The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Mr. Magdy Martinez-Soliman arrived on Montserrat Wednesday for a country visit, and to present his credentials to the Premier Joseph Easton Taylor-Farrell.
This is Mr. Martinez-Soliman’s first visit to Montserrat since he assumed his duties on June 1, 2019. He presented his credentials to Premier Taylor-Farrell shortly after arriving on island.
The presentation of credentials is a diplomatic practice in which a formal letter with the credentials of an ambassador or head of an organisation to a country, is presented to the leader of the receiving country. Until credentials are accepted, diplomats cannot begin their duties for that country.
During his three-day visit here, the UNDP official will meet with His Excellency the Governor, Andrew Pearce OBE; Deputy Governor, Lyndell Simpson; government ministers, parliamentary secretary, leader and members of the opposition, private sector representatives and civil society organisations.
Premier Farrell said that it was very important for the UNDP Resident Representative to not only meet with his government but stakeholders from various sectors.
Mr. Martinez-Soliman’s visit includes an island tour to tourist and historical sites such as Plymouth, the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) and Richmond Hill.
The new resident representative has held different positions at the UN and UNDP Headquarters in New York, served as UNDP Resident Representative a.i. in Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten (2018); was appointed UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Mexico (2007-2012) by SG Ban Ki-moon; was named the first Executive Director of the United Nations Democracy Fund (2006-2007) by SG Kofi Annan; and served as senior UN Official in Senegal and Bangladesh.
