The Tribune

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

PROMINENT Attorney Michael Kemp collapsed and died on Thursday night on West Bay Street in what police have described as a “sudden death”.

According to reports, Mr Kemp, 60, was leaving a business establishment around 8pm when he fell and was believed to have had a heart attack. EMS personnel were called but Mr Kemp was pronounced dead on the scene.

Bahamas Bar Association President, Elsworth Johnson said Mr Kemp was a personal friend and mentor. He said despite Mr Kemp’s sudden passing, his presence is already missed.

“Unfortunately we have lost a valuable member of the Bar,” Mr Johnson told The Tribune. “He was very involved in the Bar and very unassuming. He was a lawyer’s lawyer and provided sage advice, especially on what he thought the Bar’s role was in protection of the judiciary,” Mr Johnson said.

“He had strong views on how he felt the judiciary was being treated and one of his pet peeves was how young persons and poor people were trying. He was of the view that young people should not be housed with hardened criminals because they would turn into one. He was an advocate of an independent Bar and he made his views known. He had his challenges but he was immensely intelligent. He was a personal friend and mentor and I love him. He may have just passed away but he is missed already. On behalf of the Bar Council and the Bar Association, I want to extended my sympathies.”

An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.