The presidential career of Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona began on 18 March 2013, following his resignation as a judge of the International Criminal Court. Prior to his ascension to the head of state in Trinidad and Tobago, he spent decades establishing a rigorous profile within the domestic and international legal systems as a prosecutor and high court official.
Legal Foundations
Born in Fyzabad in 1953, Anthony Carmona pursued his education at the University of the West Indies and the Hugh Wooding Law School. He entered the legal profession in 1983, starting as a State Counsel before rising to the position of Senior State Attorney in 1989. Between 1994 and 1999, he performed roles as Assistant and then Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions. His international experience deepened from 2001 to 2004, when he served as an Appeals Counsel at the Office of the Prosecutor for both the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
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In 2004, he secured an appointment as a High Court Judge at the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago. His expertise in international law later led to his election as a judge of the International Criminal Court on 12 December 2011. He secured this position during the first ballot of the Assembly of States Parties, garnering 72 out of 104 votes. He officially took his seat on the international bench on 11 March 2012.
The Presidency
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar nominated Carmona to succeed George Maxwell Richards on 3 February 2013. The leader of the opposition, Keith Rowley, confirmed his party's support shortly thereafter. While questions regarding his eligibility surfaced due to his residence abroad between 2001 and 2004, the government maintained his compliance with the ten-year residency requirement. Carmona served as the fifth President of Trinidad and Tobago from 2013 until 2018.
Fast facts
- Born: 7 March 1953, Fyzabad
- Education: Presentation College, San Fernando; University of the West Indies; Hugh Wooding Law School
- President of Trinidad and Tobago: 2013–2018
- International Criminal Court Judge: 2012–2013
- World Peace Culture Award: 4 May 2019
- Spouse: Reema Harrysingh
Questions readers ask
What were the primary legal roles held by Anthony Carmona before his presidency?
He served as a State Counsel, Senior State Attorney, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Appeals Counsel at international criminal tribunals, and a High Court Judge.
Why was his eligibility for the presidency challenged?
The opposition party questioned whether he met the residency requirement of being 'ordinarily resident' in Trinidad and Tobago for the ten years preceding his election.
Achievements
- Judge of the International Criminal Court (from 2012)
- President of Trinidad and Tobago (2013–2018)
- Educated at University of the West Indies and Presentation College, San Fernando
