John’s candidacy official

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves officially announced Ambassador Ellsworth John’s nomination for the post of Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).{{more}}

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, January 17, Gonsalves confirmed that John was among several candidates from around the region who had applied to replace Sir Edwin Carrington who demitted office at the end of last year.

“We have an excellent candidate,” the prime minister said.

“He is a highly qualified, highly experienced man with immense ability, and we have somebody forward in who we can be proud,” he continued.

John is going up against four other nominees from around the region. They are: Henry Mac Donald, Suriname’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN); Irwin La Rocque of Dominica, who is Caricom’s Assistant Secretary General for Regional Trade and Economic Integration; Dr. Carla Barnett of Belize who is a former Caricom Deputy Secretary General; and Ambassador Edwin Laurent, a former diplomatic representative of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Nominations are being submitted to Barbados’ Foreign Minister Maxine Mc Lean, who is heading a 9-person search-committee. The search committee also includes Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Surujrattan Rambachan; Vincentian businessman Ormiston Ken Boyea; Principal of the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Barbadian Professor Hillary Beckles; and Principal of the Mona campus of the UWI Professor Gordon Shirley.

No national of an OECS member nation has been Secretary General, except for Sir Alister Mc Intrye of Grenada from 1974 to 1977.

John is the Director of the local Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit and this country’s ambassador to CARICOM and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

He previously served as this country’s Ambassador to the United States and was the Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS).

Carrington’s replacement is expected to be announced at the next inter-sessional meeting scheduled for next month. (DD)