At 18, Begum Somyah Baksh entered public service unsure of exactly where her professional journey would take her. What she found there were people facing a myriad of issues: family disputes, domestic violence, housing difficulties and encounters with the law. Often, they didn’t know where to turn for help.
Now 24, Baksh has been admitted to practise law in Guyana, following a journey that took her from the Essequibo Coast to the University of Guyana and eventually to the Hugh Wooding Law School.
Her petition for admission to the Bar was heard and granted by Chief Justice Navindra Singh, with her application presented by Attorneys-at-Law Chandrapratesh Satram and Priya Manickchand.
For Baksh, the occasion represented the culmination of years of legal study, and marked another step in a journey rooted in service and in the community that raised her.
Growing up on the Essequibo Coast, Baksh developed an early love for words. She attended Zorg-En-Vlygt Nursery School and Fisher Primary School in Golden Fleece, where reading became one of her earliest passions. That love for learning was accompanied by strong academic performance. Baksh helped lead her primary school team to victory in the National Reading and Comprehension Competition and later placed among Region Two’s top performers at the National Grade Six Assessment. Although she earned a place at St. Stanislaus College, she chose to remain in Essequibo, attending Anna Regina Secondary School, where she completed 17 CSEC subjects, securing 13 Grade Ones and four Grade Twos.
Still, she did not immediately know what career she wanted.
The turning point came when she entered the Ministry of Education at 18. Through her work, she interacted with people from across Guyana whose challenges often extended far beyond education.
Working alongside then Minister of Education Hon. Priya Manickchand, herself an Attorney-at-Law, also allowed Baksh to see how legal knowledge could be translated into practical help for people. That experience strengthened her decision to pursue law and equipped her, she hoped, to do more than listen when someone came seeking help.
There was also a reality closer to home. Growing up in Essequibo, Baksh had seen relatives and other residents spend money and an entire day travelling to Georgetown simply to consult an attorney. She had seen people endure difficult circumstances without fully understanding the protections or options available to them. For her, becoming an attorney offered an opportunity to help make that knowledge and assistance more accessible.
Baksh subsequently pursued her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Guyana, graduating with distinction and a 3.6 GPA. She secured one of 25 places to attend the Hugh Wooding Law School and, while there, was elected President of the Guyana Jurisdictional Committee, representing the interests of Guyanese students.
Her admission to the Bar therefore brought together several parts of her life: Education, public service, mentorship, family and the community where her story began.
During the ceremony, Baksh paid tribute to the teachers, lecturers, attorneys, friends and relatives who supported her journey. She expressed particular gratitude to Minister Manickchand for her encouragement throughout her studies, and to Satram, with whom she now works, for his guidance through examinations and as she enters legal practice.
She also reserved an emotional tribute for her family, including her grandparents and aunts who travelled from Essequibo for the occasion, her siblings Begum Shafrana Baksh and Mohamed Ahmed Baksh, and especially her mother, Nanda Baksh, whose sacrifices she credited with helping her reach the milestone.
Her message also extended beyond Essequibo to young people across Guyana, particularly those who may believe that where they begin determines where they can go.
“Where you come from must never decide how far you dare to go,” Baksh said.
