Phillipe Walker, 27, the recipient of the Pro-Chancellor’s Medal for Best Graduating Student in the Bachelor of Laws Programme 2023/2024 said the journey has been like no other.
Walker, in a statement, said the law programme “required intense reading and many engaging discussions about interpretations.”
He said he is grateful to the University of Guyana for the hybrid learning experience that allowed for in-person and online learning. Walker is a part-time teacher and the hybrid experience allowed him the flexibility to work full time.
“At the University of Guyana, I also actively engaged in activities that would expose me to the profession. I was the Master of Moot Court Guyana, which is a student-led body that seeks to grant students of the law the opportunity to experience mock trials and gain first-hand advocacy experience. I would have coordinated a number of activities for students, and even participated in several.
“I was part of the winning team of the seventh edition of the prestigious Aubrey Bishop Mooting Competition. I also was an executive member of the University of Guyana Law Society, where I was a part of organizing several student led activities that can reacquaint the Post-Covid-19 batch of Law Students with some of the rich traditions of the department.”
Walker revealed that he is “deeply passionate about Guyana” and always aspired to be the country’s president.
“That passion has not changed. This is the reason that I seek to educate myself widely for I believe that to aspire to such an honourable position, then I myself must be a worthy candidate. I strongly believe in the product of Guyana and people of Guyana, and intend to serve my country always,” Walker stated.
Adding: “For this accomplishment, I profoundly thank Jesus, my Lord and my Saviour, who has been rock on the days when I wanted to give up. I thank my wonderfully hardworking and loving parents, both pensioners, Eon Walker and Dhurpati Sukhdeoji, whose life’s sacrifices have led me to be so academically-driven and successful, despite them both never having the same opportunities that I had. I thank my dearest friends and colleagues who always believed in me, and were there to help me interpret things, and even read back my work to see if it is logical. I thank the wonderful lecturers and administration of the University of Guyana, who have inspired me over my 8-year journey at the institution.”
He graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Social Sciences and later in 2022 with Post Graduate Diploma in Education. He was also awarded the Guyana Teachers’ Union Prize for Best Graduating Student in the Post Grad programme.
In 2022, Walker also attained a Master’s of Science in Education from the Walden University, Minnesota. He is currently pursuing his Legal Education Certificate at Hugh Wooding Law School.
“Specifically, I thank Justice Benjamin, and Dr. Kim-Kyte of the Law Department for the unwavering belief and encouragement, and also to Vice-Chancellor, XI, Professor Dr. Paloma Mohamed-Martin, an inspiring figure who is all things student-oriented. It would be remiss of me to not thank my mentor, the Honourable Minister Sonia Parag, who herself is an attorney, and whose advice and personal stories were very instrumental. Finally, to the Honourable Minister Priya Manickchand, I must express my sincerest gratitude for starting me on this journey. She made me believe in myself and told me that I should go for it and pursue my law degree,” Walker said.
He encourages prospective law students to only pursue the career if they are fully committed.
“Law is indeed a jealous mistress, and cannot be picked up on the side, or in spare time. It demands and deserves your attention, simply because of the indisputably great role that it plays in our society. After all, if the law were to collapse, so would society.
“As a student of the law, you have to learn these meticulous concepts, principles, and precedents, not because law wants to be challenging, but rather so that you can competently and effectively uphold true justice. Law is also beautiful, articulate, and filled with finesse. The hard work is worth it all in the end.
For my part, I have an affinity for international law, and family law. I look forward to serving the people of Guyana in these areas, in years to come.”
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