George Singh

George Bawa Singh (died 9 March 1999) was a Belizean judge, who served briefly as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Career

Singh entered public service in 1955, but later changed course to pursue a legal career, and went back to school. He held the posts of Solicitor General and Director of Public Prosecutions, and later played a significant role in the establishment of the Family Court, on which he also served as its first judge. In 1991 he was named a Justice of the Supreme Court. He was sworn in as Chief Justice on 2 February 1998, along with Supreme Court Puisne Justices Manuel Sosa and John Rivero. He took up the CJ position at a busy time, when there were plans to add two temporary justices from Australia to help with processing the sizeable number of civil cases before the court. However, with Singh's failing health in mind, just a few months later PM Manuel Esquivel transferred him to a less demanding position as a judge of the Court of Appeal and named Manuel Sosa in his place as CJ, in a controversial move right before the Belizean general election, 1998. He died of illness the following year.

Personal life

Singh is the son of a Sikh immigrant from India, but was raised Christian. Singh graduated from the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica in 1978. He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters, and five grandchildren. Among his sons is former Minister of Police Douglas Singh., and current CEO of Trade and Investments for Belize, Michael Singh