VASCIANNIEWASHINGTON, CMC:
JAMAICAN INTERNATIONAL law expert, Dr. Stephen Vasciannie, has been elected to the Inter-American Judicial Committee (IJC), replacing the island's former Solicitor General Dr. Kenneth Rattray, who resigned recently.
The Organisation of American States (OAS) said yesterday that Dr. Vascianne had been elected by acclamation during a regular session of the OAS's permanent council, which approved the Jamaican Government's nomination.
Rattray had resigned due to ill health and Dr. Vasciannie will serve the rest of that term, which runs until December 31, 2005, on the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-headquartered Judicial committee.
The IJC serves the OAS as an advisory body on judicial matters of an international nature and promotes the progressive development and the codification of international law.
Permanent Council chairman, Panama's Ambassador Aristides Royo, expressed the delegation's congratulations to Dr. Vasciannie and the Jamaican Government, on the selection.
The University of the West Indies (UWI) law professor, who heads the university's Department of Government, is also the director of the International Division in the island's Attorney-General's Department.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERT
A 1981 Jamaica Rhodes Scholar and 1984 Commonwealth Scholar, Dr. Vasciannie is widely regarded as an international expert in his field.
Jamaica's alternate representative to the OAS, Delrose Montague, said his election affords Jamaica the opportunity to continue serving the important hemispheric body.
"Dr. Vasciannie is eminently qualified to serve on this committee, and he looks forward to working with his fellow members on the committee to continue the important work of the IJC," Montague said.
