His Excellency, Joshua Sears

Ambassador of the Bahamas to the United States of America and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS)

His Excellency Joshua Sears is The Bahamas' Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America, United Mexican States, the Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, Ambassador designate to the Republic of Colombia and High Commissioner designate to Malaysia.

Mr. Sears presented his credentials to President William Jefferson Clinton on 14 June 2000.

He was appointed non-Resident Ambassador to Mexico also on 1 April 2000 and he presented his credentials to President Ernesto Zedillo on 2 May 2000.

Mr. Sears presented his credentials to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States Dr. Cesar Gaviria on 11 May 2000.

He attended the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours.  He also holds an advanced diploma in public administration and policy management.  In 1977, he was a participant in the United Nations Institute for Training and Research's (UNITAR) Regional Training and Refresher Course in International Law for the Caribbean Region.

In 1980 he was awarded a UNITAR Fellowship in International Law, which involved studies and attachments at the Hague Academy of International Law, The Netherlands; the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), Washington, D.C.; and the United Nations, New York.

Mr. Sears has held several appointments in The Bahamas Public Service, including Deputy Permanent Secretary, 1986 and Undersecretary, 1991 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Environment; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security and the Office of the Attorney General.

Mr. Sears' Foreign Service appointments include First Secretary at The Bahamas Permanent Mission to the United Nations in 1983.  In 1986, he was appointed Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and also served as Deputy Head of Missions in The Bahamas Embassies to France, Belgium, Germany, and the European Community (European Union).

Mr. Sears has represented The Bahamas at a broad range of conferences, seminars and workshops under the auspices of the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the Commonwealth of Nations and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).  These have included the United Nations General Assembly, the World Health Assembly (World Health Organization), the Conferences of the Pan American Health Organization, the Regular and Special Sessions of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings, the Conference of Heads of Governments and ministerial meetings of CARICOM, and as Alternate Governor of The Bahamas to the Inter-American Development Bank.

He was elected Rapporteur at the United Nations Seminar on Recourse Procedures and other Forms of Protection Available to Victims of Racial Discrimination in Managua, Nicaragua, in December 1981.

He also served as the National Coordinator of the First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity held in Nassau, 28 November to 9 December 1994; Supervisor, 1980 Census; and as Presiding and Returning Officer in several general elections.

Mr. Sears is the current Chairman of the Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs of the Organization of American States as well as Vice Chairman of the Permanent Council of the OAS in Washington, D.C.