 CITATION: Justice Ralph Narine, Degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD)
Chancellor, Ralph Narine’s small frame, his natural athleticism, his assured manner with horses and the humble means of his family, together conspired to make him a race horse jockey. That he pursued a career in Law instead was perhaps on account of his sharp mind, the encouragement of a learned neighbour and the faith and vision of his parents.
Justice Ralph Narine was born in San Fernando in 1922 and attended the Coffee E.C. School. At a time when secondary school places were not free, he seemed destined for fame on a race track before his parents made the considerable sacrifice to send him to Naparima College where his passion for sport would begin to take shape and the route to and from home would stimulate his cultural interests.
He played cricket and volleyball – sports he would later play at first class club level. On the way home he would stop by the house of talented musician S.M. Aziz. Here he would learn to play the mandolin and violin. He joined the civil service as a Magistrate’s Clerk in 1941 and served in that capacity until 1947. During this time he was an avid cricketer for the Victoria Cricket Club and a skilled volleyball player for the Spitfire team. He lent his musical talents to the S.M. Aziz Orchestra and later on was a pioneering member of the National Council of Indian Music and Drama – the precursor to the National Council of Indian Culture.
His demonstrated acumen for legal matters and obvious intellectual capacity would lead to suggestions that he consider studying law externally so as to become a better Law Clerk. He would do much more. In 1947 he travelled to London, England to study Law, graduating in 1952 as a Barrister. Of course his stay in England would be punctuated by club cricket and a chance to play against a touring Indian Cricket Team in 1952. He returned to Trinidad that same year and was admitted to practise civil and criminal law.
Within five years he would give up criminal law to focus on civil law. In 1960 he was appointed Chair of the Rent Restriction Board and later Chair of the Agricultural Small Holdings Rent Board.
His dedicated performance in these capacities would lead to an invitation to join the bench in 1968 as a Puisne Judge.
 In 1973 he was appointed Chairman of a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the administration of all major sporting activities in Trinidad and Tobago, ironically enough with cricket and horse racing being the only notable exclusions. This Herculean undertaking would require three years to complete and be guided by the then gold standard in sport administration exemplified by West Germany.
In 1984 he was appointed to the Court of Appeal until his retirement in 1987. His contributions to that point were recognised nationally with the award of the Chaconia Medal (Gold) in 1988.
Justice Narine served as a member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee of the St. Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies in 1991 and in 1992 as a Member of the St. Augustine Campus Council. For many years he would continue to provide legal advice to the management team of the St. Augustine Campus without fanfare or invoices.
In 1996 he chaired the Commission of Inquiry into the operations of Justices of the Peace. Two years later he chaired a committee appointed to investigate and recommend changes to the Marine Division of the Port Authority.
From 2004-2006 he was a member of the Integrity Commission.
His yet-to-be-penned memoirs, already titled, “From the Saddle to the Bench,” will tell of a journey filled with inspiring moments, determination and selfless dedication - a journey that is still going strong.
Chancellor, for dedicated service to the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago and to the University of The West Indies, I present Justice Ralph Narine, and ask that by the authority vested in you by the Council and Senate of The University of the West Indies, you confer on him the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
St Augustine
October 2015
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