He died at sea, and today the legal community paid its respects to Magistrate Richard Swift. The Chief Justice's chambers at the Supreme Court was full to overflowing this morning as judges, magistrates, attorneys at law and officers of the court crowded in to remember Richard Swift. It was a solemn and respectful ceremony and according to Attorney Audrey Matura, who had assisted Swift in his studies, this is the respect that Swift had earned.
Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Attorney
"And so here is a man who in life achieved one of the greatest things he wanted to do - that is become an attorney at law. He just fell short by a little little step in that he really wanted that ceremonial welcome to the Bar. So I guess this replaced it because he had all of us here today and we came here to pay tribute to his achievement as an attorney at law."
Jules Vasquez,
How much is a loss is this, viewing him as a public resource. How much of a loss is this?
Audrey Matura-Shepherd,
"It is a great loss because not only did tax payers money put him there and pay for his studies but they could never pay for what he had in terms
of experience and knowledge. Remember he joined the public service from in the early 70s and he also had wealth of experience in vat because he was one of the supervisors in VAT. He had worked in the Income Tax Department before and he also had experience as a revenue magistrate. So that in that area which was a specialized area, he was one of the few who actually knew that area. So here now he was coming with a degree and his certificate saying, 'look that I also understand the law at a different level and I could use that learning of the law and apply to my knowledge of our revenue laws here.'"
Swift would have been called to the bar in November. And while there is no reprieve from the grief, for Swift's family and friends there is at least some sort of closure.
