While preparing the visit of the Law Lords to Mauritius, the security team whose responsibility is to ensure the safety of the judges of the Privy Council, had a serious predicament ? how would the Lords travel from their hotel to Port Louis everyday to hear cases?

So they got in touch with their contact in Mauritius and proceeded to ask whether? the Lords would be making the journey from le Maritim to the courtroom? by speedboats ! When the security service reverted back to the Lords and informed them that they would actually be traveling by plain old cars, those distinguished life peers of the UK House of Lords were slightly disappointed.

But they got over their disenchantment and are now thoroughly amused by the mix up, as Lord Hope of Craighead recounted on Tuesday at a reception held by the British High Commission. The thing is, the Lords travelled to the Bahamas last year (their very first experience of taking the Privy Council to the countries of the Commonwealth that have chosen to retain the right of appeal to the judicial committee of the Privy Council) and there, they traveled by speedboats from their hotel to the courthouse. And so when arrangements were being made for the Lords to come to Mauritius, they thought, ?island, sea? and jumped to the wrong conclusion ? that the best way to travel would be by sea !

<B>«Wonderful sense of humour»</B>

The Lords however don?t seem to be doing too badly, considering the letdown that our sea infrastructure has proved to be.

At the reception last Tuesday, they seemed overjoyed to have made the journey. ?It?s interesting to see the place and meet the people finally,? said Lord Hope of Craighead. The judges of the Privy Council have after all, been hearing Mauritian cases for such a long time without having ever set foot on the island.

But the learning and the discovery has been a two-way traffic. Most people have been very surprised to realize that the distinguished peers of the House of Lords who often make very witty remarks in their written judgments, and who hold grand names- Lord Hope of Craighead, Lord Mance, Lord Roger of Earlsferry, Lord Carswell and Sir Paul Kennedy are the fives judges who have travelled to Mauritius- look in fact? so ordinary. ?They are so easy to talk to and they have a wonderful sense of humour? commented a Mauritian barrister who admits to having been in awe of the judges before meeting them and having since completely revised his opinion of the Law Lords.

?Having said that, you need to know your stuff when you plead before them. They are so sharp they will see through any bluff very easily?, he adds.

True enough. The five Lords have been hearing one case a day every day since they have arrived. The trial lasts the whole day and throughout, they constantly interrupt counsels to ask pertinent questions or to call them to order whenever they feel counsels are being irrelevant. But through it all, they have so far displayed a very cheerful disposition, cracking jokes as they listen to arguments put forward by lawyers of both sides.

Lord Hope of Craighead expressed his joy on Tuesday that the Privy Council ?has been invited by your government to sit in Mauritius?. At the reception attended by the Prime minister, among others, Lord Hope recounted how ?some sixty years ago when India and Pakistan were leaving the family, everybody had predicted the death of the Privy Council.?

Over forty years on, the Privy Council is not only still alive and kicking, it has also decided to modernize; leaving their headquarters in London to sit in other countries, to be closer to the people of those countries and also in an attempt to bring more transparency to the process of justice making.

And in line with this new modern approach, Lord Hope insisted that the Mauritian flag be displayed behind their seats in the courtroom. ?This is to stress on the fact that we are here at your invitation and while we are here, we are sitting as the final appeal court of Mauritius and are not in any way, representing the UK.?

Modern judges, forward hinking Lords, transparent

justice and speedboats? Who would have thought? As to the question of whether this visit is a one-off or will be a regular feature, Lord Hope said, ?it is entirely up to you. If you want us to come again, we will?.

And who knows? Maybe a trip on a speedboat could be arranged next time.