The People’s National Party (PNP) has extended “heartfelt congratulations” to Jamaican attorney Dr Chantal Ononaiwu on her recent appointment as a judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Ononaiwu’s appointment by the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC) fills the vacancy left by the untimely retirement and passing of Justice Jacob Wit on January 16, 2024.

Opposition Spokesperson on Justice, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley welcomed Ononaiwu’s appointment, stating: “Dr Chantal Ononaiwu’s elevation to the CCJ is a moment of immense pride for Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

“Her extensive experience in International Trade Law, Public International Law, and Constitutional Law, coupled with her academic excellence, positions her as a beacon of legal scholarship and a model of judicial integrity. We are confident that her contributions to the CCJ will be invaluable in upholding justice and advancing the principles of law across the Caribbean region.”

Senator Scott Mottley further highlighted Dr Ononaiwu’s distinguished academic journey as a Rhodes Scholar, holding advanced degrees from the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and The University of the West Indies.

“Her professional tenure, including her recent role as Director of External Trade at CARICOM, has equipped her with a deep understanding of the region’s legal and economic complexities, making her an exceptional addition to the CCJ bench,” Scott-Mottley said.

The CCJ announced Ononaiwu’s appointment in a press release on Friday.

In making the announcement, the Chairman of the RJLSC and President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, took the opportunity to commend the process used to recruit judges of the court, stating: “The RJLSC prides itself on a recruitment process that is competitive, premised on merit and experience and fiercely independent. Each appointment reflects our unwavering commitment to selecting individuals of the highest calibre, based solely on their expertise, integrity, and dedication to justice.

“During the recruitment process, 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, characterised by the utmost professionalism and impartiality.”

It is expected that Ononaiwu will take the oath of office in October 2024. The RJLSC is currently conducting recruitment exercises for further appointments to the Bench, including the post of president to replace Justice Saunders who will retire in 2025.

Ononaiwu is an attorney-at-law with over 20 years’ experience at the Bar. Apart from her international trade law experience, Ononaiwu has expertise in Commercial Law, having worked in the international business and financial services sector as the director, 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, Ononaiwu worked as counsel in the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Division of the Attorney General’s Chambers in Jamaica.

Ononaiwu 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 the areas of International Trade Law, Investment Law, Public International Law, and Constitutional Law.

Ononaiwu most recently served as the director, external trade, CARICOM, leading the coordination of the organisation’s external trade policy. 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 as a member of a panel that adjudicated a World Trade Organisation dispute.