In a move to improve the British Virgin Islands’ legal system, Governor His Excellency Daniel Pruce appointed Hakim T. Creque as the territory’s newest magistrate.
In his role, Creque will serve as the first full-time magistrate on the sister island of Virgin Gorda. The Office of the Deputy Governor confirmed the appointment on Wednesday, noting that it came into effect on Tuesday, March 5.
Magistrate Creque, a native of Virgin Gorda, will also preside over certain matters on the mainland of Tortola in addition to his role on the sister island.
The decision to appoint a magistrate specifically to Virgin Gorda has been underscored by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sharleen DaBreo-Lettsome. She emphasized the importance of this appointment in realizing the vision for an advanced court system in the territory.
“Mr Creque’s appointment to sit as magistrate on Virgin Gorda is a representation of our commitment to this advancement, and his expertise is sure to be an added benefit to the magistracy,” DaBreo-Lettsome stated.
Magistrate Creque brings a wealth of legal experience to his new role. A seasoned barrister, he completed his Bar Professional Training Course at the University of Law in 2014. Following that, he was admitted as a Barrister to the Bar of England and Wales in July 2014 by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. Subsequently, he gained admission to practice law in the Virgin Islands in December 2014.
In addition to his legal qualifications, Creque holds an Associate of Arts in Human Services from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (International Relations), both from the University of Central Florida in 2006. Furthering his legal education, he completed a Bachelor of Law from the University of Law in London and a Master of Law in Corporate and Commercial Law from Queen Mary University in 2019.
Creque’s responsibilities encompass hearing and passing rulings in all civil, criminal, and quasi-criminal matters filed in the Magistrate’s Court. He is tasked with overseeing the operations of the Court in an efficient and competent manner, ensuring the delivery of professional and fair judicial services to the public.
The Magistrate’s Court, as the lowest jurisdiction court in the British Virgin Islands, primarily handles criminal matters with summary jurisdiction, minor civil claims, and specific family law matters. Additionally, the magistrate has limited jurisdiction related to salvage and wreck cases.