Dr June Soomer, ambassador of the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Global Campus, has been appointed chair-designate of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD).

The appointment took effect on January 1 this year. Ambassador Soomer received her PhD in History from The UWI in 1994 and was the first female to graduate with a doctorate in this discipline at the Cave Hill Campus. 

As an accomplished author and historian, she served in the diplomatic, financial and educational fields regionally and internationally. Dr. Soomer has over 40 years of academic and professional experience in management, operational and technical areas; and continues to advocate for equality and equity in sustainable development, particularly in the Caribbean Region. 

She was the first woman to serve as St. Lucia’s Ambassador to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and CARICOM with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs, a position she held from 2008-2016. She also served as an OECS Commissioner and was the first female Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) from 2016-2020. 

In July 2018, Dr. Soomer was awarded The UWI Alumni Association Pelican Award for excellence in diplomacy, public service and the promotion of regionalism, representing the 1989-1998 decade of the university with distinction. In 2021 she received St. Lucia’s highest national award, the St. Lucia Cross for her distinguished work in the fields of education, diplomacy, regionalism and development specialty.

The UN Permanent Forum for the People of African Descent is a consultative mechanism for people of African descent and other relevant stakeholders to improve the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent. 

It also is an advisory body to the UN Human Rights Council. 

Its mandate includes contributing to the full political, economic and social inclusion of people of African descent through its modalities, formats and substantive and procedural aspects.