Meet Melinda

Meet Melinda

Meet Melinda
4000

Meet Melinda

Victory!

Meet Melinda

Our Highest Court, the Caribbean Court of Justice, says that Hess and CNOOC are non-operators and, therefore, cannot carry out activities under their petroleum production licence. The court also says that Hess and CNOOC are jointly and severally liable for compliance with the petroleum production licences and Exxon's environmental permit. Greater protection for public interest litigants against adverse costs awards and greater access to information. Exxon has duties of transparency and accountability to the public. Exxon has to obey international law. The court cited Article 36 of the Constitution, drafted by Melinda, and the Escazu agreement, which Melinda worked on in the early days. Nevertheless, the Court ruled against us in the main claim.

Victory!
2024

Victory!

Our Highest Court, the Caribbean Court of Justice, says that Hess and CNOOC are non-operators and, therefore, cannot carry out activities under their petroleum production licence. The court also says that Hess and CNOOC are jointly and severally liable for compliance with the petroleum production licences and Exxon's environmental permit. Greater protection for public interest litigants against adverse costs awards and greater access to information. Exxon has duties of transparency and accountability to the public. Exxon has to obey international law. The court cited Article 36 of the Constitution, drafted by Melinda, and the Escazu agreement, which Melinda worked on in the early days. Nevertheless, the Court ruled against us in the main claim.

Victory!

Meet Melinda

The High Court ruled that the Petroleum Activities Act does not mandate the State or oil companies to join judicial review cases. The High Court set aside an award of costs against public interest litigants.

Victory!
2024

Victory!

The High Court ruled that the Petroleum Activities Act does not mandate the State or oil companies to join judicial review cases. The High Court set aside an award of costs against public interest litigants.

Winner: Rule of Law Award

Meet Melinda

Recipient of the 6th Commonwealth Law Conference Rule of Law Award, awarded by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association in conjunction with LexisNexis.

Winner: Rule of Law Award
2023

Winner: Rule of Law Award

Recipient of the 6th Commonwealth Law Conference Rule of Law Award, awarded by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association in conjunction with LexisNexis.

Victory!

Meet Melinda

October court rules that Exxon Guyana’s environmental permit was unlawfully granted by the. Court also says the litigants are public benefactors and dismisses Attorney-General’s allegation that they are obstructionist.

Victory!
2023

Victory!

October court rules that Exxon Guyana’s environmental permit was unlawfully granted by the. Court also says the litigants are public benefactors and dismisses Attorney-General’s allegation that they are obstructionist.

Victory! Unlimited Liability for ExxonMobil

Meet Melinda

Court orders Esso to produce an unlimited parent company guarantee/indemnity from ExxonMobil in favour of Guyana for ALL costs of cleanup and compensation for environmental harm.

Victory! Unlimited Liability for ExxonMobil
2023

Victory! Unlimited Liability for ExxonMobil

Court orders Esso to produce an unlimited parent company guarantee/indemnity from ExxonMobil in favour of Guyana for ALL costs of cleanup and compensation for environmental harm.

Esso’s operations and EPA’s actions unlawful

Meet Melinda

Court declares Esso in breach of its environmental permit and EPA to be in breach of its statutory duties, putting Guyana and its people in grave danger of calamitous risk.

Esso’s operations and EPA’s actions unlawful
2023

Esso’s operations and EPA’s actions unlawful

Court declares Esso in breach of its environmental permit and EPA to be in breach of its statutory duties, putting Guyana and its people in grave danger of calamitous risk.

Liberal rules on standing

Meet Melinda

Court establishes liberal rules allowing Guyanese citizens to challenge public wrongs by public authorities through judicial review.

Liberal rules on standing
2023

Liberal rules on standing

Court establishes liberal rules allowing Guyanese citizens to challenge public wrongs by public authorities through judicial review.

Impermissible conduct

Meet Melinda

 Filed a case challenging the renewal of Esso’s environmental permit without an EIA.

Impermissible conduct
2022

Impermissible conduct

 Filed a case challenging the renewal of Esso’s environmental permit without an EIA.

Stop Flaring

Meet Melinda

Filed a case to stop Esso from flaring.

Stop Flaring
2022

Stop Flaring

Filed a case to stop Esso from flaring.

Lawyers are Responsible

Meet Melinda

Co-founded LAR which refuses to act for fossil fuel companies or to prosecute climate defenders.

Lawyers are Responsible
2022

Lawyers are Responsible

Co-founded LAR which refuses to act for fossil fuel companies or to prosecute climate defenders.

World's biggest climate change case

Meet Melinda

Leading the legal team challenging Guyana’s oil and gas development. We say that greenhouse gas pollution from oil production harms the ocean and the climate thus violating the constitutional rights of Guyanese citizens to a healthy environment.

World's biggest climate change case
2021

World's biggest climate change case

Leading the legal team challenging Guyana’s oil and gas development. We say that greenhouse gas pollution from oil production harms the ocean and the climate thus violating the constitutional rights of Guyanese citizens to a healthy environment.

Years not Decades

Meet Melinda

Reduced environmental permits for oil exploration down from 23 years to five years, drastically reducing the time that ExxonMobil Guyana can legally drill for.

Years not Decades
2020

Years not Decades

Reduced environmental permits for oil exploration down from 23 years to five years, drastically reducing the time that ExxonMobil Guyana can legally drill for.

Women and girls

Meet Melinda

Successfully lobbied UNCEDAW on the dangers of oil/gas, leading to a recommendation for the Guyana government to review the impact of its oil/gas policies on women.

Women and girls
2019

Women and girls

Successfully lobbied UNCEDAW on the dangers of oil/gas, leading to a recommendation for the Guyana government to review the impact of its oil/gas policies on women.

UN High Level Expert Panel on the Death Penalty

Meet Melinda

Joined Their Excellencies Coly Seck, Michelle Bachelet, Didier Reynders, and Pradeep Kumar Gyawali in Geneva to oppose the Death Penalty. 

UN High Level Expert Panel on the Death Penalty
2019

UN High Level Expert Panel on the Death Penalty

Joined Their Excellencies Coly Seck, Michelle Bachelet, Didier Reynders, and Pradeep Kumar Gyawali in Geneva to oppose the Death Penalty. 

Gaskin Case

Meet Melinda

Filed the Gaskin case – the first case to challenge  ExxonMobil Guyana's oil drilling.

Gaskin Case
2018

Gaskin Case

Filed the Gaskin case – the first case to challenge  ExxonMobil Guyana's oil drilling.

Human Rights for All

Meet Melinda

Lobbying for LGBTI rights in Guyana

Human Rights for All
2017

Human Rights for All

Lobbying for LGBTI rights in Guyana

Replace the Death Penalty

Meet Melinda

Submitted a memorandum to President David Granger to end the death penalty. Signatories include Sir Sydney Kentridge KC, Sir Keir Starmer KC, the RT. Hon. Sir Stephen Sedley KC.

Delivered opening keynote speech on the Death Penalty and its connection to Slavery at Queen Mary, London University/Justice Institute Guyana Conference at Doughty St. Chambers, along with Sir Denis Byron

Replace the Death Penalty
2016

Replace the Death Penalty

Submitted a memorandum to President David Granger to end the death penalty. Signatories include Sir Sydney Kentridge KC, Sir Keir Starmer KC, the RT. Hon. Sir Stephen Sedley KC.

Delivered opening keynote speech on the Death Penalty and its connection to Slavery at Queen Mary, London University/Justice Institute Guyana Conference at Doughty St. Chambers, along with Sir Denis Byron

Victory! Land ownership where it belongs

Meet Melinda

Forced the Guyana government to demarcate Wapichan land at Sawariwau jointly with the Wapichan people.

Victory! Land ownership where it belongs
2013

Victory! Land ownership where it belongs

Forced the Guyana government to demarcate Wapichan land at Sawariwau jointly with the Wapichan people.

Success: Protected Areas Act

Meet Melinda

Drafted an entire new law and introduced the concept of ecological integrity and principles of ecologically sustainable development into national law.

Success: Protected Areas Act
2011

Success: Protected Areas Act

Drafted an entire new law and introduced the concept of ecological integrity and principles of ecologically sustainable development into national law.

Legal right to self-determination under international law

Meet Melinda

Transformed the West Papua struggle from illegal secession to legal right to self-determination under international law. The legal argument can be found here.

Legal right to self-determination under international law
2010

Legal right to self-determination under international law

Transformed the West Papua struggle from illegal secession to legal right to self-determination under international law. The legal argument can be found here.

Co-founded the ILWP

Meet Melinda

Co-founded the International Lawyers for West Papua with Benny Wenda.

Co-founded the ILWP
2009

Co-founded the ILWP

Co-founded the International Lawyers for West Papua with Benny Wenda.

Established Justice Institute Guyana Inc.

Meet Melinda

Established Justice Institute Guyana Inc.
2008

Established Justice Institute Guyana Inc.

Preserved 2,300 square miles of Amazonian Forest

Meet Melinda

Enabled Guyana’s WaiWai people to create a WaiWai owned and managed protected area. Their story is told here

Preserved 2,300 square miles of Amazonian Forest
2007

Preserved 2,300 square miles of Amazonian Forest

Enabled Guyana’s WaiWai people to create a WaiWai owned and managed protected area. Their story is told here

Amerindian Act

Meet Melinda

Drafted an entirely new law to recognise and protect indigenous and non-indigenous Amerindian land ownership, collective rights and control of minerals.

Amerindian Act
2006

Amerindian Act

Drafted an entirely new law to recognise and protect indigenous and non-indigenous Amerindian land ownership, collective rights and control of minerals.

Right to a healthy environment

Meet Melinda

Successfully persuaded the Guyana government to include the right to a healthy environment as a fundamental constitutional right.

Right to a healthy environment
2003

Right to a healthy environment

Successfully persuaded the Guyana government to include the right to a healthy environment as a fundamental constitutional right.

National wellbeing

Meet Melinda

Drafted the Constitutional principle that national wellbeing depends on preserving clean air, fertile soils, pure water and the rich diversity of plants, animals and ecosystems

National wellbeing
2003

National wellbeing

Drafted the Constitutional principle that national wellbeing depends on preserving clean air, fertile soils, pure water and the rich diversity of plants, animals and ecosystems

Environmental Protection Act

Meet Melinda

Introduced environmental impact assessments into national law, including impacts on atmosphere, climate and oceans; introduced the concept of natural capital into national law.

Environmental Protection Act
1996

Environmental Protection Act

Introduced environmental impact assessments into national law, including impacts on atmosphere, climate and oceans; introduced the concept of natural capital into national law.