To honour the commemoration of the life of Mr. Ramon Douglas Alberga, OBE, KC, all Cayman Islands flags will be flown at half-mast on Friday, 8 March.

Affectionately known as the Doyen and Father of the Cayman Islands Bar, Mr. Alberga practiced law for over 70 years and made significant contributions to the development of the jurisprudence in the local jurisdiction. Additionally, he established and contributed to the development of the Cayman Islands Law Reports (CILR) where he was a consulting editor until the age of 92.

Mr. Alberga passed away on 23 January 2024 at the age of 95. A private memorial service is being held in his honour on Saturday 9 March at the First Baptist Church.

Statement of the Judiciary on the Passing of Mr. Ramon Alberga K.C.

The Judiciary is saddened to note the passing of Mr. Ramon Alberga OBE KC on Tuesday 23rd
January 2024. Mr. Alberga was known as the Doyen and Father of the Cayman Islands Bar and
rightly so in recognition of his esteemed legal career. This spanned close to seventy years in
Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

His contribution to the development of the jurisprudence in this jurisdiction cannot be overstated
and is duly deserving of the special place of honor which he held each year at the ceremony to
mark the opening of the legal year.

He was called to the English Bar in Middle Temple in February 1951 and thereafter to the Jamaican
Bar. He was first instructed to appear in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands by William Walker
in 1964. Following his move to the Cayman Islands with his family in 1976, he appeared more
frequently before these Courts. His pre-eminence as an advocate and his thorough research skills
were consistently displayed.

In the early 1980’s while he was president of the Cayman Islands Law Society, he recognised the
absence of ready access to the judgments of the Cayman Courts and together with others he played
a leading role in the establishment of the Cayman Islands Law Reports. The first volume of the
Reports was published in 1987. Many of the judgments dating back to 1952 and before, which
appeared in the early volumes of the Reports, came from Mr. Alberga’s own extensive private
collection. From the 1980’s through to December 2020, he served faithfully for more than forty
years as consulting editor of the Law Reports. To this he brought his considerable legal experience,
eye for detail and dedicated energy. This is work which has been of much benefit to the Courts and
the legal and wider community here and in other jurisdictions.

In 2011 at the opening of the Grand Court, on the 60th anniversary of Mr. Alberga’s call to the Bar,
in recognition of his years of dedicated service, his portrait was mounted in the foyer of the Court.
He was the first attorney and only non-judge to be afforded this honor. This is reflective of the
level of respect and the regard in which he is held. It was and will always be said of him that he
fulfilled his duty as an officer of the Court in every sense of the word.

Mr. Alberga will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Sincere condolences are extended by the
Hon. Chief Justice and the entire Judiciary to his family and friends.

Margaret Ramsey-Hale
Chief Justice
24th January 2024

Attorney General Hon. Samuel Bulgin on the Passing of Mr. Ramon Alberga, KC, OBE

It is with profound sadness that I received the news of the passing of the doyen of the Cayman Islands legal profession, Mr. Ramon Alberga, King’s Counsel, Order of the British Empire.

Ramon Alberga was a deeply revered senior member of the Cayman Bar, which he joined many decades ago from his native Jamaica where he also distinguished himself at that Bar.

As an advocate he was fierce but fair, passionate and scholarly. He has appeared in numerous landmark cases in Cayman and helped to establish the Cayman Islands as a jurisdiction of legal excellence.

His presence will be missed but his legacy will endure in our hearts.

I offer my condolences to his family as they try to come to terms with the void created by his passing.
May his soul rest in peace.