NASSAU, The Bahamas – Ambassador Joshua Sears, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been honoured with two prestigious awards – for his outstanding work in the diplomatic profession and skills in foreign policy analysis.
He was named Professional of the Year 2010 in Recognition of Excellence, Dedication and Success in Foreign Policy Analysis by the American’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals; and listed in Strathmore’s Who’ Who for his Leadership Performance and Achievement as Professional of the Year 2010 in Foreign Policy Analysis.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration the Hon. Brent Symonette in congratulating Mr. Sears, acknowledged his long and outstanding service to The Bahamas Government both locally and internationally; having been a Permanent Secretary, Ambassador and now Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“In traveling with him over the past few years, I admire the respect he receives internationally in his quiet and unassuming way and his advice, which more often than not, is accepted throughout the Caribbean and North America,” Mr. Symonette said.
“The awards are only a small token of the sacrifice Mr. Sears and his family have given to this country.”
Members of the American Registry of Outstanding Professionals receive a nomination ballot and have the opportunity to nominate a person they feel have shown leadership and achievement in their occupation, industry or profession. Research staff gathers information from newspaper publications, national magazines and other periodicals as well as information suppliers that enable the registry to obtain names of high caliber individuals.
A basic listing will be published for everyone who received final acceptance by one of the Associate Directors. The Strathmore’s Who’s Who is a leading biographical publication listing thousands of successful individuals in the fields of medicine, business, education, the arts and sciences, research health care, law, engineering and government.
Mr. Sears said he was honoured to have been selected for the prestigious awards, while serving as Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; a position he was appointed to on July 1, 2008.
Joshua Sears was born on July 18, 1952 on the Island of Exuma. He earned a BA (Honours) in Arts and General Studies from the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica in 1975. He received an Advanced Diploma in Public Administration and Policy Management; a Certificate from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research Regional Training and Refresher Course in International Law, Caribbean Region.
Mr. Sears joined the then Ministry of External Affairs in 1975 and held various posts from First Assistant Secretary to Deputy Permanent Secretary to Undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1991. He served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Environment from 1993 to 1994 and returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1995 as Permanent Secretary. He served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health from 1997 to 2000.
Mr. Sears also had a distinguished career as a diplomat under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was appointed Ambassador of The Bahamas to the United States of America from April 2000 to August 2006.
He served as Non-Resident Ambassador of The Bahamas to Mexico from April 2000 to August 2006; Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the Organisation of American States from April 2000 to August 2006. He served as Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1986 to 1989; Deputy Head of Missions Non-Resident Embassies in France, Belgium, Germany and European Community (European Union) from 1986 to 1989; and First Secretary to the Permanent Mission of The Bahamas to the United Nations in 1983.
By Lindsay Thompson
Bahamas Information Services
