Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of St. Lucia to UNESCO

In 1995, Gilbert Chagoury was appointed Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Saint Lucia to UNESCO.

Motivated by the needs of this Caribbean Island and it's sensitive eco-system, Gilbert worked long and hard to ensure its full and active representation at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

Ambassador Chagoury gave St. Lucia such a high profile that when he ran a candidacy for St. Lucia to the Executive Board of UNESCO, St. Lucia was elected with the highest Caribbean and Latin American votes ever.

With the same vigour, Ambassador Chagoury lobbied for St. Lucia to be represented on the World Heritage Committee and in 2001, St. Lucia was elected to the international body with the highest individual country score, becoming the first Caribbean state to sit on this prestigious body. Moreover, the Ambassador and his team at the Permanent Delegation, promoted the famous St. Lucian Pitons' site until they succeeded in having it placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Ambassador Chagoury has since gained the distinction of Permanent Representative of St. Lucia to UNOG Geneva, and personal Representative of the Prime Minister to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie.

Gilbert Chagoury continues his ethos of hard work and commitment on behalf of St. Lucia, which was recognised by the Government in 2004 when he was appointed to represent St. Lucia at the Vatican, becoming Ambassador of St. Lucia to the Holy See.