There are stories that can be told of the Guyanese perseverance and their legendary hospitality. And then there are Guyanese who left this country in search of better, becoming wildly successful. The story of Judge Alli Baksh “AB” Majeed, from an Anna Regina boy who battled his way to the top of the judiciary chain in Florida, US, has captured the imagination of those that know him. His story has been chronicled both locally and in the Brevard County area, Florida, where he resides. But for all his success, and there is too many of them to count, Judge Majeed has managed to keep Guyana not far away from his heart. Now the sitting judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit of Brevard Country, Florida, he has managed to command so much respect that he was voted President of the judges’ body in the entire state…no easy feat. The last of four brothers, Majeed’s parents were uneducated, forcing him to grab an opening when a high school was opened at Anna Regina, Essequibo coast. He graduated and was denied a visa to study in the US. The Essequibo boy, hungry for more, got a lucky break after a US volunteer working in the area, got his parents to sponsor Majeed. From Howard University in Washington DC, where he caught the attention of his peers for being vocal, the young Guyanese went to the Catholic University School of Law, a school that was almost 100 percent non-minority, and where he graduated with a Juris Doctor Degree. He became a felony prosecutor in Brevard County, Florida, in 1985, having practiced law in Philadelphia for several years. An ambitious Majeed dreamed of being a judge despite being told he is crazy by friends and family. Quitting his job, he lost the race but got a lucky in 1992 after a judge died. He was appointed from a field of several persons. “I submitted for elections many times after that… the word in 1992 was that I couldn’t win. The word now is that I can’t lose.” In Florida, together with his wife, Yasmin, Judge Majeed is now thanking his lucky stars for growing up in Muslim home and a Hindu community and attending a Christian school in Essequibo. His father was an excellent singer and Majeed has inherited that love in his collection of classical music. “I love ghazals…singers like Jagjit Singh and the sufi music. We celebrate Holi and Phagwah here in Florida.” As a matter of fact, Majeed’s family is playing a big role in raising the profile of Indians in Florida with a two-day annual event called India Fest. His wife, Yasmin, is the second most senior person organizing the event which see crowds of up to 20,000 persons, including from Guyanese. Judge Majeed himself has been called on by the black and Hispanic community to give motivational speech for youngsters. “They call me the bridge because they think I bridge the gap between the races.” Guyanese in Florida has looked up to the Judge for help, knocking on his doors for advice and counsel at all hours. When leaders from Guyana visit Florida, he is one person that they will surely meet. He has met with former Presidents, Dr. Cheddi and Janet Jagan, and even Khemraj Ramjattan, leader of the Alliance For Change. So too with cricketers, a game that the judge loves. Yes, his heroes like Lance Gibbs has skaken his hands. The Majeed family has been trekking to Guyana, even travelling up the Pomeroon River to assist school children in Amerindian communities. “I can never forget where I came from…the blue sakis and guava. It can be done. Nothing is impossible. Everybody told me I can never become a judge. I am not going to get old and tell my children I did not do it. I did not cross the ocean for somebody tell me I can’t do it.” Judge Majeed has also travelled to India twice and visited the River Ganges.