Camillo Gonsalves Explained

Camillo Gonsalves
Birth Date:12 June 1972
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Country:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Office1:Minister of Finance
Term Start1:10 November 2017
Primeminister1:Ralph Gonsalves
Predecessor1:Ralph Gonsalves
Office2:Permanent Representative to the United Nations for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 25px
Term Start2:November 2007
Term End2:September 2013
Predecessor2:Margaret Hughes-Ferrari
Alma Mater:Temple University
George Washington University
New York University

Camillo Michael Gonsalves (born 12 June 1972)[1] is a Vincentian politician, lawyer and diplomat. Gonsalves is the current Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as well as the current representative for the constituency of East St. George.

Early life and education

Gonsalves was born on 12 June 1972 in Philadelphia to Ralph E. Gonsalves, current Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and his then-wife Sonia V. Gonsalves, Professor of Psychology at Stockton University.[2]

Gonsalves obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Temple University in Philadelphia, and then a Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School in Washington DC. He also has a Master of Science degree in Global Affairs from New York University.[3]

Career and politics

Gonsalves worked as a journalist in Philadelphia before graduating from law school, and then worked as a corporate litigation attorney in Washington, DC. He subsequently worked as a Senior Crown Counsel for the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, before being appointed to diplomatic postings "in various capacities in Cuba, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Korea, Libya and throughout the CARICOM region".

In November 2007, Gonsalves became St. Vincent and the Grenadines' Permanent Representative to the United Nations, replacing Ambassador Margaret Hughes-Ferrari.[4] [5]

In September 2013, Gonsalves was appointed as a senator in the House of Assembly of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and renounced his U.S. citizenship prior to taking up the position.[2] He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Consumer Affairs and Information Technology.[6]

In the December 2015 elections, Gonsalves was elected to the House of Assembly after successfully contesting the seat for the constituency of East St. George. On 14 December 2015, he was sworn in as Minister of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Trade, Information and Labour.

In a surprise cabinet reshuffle which took effect on 10 November 2017, Gonsalves took on the responsibility of the finance ministry - a portfolio his father had held since his Unity Labour Party administration came to government in 2001[7] - becoming Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Sustainable Development.

Gonsalves was re-elected for a second consecutive term in the 5 November 2020 elections and was sworn in as Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology on 10 November 2020.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Index Gl-Gq. rulers.org. Apr 13, 2021.
  2. News: Sen. Gonsalves says he renounced his American citizenship ahead of appointment to SVG Parliament. I-Witness News. 2014-03-06. 2014-03-07.
  3. Web site: Camillo Gonsalves. https://web.archive.org/web/20110725221322/http://www.svg-un.org/missionstaff.html. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Permanent Mission to the United Nations. 2014-03-07. 2011-07-25.
  4. http://www.svg-un.org/news/credentials.html "Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves Presents His Credentials to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon"
  5. http://nbcsvg.netfirms.com/nbcsvg.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=3475&sid=6f1e1b8886ed289e5a6e4a816ab2f2fd "St Vincent's ambassador reports on first month at UN"
  6. Web site: September 2013. rulers.org. Apr 13, 2021.
  7. News: St Vincent PM promotes son to finance minister. WIC News. 14 November 2017.