Port of Spain, Trinidad CMC – Former Deputy Chief State Solicitor general, Neil Byam, collapsed and died this morning while addressing the Court of Appeal in Trinidad. 

“We can confirm that there was a medical incident involving an attorney in court today,” the judiciary said.

Byam was before Court of Appeal judges Allan Mendonca, Prakash Moosai and Gillian Lucky, shortly before 11 a.m. (AST) when he collapsed.

Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes assisted him, but he could not be resuscitated.

Former attorney general, Faris Al-Rawi, speaking in the Parliament, confirmed Byam’s death, telling legislators he was a public servant of note.

“Mr. Neil Byam collapsed and passed away literally in the Court of Appeal today, and permit me Madam Speaker, having worked with Mr. Byam for many years in my capacity as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and years prior, to offer deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.

“Surely today, he did not wake up with the intention of departing from us that soon. May the Lord, God rest his soul in eternal peace and may the Lord have mercy on him. Dear Lord we pray for that,” Al Rawi added.

Byam retired from the public service on July 2, 2021.

In social media post, attorney Nafeesa Mohammed wrote, “I am now being informed that one of our colleagues who worked for decades as a State Counsel in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs just collapsed and returned to Allah.”

She wrote that Byam had retired as a deputy solicitor general about two years ago and was representing the Ministry of Energy this morning before the Court of Appeal when he passed.

“I worked with Neil in the early days of his career. I pray that he rests in peace,” she added.

Another attorney and opposition legislator, Jayanti Lutchmdial wrote that he felt “a sense of profound sadness” having heard the news of Neil Byam’s passing this morning whilst he was appearing before the Court of Appeal.

“I met ‘Byam’ as we all called him, when I was an in-service trainee at the Ministry in 2005. He was pleasant, quirky and really smart. In later years as we appeared on opposite sides he was always very respectful, forthright and straightforward with the court and opposing counsel, upholding the traditions of the Bar,” Lutchmdial wrote, adding, “I am very sorry for his family’s loss and I pray his soul RIP.”

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