PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2024
GOVERNOR-GENERAL SWEARING IN OF CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE JUDGE
King’s House, Jamaica– His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen, yesterday swore in The Honourable Madame Justice Chantal Ononaiwu as judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
The ceremony occurred on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, in the Ballroom at King’s House. Justice Ononaiwu, a Jamaican national, was selected by the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC), the independent body responsible for appointing judges to the CCJ, to fill the vacancy left by the untimely retirement of Mr Justice Jacob Wit on December 31, 2023.
President of the CCJ, Honourable Mr. Justice Adrian Saunders, expressed that Justice Ononaiwu was selected from a competitive pool of applicants from various countries, and her appointment reflects the CCJ’s commitment to excellence. He emphasised that “each appointment reflects our unwavering commitment to selecting individuals of the highest calibre, based solely on their expertise, integrity, and dedication to justice.”
Justice Ononaiwu brings over 20 years of extensive experience in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) law and international law, including international trade law. Her diverse background encompasses roles as an adjudicator, litigator, legal advisor, and university lecturer. Most recently, she served as the Director of External Trade at CARICOM, where she led the coordination of the organisation’s external trade policy. During her tenure, she provided advice on international trade and investment issues and represented CARICOM in negotiations for various trade agreements. Justice Ononaiwu has also adjudicated international trade disputes as a panel member of the World Trade Organization.
“I am honoured to serve as a Judge of the Region’s highest court. Our Caribbean Court of Justice plays a pivotal role in advancing the rule of law in CARICOM and building Caribbean jurisprudence. I will work assiduously with my colleagues in service of the Court’s mission to provide accessible, fair and efficient justice for the people and States of the Community,” Justice Ononaiwu said.
In addition to her judicial experience, she has worked in commercial law within the international business and financial services sectors. She previously held the position of Director of Value Proposition Development at Invest Barbados and served as Vice-Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce Digital Standards Initiative Legal Reform Advisory Board. Early in her legal career, she was counsel in the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Division of the Attorney General’s Chambers in Jamaica.
Her academic contributions include lecturing on international trade and investment law, public international law, and criminal law at the University of the West Indies (UWI). She has published works in the fields of international trade law, investment law, public international law, and constitutional law.
Dr. Ononaiwu is a Rhodes Scholar and holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Law from the University of Oxford, a Master of Law from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from the University of the West Indies. She also received a Legal Education Certificate of Merit from the Norman Manley Law School.
In his remarks to Justice Ononaiwu, His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen noted, “Today’s ceremony is proof of Justice Ononaiwu’s exceptional legal acumen and her comprehensive understanding of law and international business. Her appointment is a clear recognition of her merit.”
He encouraged unity and solidarity as she assumed her office, stating, “We recognise the significance of this milestone in her career and extend our best wishes for success in her new role. We are confident that she will carry out her duties with distinction, contributing to the judiciary’s essential role in the stability and strength of our societies.”
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For further information, contact:
Alicia Barrett
Public Relations Manager
Public Relations Unit
The Office of His Excellency The Governor-General
Hope Road, Kingston 6
Jamaica, W.I.
Tele: 876-927-6424 / 876-835-9103
Email: kingshouse@kingshouse.gov.jm