Senator the Honourable Dennis Moses, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs presented Instruments of Appointment on behalf of Prime Minister Dr. The Honourable Keith Rowley to four new Heads of Mission at the Ministry on March 29, 2016. His Excellency Fitzgerald Jeffrey, will assume duties as the High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to Jamaica while His Excellency Dr Amery Browne is the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federative Republic of Brazil. Her Excellency Pennelope Beckles will serve as the Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, in New York and His Excellency Dr. Lancelot Cowie will assume responsibilities as the Ambassador of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to Cuba.
During the brief ceremony Minister Moses thanked the Heads of Mission for their willingness to serve Trinidad and Tobago in various capacities and informed them that the Government looked forward to deepening the bilateral and multilateral partnerships for the benefit of the citizens now and for generations to come. Minister Moses further stated that they would be guided by the Government’s policy framework which underscores that the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs and its diplomatic network of overseas missions “must be the frontline of projecting the interests of Trinidad and Tobago internationally”. National Security; energy; trade and industry; health care; education; agriculture; tourism, small business development and entrepreneurship were listed by Minister Moses as some areas of the national development agenda that form part of the remit to be advanced by the new Heads of Mission, as circumstances warrant.
Given the priority afforded to achieving sustainable growth and diversification in Trinidad and Tobago, Minister Moses highlighted the importance for the Ministry to collaborate with vested stakeholders and with international partners to achieve this goal. He also stated that Trinidad and Tobago’s deeper commitment to CARICOM and the country’s meaningful participation in the United Nations and its Agencies, the Organization of the American States, the Commonwealth of Nations and the Association of Caribbean States, among others, remain key to exploiting available opportunities.
Minister Moses urged the Heads of Mission to support the efforts of the local private sector and state enterprises marketing their products and services overseas and to place emphasis on those industries identified as having greater export potential which global cooperation can facilitate. Some of the key areas identified for focus are agriculture; agri-processing; maritime services; fish and fish processing, aviation services and software design.
He specified that the role of the new Heads of Mission “is critical to advancing our nation’s development as articulated in our domestic and foreign policies. In this context, the rigour with which you report on and pursue tangible investment and market access opportunities, among the other areas of focus previously mentioned, will define your success as Heads of Mission.”
Minister Moses informed that the Ministry was undertaking the necessary preparations for the new Ambassadors to assume duty in the shortest possible time and looked forward to receiving positive responses to the requests for Agrément for diplomatic appointments to other countries. He reminded the newly appointed Heads of Mission to engage with the diaspora of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider CARICOM region, towards mutually beneficial outcomes, in their efforts to promote and protect the nation’s interests.
Official document: Appointment of Heads of Missions
