Prime Minister extends congratulations to Judge Deborah Thomas-Felix
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar extends warm congratulations to Judge Deborah Thomas-Felix, President of the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago, on her election today as an Appeal Judge on the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT).
The UNAT, which comprises seven judges, is an appellate court established by the United Nations General Assembly to review appeals against judgments rendered by the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT), hears and passes judgment on appeals from decisions taken by the Standing Committee acting on behalf of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board (UNJSPB) and by those agencies and entities that have accepted the jurisdiction of the Tribunal.
Of the 156 countries present and voting, Judge Thomas-Felix amassed 103 votes. There were 9 abstentions.
The Honourable Prime Minister noted that the achievement was all the more significant as it was the first time that a Caribbean country had been elected to serve on the UNAT. She expressed appreciation to the international community for their support.
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar also commends the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations for their contributions to this achievement.
Port of Spain: December 10, 2014
Response from Deborah Thomas-Felix:
I am deeply honoured and humbled by the opportunity to serve at the international level in a capacity which will allows me to build on the valuable work which I am currently engaged in at the Industrial Court. This experience will ultimately redound to the benefit of Trinidad and Tobago in terms of enhancing our capacity to treat with issues related to employment and administrative law.
I wish to thank the Honourable Prime Minister and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for the support which was rendered to my candidature. Special thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Eden Charles and his team at Trinidad and Tobago’s Permanent Mission in New York.
– Her Honour Deborah Thomas-Felix
President of the Industrial Court