President of Jamaica’s Court of Appeal, Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, has been appointed President of the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal (CSAT), marking a historic first for Jamaica.
Her one-year term as president begins on August 1, 2025, and will coincide with the final year of her second four-year term as a CSAT member.
The appointment was made by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, following her nomination and selection by the Secretariat’s Board of Governors.
The CSAT, established in 1995, resolves employment-related disputes involving the Commonwealth Secretariat and its associated institutions. It applies principles of international administrative law, not the national laws of Commonwealth countries. The tribunal hears cases brought by Secretariat staff, contractors, or the Secretariat itself and may also hear matters involving intergovernmental Commonwealth bodies under special provisions.
Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop, a CSAT member since August 2018, is currently the only Caribbean national serving on the eight-member tribunal. She succeeds another Jamaican jurist, former Court of Appeal President Justice (retired) Seymour Panton, who previously held a seat on the tribunal.
In her new role, Justice McDonald-Bishop will preside over hearings, empanel judges, and ensure that proceedings align with the tribunal’s rules and legal principles.
While primarily honorary and non-remunerative—with only a supplementary annual gratuity—the role is seen as a significant recognition of her contributions to justice and governance.
“The Judiciary of Jamaica takes great pride in Justice McDonald-Bishop’s continued international recognition and thanks her for her tireless dedication to the rule of law, justice, and good governance,” the judiciary said in a statement Tuesday. “Her appointment reflects not only her distinction but also the calibre of Jamaica’s judiciary on the global stage.”
