PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC—Jamaican jurist Dr Chantal Ononaiwu has been appointed a new judge at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). She is expected to be sworn in in October.
The appointment was confirmed by the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC), the independent body responsible for recruiting staff and judges for the CCJ. He fills the vacancy created by Justice Jacob Wit’s untimely retirement on December 31, 2023. Wit died on January 16 this year.
“The RJLSC prides itself on a competitive recruitment process, premised on merit and experience, and fiercely independent. Each appointment reflects our unwavering commitment to selecting individuals of the highest caliber, based solely on their expertise, integrity, and dedication to justice,” said CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders.
“During recruitment, we received applications from The Bahamas, Great Britain, Canada, Nigeria, Dominica, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Of the applications received, four candidates, three females, and one male were shortlisted for further consideration and subsequently interviewed by the entire membership of the Commission in Port of Spain in person. This process ensures that our Court continues to be a beacon of fairness and excellence, characterized by the utmost professionalism and impartiality,” he added.
Ononaiwu has more than 20 years of experience as an attorney and has specialist expertise in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Law and International Law, including International Trade Law, and varied legal experience as an adjudicator, litigator, legal advisor, and university lecturer.
“Apart from her international trade law experience, Dr Ononaiwu has expertise in Commercial Law, having worked in the global business and financial services sector as the Director of value Proposition Development at Invest Barbados.
“She also served as a Vice-Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce Digital Standards Initiative Legal Reform Advisory Board. Further, at the start of her legal career, Dr Ononaiwu worked as counsel in the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Division of the Attorney General’s Chambers in Jamaica,” the CCJ said in a statement on Friday.
She has lectured in International Trade and Investment Law, Public International Law, and Criminal Law at the University of the West Indies. Her academic work includes publications in these areas.
Ononaiwu most recently coordinated the organization’s external trade policy as CARICOM’s Director of external trade.
During her tenure, she advised CARICOM and its member states on international trade and investment issues and was a negotiator for the Community in negotiations of international trade agreements.
She also has experience as an international trade adjudicator, having served on a panel that adjudicated a World Trade Organization dispute.
The Rhodes Scholar and holds the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy in Law from the University of Oxford, Master of Laws from the University of Cambridge, and Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from The University of the West Indies, as well as a Legal Education Certificate of Merit from the Norman Manley Law School.
The RJLSC is conducting recruitment exercises for further appointments to the Bench, including the post of President to replace Justice Saunders, who will retire in 2025.