His Excellency Dennis Francis, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, was elected to serve as President of the 78th Session of the General Assembly on 1 June 2023. A succinct online introduction will allow you to get to know him before the opening of the 78th session of the General Assembly on 5 September 2023.

Election of H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis (1 June 2023; 68 minutes)

Discover how the veteran diplomat, who fervently values “education [as] the great liberator, lifting people up the social and economic ladder and strengthening society in the process”, came to be the candidate for the presidency of the General Assembly.

The web page offers you a deep dive into Ambassador Dennis Francis’s vision as he prepares to lead the General Assembly under the overarching theme: ‘Peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability’.

Reading through the online introduction, you will learn that President-elect Dennis Francis is committed to multilateralism, fairness and dialogue.

Quoting Sir Ellis Clarke, first Permanent Representative of Trinidad-and-Tobago at the United Nations, the President-elect said, “'[w]e have […] developed in our society tolerance, camaraderie, respect for the rights of others, an unswerving opposition to oppression, injustice and racial discrimination, a love of liberty, a supreme faith in the dignity and worth of the human person, and belief in the value of co-operation.' These principles [would] form the basis of my actions as President of the General Assembly.”

Browse through the online introduction, available in all six official languages, to learn more about His Excellency Dennis Francis and his career, understand his vision for the 78th Session and read his acceptance speech. You will also find on the page links to videos of the election and his official portrait.