The decision to make Bermuda's former top judge a "Sir" has come years too late, it was claimed last night.

Former Minister Quinton Edness spoke out after last week's announcement that ex Chief Justice, Austin Ward QC, had been knighted.

Mr. Edness said he was pleased the honour had been bestowed on the former legal chief, currently serving on the Court of Appeal bench. Sir Austin, now 70, was Bermuda Chief Justice from 1983 until 2004.

But Mr. Edness said the Royal seal of approval was long overdue.

"There are a good number of people in the community who are happy that Sir Austin has finally been given a knighthood,"said the former United Bermuda Party minister. "But they are sorry that it took so long."

The elder statesman said he felt that the post of Chief Justice should almost carry an automatic knighthood "unless there's a good reason".

He said this was the situation for similar senior legal posts in the UK.

And he said that the current Chief Justice, Richard Ground QC, already an OBE, should be awarded a knighthood as soon as possible.

"The post of Chief Justice should carry with it the full dignity of a knighthood," added Mr Edness.

"The post almost demands that the person should be elevated to that status. It's the practice in the UK and other Commonwealth countries."

Former Progressive Labour Party MP Julian Hall yesterday echoed many of those comments.

He said Sir Austin's honour was well deserved but "long overdue". Mr. Hall said he assumed the former Chief Justice had been offered a knighthood years ago and had "quietly declined".

He added: "As far as I'm concerned the holder of the post of Chief Justice of Bermuda should automatically be extended a knighthood. It honours not just the individual, but the the position and the territory.

"In the UK, every High Court Judge gets at least a knighthood when they are appointed."

Born in Barbados, but now with Bermudian citizenship, Sir Austin arrived on the Island in 1969. He was appointed a Magistrate in 1972 and worked his way up the legal ladder before becoming Chief Justice in 1983.

Commenting on his award, he said it was an honour, but added: "It was not a complete surprise as the Chief Justices who have served any length of time for the past hundred years have been bestowed the KBE."