Bermuda College Inducted Justice Larry Mussenden & Peter Hardy into the company of Honorary Fellows

Mr. Justice Larry Mussenden

Mr Justice Larry Mussenden began his formative education at Prospect Primary School and Warwick Academy. It was at the latter institution that he discovered his love for debating and decided he wanted to become a lawyer, practicing in the Courts.

What followed, however, was a varied academic journey and professional career. His interest in information technology (IT) caused him to enrol in the two-year diploma programme for Data Processing at Bermuda College. At the same time, he became a police cadet and a couple of years later, in 1982, shared the distinction of being one of two full-time cadets of the Bermuda Police Service to graduate from Bermuda College.

His college credits transferred successfully to Acadia University in Canada, and three years later, Justice Mussenden graduated with an undergraduate degree in Business Computer Science. He returned to the Island and worked in the IT industry for four years. During that time, he also enrolled in Webster University at the U.S. Naval Base, and graduated in 1990 with a Master of Arts degree in Business.

Between 1986 and 2003, Justice Mussenden served in the Bermuda Regiment, retiring as a Major, having achieved the appointment of Second-in-Command. He attended training and leadership courses in various countries, including England, Canada, the U.S. and Jamaica, and also served as the Aide de Camp to two Governors of Bermuda, Sir Desmond Langley, and Lord Waddington.

In 1992, Justice Mussenden attended Kent University and the Inns of Court School, Bar School in London, working in the Attorney Genera’s Office and in private practice upon his return. He then embarked on a political career, serving as Attorney General and the Minister of Justice, providing advice to Government ministries, and overseeing all government litigation. In this capacity, Justice Mussenden also introduced a raft of transformative modernisations to the justice system. His work in private practice culminated with the formation of his own law firm, Mussenden Subair, with his long-time friend and professional colleague, M.s Justice Shade Subair Williams.

In 2016, he became the Director of Public Prosecutions, leading the department in the prosecution of all criminal matters in Bermuda. One of his most important decisions was to cease prosecuting persons for simple possession of cannabis, recognising that convictions for such offences negatively impacted employment and overseas studies opportunities.

In 2020, Justice Mussenden was appointed by the Governor as a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, serving as a commercial and civil court arbiter of cases involving disputes between companies, individuals, and between the Government and other parties. He takes to heart his responsibility to resolve disputes in a timely manner, and without fear or favour.

Justice Mussenden is also well known for his equally active athletic achievements. He has voluntarily served as president of the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) for over twelve years, leading efforts to secure a home for the Association in Prospect. He has been appointed to various international football committees in the Caribbean, on the CONCACAF regional body and in FIFA, serving the latter as its chairman of the FIFA Appeals Committee, and its tournaments, inclusive of the World Cups, for 10 years.

His spare time is spent running, keeping fit, gardening and most recently, learning Swahili.

Justice Mussenden is a proud product of public school education in Bermuda, and of Bermuda College, and acknowledges the valuable assistance, guidance and advice of family, friends and other colleagues for his success.

He counts it a tremendous honour to be inducted into the Company of Honorary Fellows

Mr. Peter Hardy, OBE

Peter Hardy was born in Exeter, Devon in England and moved to Bermuda twenty-three years later. He had enjoyed a very successful academic journey, at that point, during which he was able to earn his undergraduate degree with honours from Durham University, and a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto in Canada, where he also taught.

In Bermuda, Mr. Hardy taught geography at The Berkeley Institute for three years before embarking on an illustrious career in the civil service. He was Bermuda’s first Registrar of Companies (1970), responsible for implementing Bermuda’s first company Incorporation by Registration procedure, and creating and implementing Bermuda’s first company register. He also established Bermuda’s 60/40 corporate ownership rules, and compiled early data on local and international company business for the Ministry of Finance.

As Bermuda’s first Commissioner of Employment Tax and Tax Commissioner (1973), he established Bermuda’s first tax on remuneration from employment and self-employment. By 1989, Mr. Hardy had become Assistant Financial Secretary, and was Bermuda’s first representative to the inaugural and subsequent meetings of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that examined money laundering issues. At the same time, he developed and managed the Island’s procedures for addressing requests for information under the U.S. Tax Information Exchange Treat between the two countries.

As Bermuda’s Financial Secretary (1994), Mr. Hardy achieved more ‘firsts’ for the Island. He introduced its first anti-money laundering compliance regime, and was the first Chair of the National Anti-Money Laundering Committee. Further, he commissioned two reviews of Bermuda’s tax and revenue structure; initiated a Risk Management review of the Bermuda Government; and formulated the first National Occupational Pension Plan, in prescient recognition of the future needs of an aging population. This was subsequently implemented in 2000, as a defined contribution plan.

Upon his retirement from the civil service in 2000, Mr. Hardy worked as Group Corporate Secretary for the Gibbons Group for 12 years, and as Group Corporate Secretary for the former Colonial Insurance Group (now CG) for a further three years.

He has served on the Board of the Bermuda Monetary Authority; is a founding member of the Association of Compliance Officers; served as Secretary to the Board of the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts and its associated Trust; and was one of the six Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commissioners appointed in 2013.

Mr. Hardly loves to sing and is a committed member of the Wesley Methodist Church, serving in various capacities, the Bermuda Philharmonic Choir, and is a founding member of the four-part harmony group, The Ambassadors.

In 2002, he accepted the appointment of an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II.