Memorial to Lynette Maharaj, SC: Lawbooks donated to Hugh Wooding Law School

Lawbooks which span 50 years and which made up the library at Dalton’s Law firm, which the late Lynette Indrani Maharaj, SC, founded in 1996, have been donated to the Hugh Wooding Law School in her memory.

Her widower, former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, made the announcement at a service celebrating her life at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando, on Sunday evening.

“In honour to her commitment to the principles of the rule of law, justice for all and the rule of the legal profession, my children and I have donated Daltons law library of 5,000 books, collected over the last 50 years, to the Hugh Wooding Law School, known as the June Ready Law School.

“This law library is a collection of lawbooks which consists of law reports, legal texts and commentaries on the laws of the Commonwealth, of the US and of Canada,” he told an audience of colleagues in the legal fraternity, friends and relatives.

“I know my wife will be happy that generations of lawyers to come will continue to use these as an instrument of justice for all and those who are in need.”

Lynette Maharaj died at a hospital in London from complications associated with renal failure on December 20, 2021 at 73.

Her son Ramesh Jr said a service was held in London and her body cremated. Her ashes were returned to Trinidad for burial, but the family had to wait until covid19 restrictions were lifted to hold an in-person tribute.

She was celebrated in poetry and song from the Marionettes Chorale, and pre-recorded tributes from the judiciary, law association, employees and family. A collage of photographs from her early years to her adult life played across the big screen at SAPA, along with prayerful messages from the Christian, Muslim and Hindu faiths.

Her daughter Kavita, who planned the event, said her mother believed life was for the living and that whenever possible one should have fun, laugh and celebrate the good times. She loved music and especially the Marionettes Chorale, whose concerts she and Maharaj always supported.

A sombre Maharaj shared with the audience how her death had devastated him and their family.

“Our lives have not been the same. It has been the most difficult thing my family and I have had to face,” said Maharaj, who was once imprisoned for contempt of court.

“My wife believed deeply that her purpose in this life was to help as many people as she could as she passed through life on her way to God.

“She was a loving and dutiful daughter and sister, that rare kind of wife, extraordinary wife, who stood by me in the good times and in the bad times, a loving mother to her children, a loyal friend to all of her friends and her staff, and in her practice of law a passionate advocate for those who were oppressed and who struggled to get justice.”

Her daughter Sushma spoke of a mother who inspired values by living the example of helping others incapable of fighting for themselves to protect their legal rights.

She said colleagues have told the family she will be remembered for the indelible mark she made on the legal landscape and that her contributions would be spoken about for generations.