Payal Ghanwani Explained

Payal Ghanwani is a Belizean attorney who served as a Senator from 10 March 2020 to 11 December 2020. She is the first Indo-Belizean Senator.

Education

Ghanwani grew up in Corozal District, Belize. She graduated from the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill^[1] with an LL.B in 2014.^[2] She then earned her Legal Education Certificate at the Norman Manley Law School, where she was recognised as the Most Outstanding Student Over Two Years (2014–2016).^[3] She was called to the bar in Belize in 2016.^[4]

Career

Ghanwani is a partner at the firm Estevan Perera & Company LLP.^[5] She had previously worked as an attorney-at-law for Glenn D. Godfrey & Co. LLP and as an intern at M. H. Chebat & Co. She is also the membership director for the Rotary Club of Belize Sunrise, which is based in Belize City.^[6]

Ghanwani has worked in several areas, including civil litigation and estate issues.^{[7] [8]} Notably, she served as the main attorney for United Democratic Party (UDP) politician Mark King in his 2018 libel suit against activist Moses Sulph. Sulph had made a post on Facebook alleging that employees in King's business were not paid overtime pay and mandated benefits; he made a second post repeating the allegations after King asked him to retract. In court, Sulph's witnesses could not corroborate the posts, and he had no other evidence. In January 2019, the judge ruled that Sulph based his posts on hearsay, and awarded King BZ$40,000 in damages. This case set a precedent for online defamation cases in Belize.^{[9] [10]}

In 2020, the incumbent UDP appointed Ghanwani as one of their six Senators upon the resignation of UDP Senator Steven Duncan.^[11] While Ghanwani was not known within the party, she was viewed favorably as a "new face". She also became the first Indo-Belizean to serve in the Senate.^[12] Ghanwani was sworn in on 10 March 2020.^[13] After the 2020 general election, the UDP became the opposition party. As their Senate allotment was now only three seats, Ghanwani was not reappointed for the new legislative session that began on 11 December 2020.^[14]

External links

• Interview with Kenrick Mark Coleman

Notes and References

1. Web site: Borges. Naim. 2020-02-19. PM makes changes to Cabinet. 2021-02-17. LOVE FM (Belize). en-US.
2. Web site: About Us. 2021-02-17. Belize Law Firms – Estevan Perera.
3. Web site: Belize News Daily, 9/21/2016 to 9/30/2016, Ambergris Caye. 2021-02-17. ambergriscaye.com.
4. Web site: Members Directory. 2021-02-17. Bar Association of Belize. en-US.
5. Web site: 2020-07-17. New Chairman Sworn-in for the Elections and Boundaries Commission. 2021-02-17. Government of Belize Press Office. en-US.
6. Web site: Contact us. 2021-02-17. Rotary Club of Belize Sunrise. en-US.
7. Web site: 2019 Annual Conference Programme. Bar Association of Belize.
8. Web site: Court of Appeal of Belize – Third 2020 Session. Judiciary of Belize.
9. Web site: Ical. Dalila. 2019-01-19. SMH! Attorney Says Fassbook Posts Can Cost You :(. 2021-04-06. LOVE FM (Belize). en-US.
10. Web site: 2019-01-17. Activist Moses Sulph Successfully Sued Over FB Comments. 2021-04-06. Great Belize Television. en-US.
11. Web site: 2020-02-22. Attorney Payal Ghanwani appointed new UDP Senator. 2021-02-17. Amandala Newspaper. en-US.
12. Web site: 2020-02-18. New Face For The Senate. 2021-02-17. Tropical Vision Limited.
13. Web site: 2020-03-10. Sitting of the Senate 10.3.20. 2021-02-17. National Assembly of Belize. en-US.
14. Web site: 2020-12-11. Senate goes first in the inaugural session of 13th National Assembly. 2021-02-17. Breaking Belize News. en-US.