ToolsCarmona's foreign postenough to qualifyAt first, it was heartening to see Leader of the Opposition Dr Keith Rowley voicing his approval with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's choice of the nominee for Trinidad and Tobago's next president. But then things began to go awry when the same PNM (People's National Movement), this time through a different voice, began to question whether the nominee, Justice Anthony Carmona, met the constitutional requirements to assume office. It appeared the party had put the cart before the horse or there is a level of dissension within its ranks. The query concerns Justice Carmona's residential status which, under the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago, requires him to be a resident of this country for ten years preceding the date of his nomination. Justice Carmona had been an employee of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for a period within the last ten years. Now, Section 23 (2) of the Constitution allows for nomination if the candidate held office in the service of the Government of T&T and lived outside of the country. The ICTY is a body of the United Nations, of which Trinidad and Tobago is a member, ergo, I believe the nominee would be deemed to have been indirectly doing service for his country and is qualified to hold the position of president. I congratulate Justice Carmona on his nomination and wish him and our nation the best. Oswald Gallion Arima |
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