Jeevan Robinson
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Congratulations are in order for Antigua's Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. John Ashe, as he has been named as the President of the Sixty-eight Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The twin island state's Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer has also offered his congratulations to Ashe stating, "The citizens of this nation can be proud of this singular achievement that has been bestowed on our UN Ambassador by the countries of the Latin American and Caribbean region. I have no doubt that Ambassador Ashe can and will provide the necessary leadership during his tenure as President of the 68th session of the General Assembly."
Ambassador Ashe will assume his Presidency when the rotating position comes around to the Caribbean in September of 2013. Speaking about his endorsement by the 33 UN member states of the Latin American and Caribbean Group, (GRULAC), Dr Ashe said, "I am indeed humbled and deeply honoured by the confidence you have placed in me by endorsing me to this office. And I will do everything possible to live up to the expectations that accompany this office." "'He went on to make mention of his CARICOM colleagues who had peviously held the prestigious post; person such as Ambassador Samuel Insanally of Guyana served as President of the 48th session of the General Assembly in 1993, St. Lucian Ambassador Julian Hunte was the President of the 58th session of the GA in 2003.
The General Assembly is the primary deliberations point of the United Nations. It comprises representatives of all 193 member states of the United Nations, each of which has one vote.
