PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Her Excellency Glenda Morean-Phillip has taken up the appointment of Ambassador for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United States of America, and Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States with effect from April 21, 2008. She was previously appointed to the position of High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Her Excellency has the distinction of being the first Trinidad and Tobago born woman to qualify as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court and later in her career acted as a Judge of that court. She has been actively involved in public service and was appointed a member of the Senate, the Upper House of the Parliament and held the position of Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago from December 2001 to November 2003.
Glenda Morean-Phillip
Her Excellency Marina Valere has taken up appointment as Permanent Representative to the United Nations where she replaces Ambassador Phillip Sealy who has retired. Prior to this appointment Her Excellency was Ambassador to the United States of America and Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States. Ambassador Valere was also appointed Counsellor/Deputy High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to Jamaica from 1990 to 1996. During that term she acted as High Commissioner for the period 1993 to 1994. She has had a distinguished career in the foreign service where she was appointed as Director, International Organisations and Director, Information, Culture, Consular Affairs and Library Services.
During her career she has represented the Government of Trinidad and Tobago at several international and regional meetings and conferences.
Her Excellency Camille Robinson-Regis is scheduled to took up the position of High Commissioner to Canada on May 13, 2008. She held the positions of Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank and Governor of the Caribbean Development Bank, where she represented Trinidad and Tobago at several international meetings. Her Excellency is an attorney by profession and has held several Ministerial positions during her political career.
His Excellency Lester Efebo Wilkinson is also scheduled to take up his appointment as Ambassador to Cuba in early May 2008. He had an illustrious career in the public service where he served as Permanent Secretary for over a decade, recently retiring from that position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His Excellency in his professional life has worked as a cultural Ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago where he held the position of Director of Culture and Head of Cultural Affairs for CARICOM. He is aso a published poet, playwright, stage director and lecturer in theatre arts at the Center for Creative and Festival Arts at the University of the West Indies. During his arts career he has received numerous awards in theatre and was named Poet Laureate of the City of Port of Spain. His Excellency is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the University of the West Indies.
Agreement has been received for His Excellency Dr. Winston Mahabir to take up appointment as High Commissioner to South Africa. Dr. Mahabir is scheduled to arrive in Pretoria by the end of May 2008. His Excellency has prior diplomatic experience having last served as Chief of Staff for the United Nations Mission in East Timor. He also held positions in Bosnia, Herzegovina, Slovakia and Sudan and has authored several papers on economics and international relations and has maintained strong academic and scholarly connections throughout his career, lecturing in several universities whilst serving in the United Nations Missions where he was assigned.
Her Excellency Joan Yuille-Williams assumed duties as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary with effect from January 11, 2008. In her political career, she acted as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago on several occasions and has held various Ministerial positions. Her Excellency is an educator by profession and has lectured at the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies. Her Excellency has also made contributions to community work and is the founder of the Les Enfants Sports and Cultural Club. In the sporting arena she was the former President of the Trinidad and Tobago Netball Association and also managed the National Netball Team at the World Championships in Australia and Singapore.
