WASHINGTON, DC – Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson, Q.C., Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, announces the appointment of Professor Stephen Vasciannie, D. Phil as Jamaica’s new Ambassador to Washington DC.
Professor Vasciannie, who is currently the Principal at the Norman Manley Law School, a position he has held since 2008, is expected to assume duties in July or August.
In making the announcement, the Foreign Minister is confident that Jamaica’s tradition of excellent diplomatic representation in the United States capital will continue in earnest.
Professor Vasciannie
“Professor Vasciannie comes to the new position armed with exceptional academic achievement; vast experience in the fields of International Law and International Relations and has been a Member of the United Nations International Law Commission for the past five years,” says Minister Nicholson.
“His acknowledged contribution within the local, regional, Commonwealth and wider global space equips in no small measure for the tasks ahead,” the Minister continues.
The recipient of the University of the West Indies Open Scholarship (1978) and the Jamaica Commonwealth Scholarship (1984), Professor Vasciannie holds First Class Honours degrees from the UWI, and Oxford and Cambridge Universities. At Cambridge, he topped the class with a Starred First Class Honours result in the LL.M degree programme. He is a Member of the Jamaican Bar Association; the American Society of International Law; and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law.
On the professional academic level, the Jamaica Rhodes Scholar (1981) was Adjunct Professor at the Stetson University Law School, Cayman Islands (2009 & 2011), and after rising to the level of Professor in 2002, was the Head, Department of Government, UWI (2003-2006). Professor Vasciannie also served as Lecturer in Constitutional Law, and Law and Legal Systems at the Norman Manley Law School (2001-2008), and continued his teaching responsibility after becoming Principal at the Law School.
He has been Deputy Solicitor General, Attorney General’s Chambers (2004-2008), where he was also Director of the International Division (2003-2008).
Professor Vasciannie who Chairs the Board of Scotia Investments Jamaica Ltd., (2007 to present), and serves as a member of the Boards of Scotiabank Jamaica and Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance Company, is also Chairman of the Board of Kingston College, his alma mater.
The Ministry is of the view that, with publications including books, monographs and articles on international law, constitutional law, human rights, among other issues, and numerous academic awards from UWI, the University of Cambridge and also the Oxford University, Professor Vasciannie has the perfect blend of scholastic and on-the-field experience, which signals great promise of leadership within the diplomatic arena.
