Dr Patrick Gomes to take up top ACP post in March

Guyana’s Ambassador to Brussels for the past nine years, Dr. Patrick Gomes, has been appointed the new Secretary-General of the 79-member African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States. The decision was reportedly taken in early December 2014 in Brussels after much deliberation at the level of the ACP Council of Ministers.

According to noted Caribbean journalist, Mr Rickey Singh, of the three shortlisted candidates from an original group of six, Dr Gomes was judged to have “the best understanding of the functions of the Secretary General…” The two other shortlisted candidates, both CARICOM nationals, were from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

Singh, who had since back in November 2014 predicted that Dr Gomes would have gotten the nod, was quoted as saying in an article, “The last time a CARICOM national had the honour to serve in that capacity for this important bloc of States, which systematically monitors developments and responds to challenging regional and international economic, social and political issues, was almost a quarter-century ago.”

That honour fell to none other than Trinidad and Tobago national, Mr Edwin Carrington, who served as ACP Secretary-General from 1985 to 1990, before going on to become the longest-serving Secretary-General of the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM), from 1992 – 2010.

According to a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gomes will assume office in March of this year, which just so happens to mark the 40th anniversary of the ACP, which came into being, by way of the Georgetown Accord, on June 6, 1975.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett acknowledged the ACP ministers for their support of Ambassador Gomes.

She underscored that: “The ACP is at a critical juncture and experience and wise leadership coupled with patience are critical if we are to overcome the challenges.”

She then added that: “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.”

Congratulating Ambassador Gomes, the Minister 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.”

Serving as Guyana’s Ambassador to the ACP Group of States alongside the European Union since February 2005, Ambassador Gomes also serves as the Chairman of the Ambassadors’ Working Group on Future Perspectives of the ACP. He has worked consistently for nearly a decade within the ACP arena in order to attain constructive terms of trade as well as development in European Union markets. Additionally, he has provided financial support and services for joint ACP-EU institutions, through which he has proven to be a contributory factor in spurring the potential for capacity development of the ACP via the South-South and Triangular Cooperation.