Kingston, 17 December 2025 — Her Excellency Ms. Deborah Thomas-Felix presented her credentials to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Ms. Leticia Carvalho, as Permanent Representative of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the International Seabed Authority during a ceremony held on 17 December 2025 at ISA Headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.
Ambassador Thomas-Felix is the High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to Jamaica and a distinguished jurist and legal practitioner with extensive experience in international law, labour law, and multilateral governance. She holds an Executive Master of Business Administration, a Master of Laws in International Legal Studies, and a Bachelor of Laws, and has been admitted to practice law in Trinidad and Tobago since 1986.
Ambassador Thomas-Felix has held senior judicial and leadership positions at the national, regional, and international levels, including as President of the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago, Judge and former President of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal, and Judge of the International Monetary Fund Administrative Tribunal. Since 2015, she has served as a member of the International Labour Organization’s Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, where she is one of two experts with special responsibility for maritime affairs.
During the meeting, Ambassador Thomas-Felix reaffirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s strong commitment to the mandate of the Authority under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement, emphasizing the principle of the common heritage of humankind and the importance of consensus-based decision-making within the Council. She expressed Trinidad and Tobago’s readiness to work constructively with the Secretariat and Member States to advance a robust, science-based regulatory framework governing activities in the Area, including the timely completion of the exploitation regulations to not only preserve the integrity of UNCLOS but to also ensure that ISA remains a central institution within the multilateral system.
Ambassador Thomas-Felix also acknowledged the importance of capacity-building initiatives to enhance the participation of developing States, particularly small island developing States, and women in deep-sea research and activities in the Area. She conveyed her firm commitment to actively supporting the work of the Authority and commended the Secretary-General for her leadership and dedication, noting that her passion and resolve would be instrumental in mobilizing continued cooperation and support from Member States.
Secretary-General Carvalho congratulated Ambassador Thomas-Felix on her distinguished career and welcomed Trinidad and Tobago’s continued engagement with the work of the Authority. She expressed appreciation for the country’s long-standing participation since ISA’s inception and its consistent support for multilateralism and safeguarding the integrity of the UNCLOS regime.
Both signaled their shared commitment to ensuring that ISA remains a credible, effective, and inclusive institution, capable of safeguarding the “Area” for the benefit of future generations.\
About ISA
ISA is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to manage the mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the shared benefit of humankind. ISA is committed to ensuring that all economic activities in the deep seabed, including mining, are regulated and responsibly managed using the best available scientific evidence for the benefit of all humankind.
For media inquiries, please contact:
ISA Communications Unit, news@isa.org.jm
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For more information, visit our website, www.isa.org.jm