MFA Press Statement: Presentation of Credentials

The following new foreign Heads of Mission presented their diplomatic credentials to President S R Nathan in separate ceremonies at the Istana today:

(a) The Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman, His Excellency Mohammed Bin Yousuf Bin Dawood Shalwani;

(b) The Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia, His Excellency Faysal Gouia; and

(c) The High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Pundit Maniedeo Persad.

The curricula vitae of His Excellency Mohammed Bin Yousuf Bin Dawood Shalwani, His Excellency Faysal Gouia and His Excellency Pundit Maneideo Persad are attached.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
29 JUNE 2006

MOHAMMED BIN YOUSUF BIN DAWOOD SHALWANI

AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE

SULTANATE OF OMAN

BORN: March 1954

AGE: 52

MARITAL STATUS: Married with 8 children

EDUCATION: BA History from Cairo University, Egypt 1977

CAREER: Jan 1978 Second Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

May 1981 First Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Jun 1982 Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Islamabad

Jul 1984 Asian Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Oct 1984 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Financial and Economic Affairs

Jan 1986 Director, Minister's Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Jul 1991 Counsellor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Aug 1994 Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Pakistan

CAREER:
(cont'd) 1995 Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Bangladesh

Aug 2000 Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Thailand

May 2002 Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Vietnam

Sep 2005
to date Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to India

29 Jun 2006 Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Singapore, resident in New Delhi

LANGUAGES: Arabic and English

REMARKS: Enjoys walking and football and has an interest in economic matters and environmental issues.

. . . . .

June 2006

FAYSAL GOUIA

AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE
REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA

BORN: 10 July 1959

AGE: 46

MARITAL STATUS: Married
Has two daughters

EDUCATION:
Studied Business Administration,
Ecole Nationale d'Administration (National Administration Institute), Tunis

Holds the equivalent of PhD in Public Administration, Ecole Nationale d'Administration, Tunis, 1989

MA in Finance Management, Finance School of Paris, 1986

Diploma, Nationale Defence Institute, Washington, DC (Near East South Asia Centre for Strategic Studies), 2002

Diploma in English Studies, Bourguiba Institute of Foreign Languages, Tunis, 1995

Auditor, National Defence Institute, Tunis, 2003

CAREER: 1984-1986 Head, International Relations Division, Ministry of Family and Woman Affairs

1989-1993 Head, Budget Management Division, Ministry of Finance
CAREER:
(cont'd) 1993-1995 Deputy Director for South Asia Region, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1995-1997 Cultural and Press Attaché, Embassy of Tunisia in Washington

1997-1999 Economic and Commercial Counsellor, Embassy of Tunisia in Washington

1999-2001 Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Tunisia in Washington

2001-2005 Director of the Americas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2005
to date Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to Indonesia

29 Jun 2006 Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to Singapore, resident in Jakarta

OTHER ACTIVITIES: Permanent Member of the "High Commission for Tenders", Prime Minister's Office

Teacher, Diplomatic Institute, Tunis

CONFERENCES ATTENDED: Attended several United Nations conferences and represented Tunisia in many conferences and seminars on issues related to foreign policy and international relations.

LANGUAGES:
Arabic, French and English

. . . . .

June 2006

PUNDIT MANIEDEO PERSAD

HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SINGAPORE

REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

BORN: 6 March 1962

AGE: 44

MARITAL
STATUS: Married to Rohini Persad
Has 2 daughters

EDUCATION:
First Year National Sciences and Engineering, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine

Topped the Class, Scholarship Training Programme, Academy of Insurance, 1984

Fellow, Life Management Institute of America (FLMI)

Associate, Chartered Insurance Institute of London (ACII), 1987

Post Graduate Diploma on Comparative Study of Valrniki and Tulsi Ramayan, UWI Trinidad

CAREER: 1983-1986 Insurance Trainee, then Supervisor of Life Department, then Supervisor of Systems Department, Reinsurance Company of Trinidad and Tobago

CAREER:
(cont'd) 1986-1990 System Co-ordinator, Assistant to the General Manager and promoted to Assistant to the Executive Director, The New India Assurance Company, Trinidad and Tobago Ltd

1990
to date Formed EKTA Consultants Company Ltd, EKTA Tours and Travel Ltd, EKTA Rentals, EKTA Television Productions in addition to other Consultancy Companies.

Apr 2002 Appointed as Government Senator

Oct 2002
to date
Re-appointed as Government Senator
Jan 2003 Represented Trinidad and Tobago at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conference, New Delhi, India

Dec 2003
to date High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to India

29 Jun 2006 High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to Singapore, resident in New Delhi

CULTURAL INVOLVEMENT: 1997
to date Practicing Pundit since age 15, one of the youngest ordained Spiritual Leaders, Trinidad and Tobago

Founding Director, SWAHA Inc.

Past President and Past General Secretary, Board of SWAHA

Spiritual Leader, Sri RAAM Dhaam, Diego Martin Trinidad

CULTURAL INVOLVEMENT:
(cont'd) Chairman, Sri Ganesh Festival Committee, Trinidad and Tobago

Co-ordinator and Arrangement of regular pilgrimage tours to India

AWARD AND RECOGNITION: Alexander Howden Group Prize for most outstanding examination entry in South America and the Caribbean in 9 part course by Chartered Insurance Institute of London, 1987

MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS: Author of a book on the worship of Lord Ganesh, Trinidad and Tobago

Creator of Numerous radio, TV programmes on culture, being the Producer of cultural/religious TV series SWAHA since 1993

Author and Producer of plays on Ramayan for local productions

MEMBERSHIPS: Executive, Trinidad and Tobago Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)

Joint Select Committee on Municipal Corporations and Service Commission with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.

Joint Select Committee on Government Ministries (Part II) Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises falling under those Ministries.

Public Accounts (Enterprise) Committee

. . . .

June 2006