OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles praised outgoing Chief Justice Ivor Archie for helping transform operations of the Judiciary, in her immediate reaction to his announcing his retirement during his speech for the 2025/2026 ceremonial opening of the new law term at the Hall of Justice, Port of Spain on September 16.

Beckles hailed Archie as transformative and consultative.

"He has brought some clarity to those who had some concerns; that he is going to retire as distinct from resign." She said Archie had given a good analysis of his roughly 17 years on the bench, plus a good update on what was happening in the Judiciary regarding the backlog of court cases.