Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has voiced concerns over the lack of adequate consultation in the appointment of the new Chief Justice, Ronnie Boodoosingh. Speaking to the media outside the Red House in Port of Spain on October 24, Beckles emphasized that her objections were not about Boodoosingh’s qualifications but rather the rushed timeline of the process. She highlighted that a letter with errors was presented at 6:30 PM while she was in Parliament, corrections were sought by 8:30 AM the next morning, and the appointment was finalized by 2 PM the same day. Beckles described this as insufficient consultation, though she acknowledged Boodoosingh’s competence, noting his background as an ethics teacher at the University of the West Indies (UWI). Boodoosingh was sworn in by acting president Wade Mark on October 22. The Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago also raised concerns about the expedited and abbreviated process leading to his appointment.
