On Friday 4 May, former Cabinet minister Charles Clifford was called to the Bar in front of presiding judge, Justice Alex Henderson.

Mr. Clifford served in the previous PPM Cabinet and was advocated to the Bar by Cayman’s Attorney General, Samuel Bulgin.

Clifford began his career as a police cadet, moving up the ranks to chief inspector in charge of police administration. During those 16½ years, he also served as police prosecutor in the Summary Courts for 2 years. In 1997 he moved to the position of Deputy Permanent Secretary in the tourism ministry, having by this time earned his law degree from the University of Liverpool via the Cayman Islands Law School. He satisfied the requirements of the Professional Practice Course through the Queen’s University of Belfast but his preparation as an articled clerk was interrupted when he was promoted to Permanent Secretary.

Clifford put his career in law on pause but in 2004, after more than 23 years as a public servant, he resigned and began his articles with the firm then known as Quin & Hampson (now Mourant Ozannes). But once again the road to the Bar was postponed when he ran for office and was elected as an MLA for Bodden Town.

Having played a key role in the PPM victory and with his former ministry experience, he was given a cabinet position by the then leader of the PPM, Kurt Tibbetts with responsibility for Tourism, Environment, Investment and Commerce. Following his narrow election defeat in 2009, Clifford eventually secured articles with the Judicial Administration Department.

Because of all his previous experience, Justice Henderson quipped, “Charles will be a much sought after attorney.”