The Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC)

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Front row sitting L-R
           Mrs. Tana’ania Small Davis KC I Mrs. Susan Branker-Greene MSc – Deputy Chairperson I Hon. Mme. Justice Hilary Phillips JA CD KC  I Mrs. Jacqueline Samuels-Brown KC I Ms. E. Ann Henry KC 
Back row standing L-R
Mr. Thaddeus M. Antoine Esq I Mr. Brian Glasgow FCCA MSc I Dr. Damien Dublin I Hon. Mr. Justice Adrian Saunders – Chairman
Hon. Mr. Justice Bryan Sykes OJ CD I Mr. Alvin Fitzpatrick SC 

Introduction

The Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (“the Commission”) was established pursuant to Article V(1) of the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice (“the Agreement”) executed by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community on the 14th day of February 2001.   By virtue of the deposit of Instruments of Ratification or Accession in accordance with Article XXXIV, by three Member States of the Caribbean Community, this Agreement entered into force on the 23rd day of July 2003.

Composition

The composition of the Commission as set out in Article V(1) of the Agreement is as follows:

a) the President who shall be the Chairman of the Commission;

b) two persons nominated jointly by the Organisation of the Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Association (OCCBA) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Bar Association;

c) one chairman of the Judicial Services Commission of a Contracting Party selected in rotation in the English alphabetical order for a period of three years;

d) the Chairman of a Public Service Commission of a Contracting Party selected in rotation in the reverse English alphabetical order for a period of three years;

e) two persons from civil society nominated jointly by the Secretary-General of the Community and the Director General of the OECS for a period of three years following consultations with regional non-governmental organisations;

f) two distinguished jurists nominated jointly by the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of the West Indies, the Deans of the Faculties of Law of any of the Contracting Parties and the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education; and

g) two persons nominated jointly by the Bar or Law Associations of the Contracting Parties.

The first members of the Commission were appointed on 20th August 2003.

Functions of the Commission

The main functions of the Commission are set out in Article V.3(1) of the Agreement. This Article provides that:

The Commission shall have responsibility for:

  • making appointments to the office of Judge of the Court, other than that of President;
  • making appointments of those officials and employees referred to in Article XXVII and for determining the salaries and allowances to be paid to such officials and employees;
  • the determination of the terms and conditions of service of officials and employees; and
  • the termination of appointments in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement

The Agreement also sets out other functions of the Commission. These functions include:

  • the exercise of disciplinary control over Judges of the Court, other than the President, and over officials and employees of the Court; Article V.3(2).
  • the making of recommendations to the Heads as to the person to be appointed President and for the removal of the President from office; Article IV.6.
  • the determination of the terms and conditions and other benefits of the President and other Judges of the Court with the approval of the Heads of Government; Article XXVIII as amended.
  • the making of Regulations –
    • to govern the appointment, discipline, termination of appointment and other terms and conditions of service and employment for Judges, other than the President, and officials and employees of the Court,
    • to prescribe the procedure governing the conduct of such proceedings, and
    • generally, to give effect to the Agreement; Article XXXI

Under Article 172 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the Commission has the responsibility for appointing the members of the CARICOM Competition Commission.

And by Article V of the Statute of the Caribbean Community Administrative Tribunal, the Commission also has responsibility for selecting the members of the Tribunal.

Code of Ethics for Members of the RJLSC

Download Code of Ethics Brochure

 

The President who shall be the Chairman on the Commission – [Article V.1 (a)]

The Hon. Mr. Justice Adrian Saunders, a national of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, attained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill) in 1975 and a Legal Education Certificate from ...

One of two persons from civil society nominated jointly by the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community and the Director General of the OECS for a period of three years following consultations with regional non-governmental organizations, Barbados – [Article V.1 (e)] 

Mrs. Susan Branker Greene has over 20 years’ experience in leadership ...

One of two persons nominated jointly by the Organisation of the Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Association (OCCBA) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Bar Associations, Antigua and Barbuda – [Article V.1 (b)]

Ms. E. Ann Henry KC qualified as an Attorney-at-Law in 1981 and is admitted to practice in Antigua and ...

Chairman, Public Service Commission of a Contracting Party selected in the reverse English alphabetical order, Guyana – [Article V.1 (d)]

Dr. Damien Dublin has over 30 years in leadership and management positions.  His rich professional background spans, public, private and NGO sectors, including serving as the current Chairman of the ...

One Chairman of the Judicial Services Commission of a Contracting Party selected in rotation in the English alphabetical order for a period of three years, Jamaica – [Article V.1 (c)]

The Honourable Mr Justice Bryan Sykes OJ CD, is the eighth Chief Justice of Jamaica since Jamaica gained independence in 1962.  ...

Nominated jointly by the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of the West Indies, Deans of the Faculties of Law of the Contracting Parties and Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Jamaica – [Article V.1 (f)] 

Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, KC qualified as an attorney in 1980 and was admitted to ...

One of two persons from civil society nominated jointly by the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community and the Director General of the OECS for a period of three years following consultations with regional non-governmental organizations, St. Vincent and the Grenadines [Article V.1 (e)]

Mr. Brian A Glasgow, an independent financial ...

One of two distinguished jurist nominated jointly by the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of the West Indies, Deans of the Faculties of Law of the Contracting Parties and Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Jamaica – [Article V.1 (f)]

Ms. Hilary Phillips, CD, JA (Retired) was ...

One of two persons nominated jointly by the Organisation of the Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Association (OCCBA) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Bar Associations, Trinidad and Tobago – [Article V.1 (b)]

Alvin Fitzpatrick SC was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1977 and to the Bar of ...

One of two persons nominated by the Bar or Law Associations of the Contracting Parties, St. Lucia – [Article V.1 (g)]

Mr. Thaddeus Marc Antoine Esq was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2000 with the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn and later that year to the Bar of ...

One of two persons nominated by the Bar or Law Associations of the Contracting Parties, Jamaica – [Article V.1 (g)]

Tana’ania Small Davis KC is a graduate of the University of the West Indies and the Norman Manley Law School. Qualified in 1992 and admitted to practice in Jamaica, British Virgin Islands, St ...

We currently have no job openings

RECRUITMENT UPDATE

PositionDeadline DateStatus
Human Resource Officer- Manpower and DevelopmentJanuary 26, 2024Shortlisting in Progress
Chief Public Education & Protocol OfficerJanuary 26, 2024Shortlisting in Progress
JudgeMarch 01, 2024Closed

(1) The Commission shall have responsibility for: “The Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (Commission) was established pursuant to Article V of The Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice (The Agreement). Article V(3) of the Agreement outlines:

(a) making appointments to the office of Judge of the Court, other than that of President;

(b) making appointments of those officials and employees referred to in Article XXVII and for determining the salaries and allowances to be paid to such officials and employees;

(c) the determination of the terms and conditions of service of officials and employees; and

(d) the termination of appointments in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 (2) The Commission shall, in accordance with the Regulations, exercise disciplinary control over Judges of the Court, other than the President, and over officials and employees of the Court.”

REGIONAL JUDICIAL AND LEGAL SERVICES COMMISSION

#134 Henry Street
Port of Spain
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
West Indies

Tel: (868) 612-5225 ext. 2242, 2250, 2251
Direct Line: (868) 623-8376
Fax: (868) 625-4004
Email: rjlsc@rjlsc.org

HOURS OF OPERATIONS

Monday to Friday – 8:00am – 4:00pm
CLOSED – Weekends and Public Holidays

STAFF LISTING

Mrs. Gabrielle Figaro-Jones
Secretary

Mr. Leon Richardson
Organizational Development / Human Resources Advisor

Mrs. Sherry-Ann Ramhit
Executive Officer

Ms. Kiesha Cato
Administrative Officer

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