Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Wednesday hailed the growing recognition by the international community of Trinidad and Tobago's contribution to international law.
The Prime Minister's comments came on the heels of the election on Monday of Justice Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona S.C. as a judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The elections took place during the Tenth Session of the Assembly of States Parties which is being convened at United Nations Headquarters, New York, from 12 to 21 December, 2011.
Justice Carmona was elected during the first round of balloting from among 18 candidates nominated by States Parties from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Western Europe among others.
Justice Carmona was elected during the first round of balloting from among 18 candidates nominated by States Parties from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Western Europe among others.
States Parties are seeking to elect six judges to fill vacancies which will arise in the 18 member court in 2012. Other judges elected so far are from the Philippines, and were also elected in the first round of voting, with the nominee of the Czech Republic who was elected on Tuesday, 13 December 2011.
The Prime Minister indicated that Justice Carmona, due to his many years as a prosecutor in the local courts, his work as Appeals Counsel at the international Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), along with his experience at the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago, would make him an invaluable asset to the ICC at this critical stage in its life.
The Prime Minister indicated that Justice Carmona, due to his many years as a prosecutor in the local courts, his work as Appeals Counsel at the international Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), along with his experience at the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago, would make him an invaluable asset to the ICC at this critical stage in its life.
She cited the number of cases now before the ICC as requiring judges of a very high calibre and was proud that in less than ten years Trinidad and Tobago had been privileged to have two of its nationals elected as judges of an institution to which this country has played an instrumental role in establishing through the efforts of former President Robinson.
Persad-Bissessar also acknowledged that the standard of the judicial system in Trinidad and Tobago is of a high quality because it was the second time for the year the country had witnessed the election of one of its judges to an international tribunal.
Persad-Bissessar also acknowledged that the standard of the judicial system in Trinidad and Tobago is of a high quality because it was the second time for the year the country had witnessed the election of one of its judges to an international tribunal.
She reminded the national community that only last June, Justice Anthony Amos Lucky was re-elected as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to serve a term of nine years.
The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to commend Ambassador Rodney Charles, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, New York, and members of his staff, as well as officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications for their outstanding work towards the success of the candidatures.
The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to commend Ambassador Rodney Charles, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, New York, and members of his staff, as well as officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications for their outstanding work towards the success of the candidatures.
She said these feats are in keeping with the vision of her government to enhance Trinidad and Tobago's profile in regional, global and hemispheric bodies.
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