Mr. Justice Rajmanlal Joseph (Ret’d) was appointed the fifth Ombudsman of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago by Her Excellency Paula Mae-Weeks, ORTT, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Republic Trinidad and Tobago for a period of three (3) years with effect from May 19, 2021. He was administered the Oath of Office by the Honourable Bridgid Mary Annisette-George, MP, in accordance with section 91 (5) of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Chap. 1:01, on June 9th, 2021, before entering duties of Office.
An established Attorney-at-Law with almost three (3) decades experience in both public and private law, Mr. Joseph holds a Bachelor of Sciences (Hons.) in Government majoring in Public Administration, a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), and a Legal Education Certificate. Mr. Joseph is well acquainted with public service, having served as Chairman of the Standing Disciplinary Tribunal of the Police Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission and the Public Service Commission for the period September 2006 to February 2009.
In February 2009, Mr. Joseph was appointed by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) as Judge/Chairman of the Equal Opportunity Tribunal of Trinidad and Tobago – a Superior Court of Record. He served in this capacity for eight and a half years until his retirement in September 2017. In addition to this, from August to December 2011, Mr. Joseph was appointed by the Honourable Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago as a Member of an independent and impartial tribunal created in accordance with section 11 (1) of the Constitution to review the detention of persons detained under the Emergency Regulations.
Ombudsman Rajmanlal Joseph succeeds Mr. Patrick Mark Wellington who served as Ombudsman of Trinidad and Tobago from 2018 to 2021.
