Guyana’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Community, Dr Patrick Ignatius Gomes has been appointed the new Secretary General of the African, Pacific and Caribbean Group of States (ACP).
He was appointed during the 100th Session of the Council of Ministers of the African, Pacific and Caribbean Group of States, held at the ACP Headquarters in Brussels.
His tenure would come to an end in 2020 after commencing in 2015. The Foreign Affairs Ministry made this disclosure on Wednesday, noting that Ambassador Gomes will take office in March 2015 in the 40th year of the ACP.
It was in Guyana, 39 years ago in 1975 that the ACP was birthed through the Georgetown Accord.
Ambassador Gomes has been serving as Guyana’s Ambassador to the ACP Group of States and the European Union since February 2005. He is also the Chairman of the Ambassadors’ Working Group on Future Perspectives of the ACP. For almost a decade, Ambassador Gomes has worked consistently within the ACP to gain beneficial terms of trade and development in the markets of the European Union for ACP’s agricultural commodities and minerals.
Additionally, he would have pursued improved financial support and services for joint ACP-EU institutions such as the Centre for Technical Cooperation in Agriculture and Rural Development and has been instrumental in promoting the potential for capacity development of the ACP through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
In thanking the ACP Ministers for the confidence they have exhibited in Ambassador Gomes, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said “the ACP is at a critical juncture and experience and wise leadership coupled with patience are critical if we are to overcome the challenges. Ambassador Gomes possesses these attributes and together with the support of all of us, I am confident he will not only keep the Georgetown Agreement alive but will make it thrive.”
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett in congratulating Ambassador Gomes said “Warmest congratulations compatriot, the celebration will be short as you have a lot of work to do. Go now and serve the African, Caribbean and Pacific group with distinction as you have served your own country Guyana.”
The Government of Guyana views this appointment as an honour for Guyana, the Caribbean and the ACP Group.
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