UNC congratulates TTs Althea Alexis – Windsor on her election as a judge of the ICC

The UNC congratulates Ms. Althea Alexis-Windsor on her recent election as a judge of the ICC. Her CV and credentials are impeccable and most impressive. Given what transpired she was apparently not best served by TTs waning influence and impact globally. In effect she won this on her own considerable strengths.

Ms. Alexis-Windsor was appointed a judge of TTs Supreme Court in 2013 after serving as trials and appeals counsel at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 2004 to 2013.

She also served as a Senior State Counsel in the DPPs Office and Deputy Director of the Human Rights Unit of the AGs Office. Given her impressive CV and the fact that the ICC was established largely through the acknowledged pioneering efforts of former President Arthur N R Robinson, Ms. Alexis- Windsor should have been a shoo-in. Instead she was elected on the eighth and final ballot. Her impressive credentials ultimately prevailed.

On 12th December 2011 then Justice Anthony Carmona was elected a judge of the ICC on the first ballot gaining the required two thirds majority. As then UN ambassador I indeed was overawed by the utmost respect TT had earned at the ICC largely due to former President Robinson’s distinguished pioneering work.

On Justice Carmona’s ascension to our presidency in 2013, his successor at the ICC, Justice Geoffrey Henderson was elected on the first ballot after his only opponent withdrew. He was elected to serve the unexpired part of his predecessor’s term ending in March 2021.

Given the impressive CVs of all TTs nominees the only difference today is TTs waning influence in multilateral institutions. At UN elections the country’s esteem and respect are on trial.

Given Robinson’s globally acknowledged contribution to the ICC our nominees were shoo ins at elections. It was like Usain Bolt in the 100 meters. Competitors fought for second place.

It was worse at the elections this year to replace Justice Anthony Lucky as a judge on the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea when TT did not field a candidate after being on the bench since 2002 when Lennox Ballah, a founder of ITLOS, received every single vote. His successor Justice Lucky was elected unopposed in 2003 and on the first ballot in 2011. This year Jamaica’s Kathy- Ann Brown replaced Justice Lucky representing the end of an era.