Born 1887, Guyana – d. 1949, Guyana; First Indian Barrister-at-law in Guyana, First Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of Guyana; married Irene Mahadeo.
Joseph Alexander Luckhoo (1887-1949), was a lawyer who contested as a representative for South West Essequibo, to become a part of the national legislature of Guyana.
According to the Guyana Story written by Odeen Ishmael, in 1891, after a strong petition by the British Guiana Constitutional Reform Association, the colonial authorities finally abolished the College of Keizers and in the constitutional reforms which were enacted, the Court of Policy was also expanded to include six additional elected members, three of whom were to be elected, and three appointed by the Governor.
In 1916, Luckhoo was among a few prominent Indians who presented themselves as candidates for elections. He contested along with Thomas Flood, a merchant and Government contractor who was a candidate for the Court of Policy for West Demerara, his brother Edward. A. Luckhoo, Mayor of New Amsterdam, and J. A. Veersawmy, both members of the legal profession, and Ashraf Ally, a merchant, who contested for the positions as Financial Representatives.
However, only Joseph Alexander Luckhoo was successful, thus becoming the first Guyanese of East Indian descent to be elected to the national legislature, the Court of Policy in 1916.
His entire career was recorded as one that captured the heights in a colonial society, which tended to reserve the top posts for expatriates.
Despite his continuous climb in his career, he was overflowing with humility as he held even the unqualified man up to his level and was deemed a patriot who made his countrymen learn to love their native land. He successfully defended 98 of 100 persons accused of murder.
Luckhoo set the pace in achievements and many of his countrymen have followed in his footsteps. He was the son of Moses Luckhoo (1850-1909), who arrived aboard the ship Victor Emanuel in 1859 and Jamunie Elizabeth Saywack (1855-1928) who was the eldest daughter of Alexander Saywack (1831-1891), a merchant of New Amsterdam who arrived on the ship Cossipore in 1852. An alumnus of Queen’s College, he qualified as a barrister in 1912 was given silk in 1923 when he was appointed King’s Counsel. He was serving as acting Chief Justice of British Guiana at the time of his death in 1949.