President Anthony Carmona has accepted an invitation to speak at the ceremonial opening of the judicial year for the International Criminal Court (ICC).
It will be held in The Hague, Netherlands on January 18.
According to the Office of the President, the President of the ICC, Judge Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, wrote to Carmona, stating: “I have the distinct honour to invite you to address, as the distinguished guest speaker, the International Criminal Court's inaugural Ceremony for the Opening of the Judicial Year. ..your participation would be of immense importance for the success of what I hope to become an annual tradition underlining the solemn, judicial nature of our institution. Considering your illustrious career as a distinguish legal expert, a former judge of the Court, and Head of State of the country that put in motion the process that led to the Court's establishment, I cannot think of anyone more suitable to address this first Ceremony of its kind, particularly considering your reputation as an outstanding public speaker…
“Again, allow me to underline that your presence at the first Ceremony for the Opening of the Judicial Year would be extremely significant to our institution and the broader cause of international criminal justice, to which I know you are deeply committed.”
President Carmona has accepted the invitation and will leave late next week for The Hague. The ICC will cover his travel and hotel expenses.