Margaret McKenzie is the new Chief Magistrate. McKenzie has been in the magistracy since 1989 when she served as a summons clerk. She moved up to being assistant clerk of courts up until 1994 when she was appointed a magistrate. She holds a Bachelor's degree in law from the University of the West Indies and a certificate in legal education from the Norman Manley Law School. Today we spoke to the new Chief Magistrate and asked her what can be expected of the magistracy under her stewardship.
Margaret McKenzie, Chief Magistrate
"Really it was not a surprise. I knew that Mr. Lord was going out and I have been with the magistracy for, next month will make me seventeen years with the magistracy. When I went to law school to get myself qualified, sure it was an anticipation that someday I would be the Chief Magistrate. Anybody would have anticipated that, that one day you would want to excel. So it wasn't really a surprise for me."
Alfonso Noble,
Those who held this position before were men, as a woman does this put additional pressure upon you?
Margaret McKenzie,
"No I don't see any additional pressure. The work will not change, the work will remain the same. Pressure only comes to those who put pressure on themselves. The work won't be a pressure for me and I won't have any outside influences affected by execution of my duty. Me being a woman I find that to be more appealing, that here is a woman now in the seat of the Chief Magistrate. It is not a man's job. The Chief Magistrate post is not a man's job, it is a job whether the person is a male or a female.
I can foresee some improvements in delivering justice. I can see some improvements in delivering service to the public because we are here to serve the public and I will try my best with the help of my fellow officers in the judiciary and the auxiliary staff of the magistracy, I will try my best to deliver justice as it should be delivered."
Gabb is the first Belizean woman to hold the position of Chief Magistrate however she is not the first female. That distinction goes to Guyanese national Bridget Nurse. Former Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord has moved onto the Supreme Court.
