Media Release: UN Country Team Congratulates Trinidad and Tobago on UNGA Presidency

June 1, 2023:  The UN Country Team extends congratulations to Trinidad and Tobago on the election of its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, His Excellency Ambassador Dennis Francis, as the 78th President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

This is the first time that a nominee from Trinidad and Tobago has been elected UNGA President.

The election of the President of the 78th session of the UNGA took place on June 1, 2023, in the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The UNGA President presides over high-level meetings, shapes the priorities of the General Assembly and plays a crucial role in facilitating negotiations among member states. Presidency of the UNGA is therefore a prestigious platform for a country to promote international cooperation, build consensus on key global issues and raise the profile of its own multilateral priorities on the global stage.

Trinidad and Tobago continues to be a leading Caribbean voice championing the needs and challenges of Small Island Developing States. This hallmark of Trinidad and Tobago’s global advocacy dovetails seamlessly with the stated priority of President-elect Francis to facilitate, among other conferences, the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States taking place in Antigua and Barbuda in 2024.

The watchwords of “peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability” chosen by President-elect Francis as the pillars of his one-year presidency also resonate deeply with the overarching commitment of Agenda 2030 to Leave No One Behind.

The UN Country Team acknowledges with deep appreciation the recent statement by Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Dr. the Honourable Amery Browne, that Trinidad and Tobago’s decision to seek election as UNGA President is testament to the country’s unshakeable commitment to multilateralism and to the United Nations as a convener and facilitator of the multilateral process. We congratulate the Honourable Minister for leading a successful country campaign for the UNGA Presidency.

The UN Country Team stands ready to support Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs as it works with President-elect Francis to chart this historic journey. We extend best wishes to President-elect Francis for a successful stewardship of the UNGA.

Dennis Zulu

UN Resident Coordinator a.i. for Trinidad and Tobago

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For additional information, please contact the Development Coordination Officer (Programme Communications and Advocacy) at the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, Ms. Faine Richards, at faine.richards@un.org  or 1-868-389-6106.