Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, Ambassador Dennis Francis, has been sworn in as president of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly.

He was sworn in on Tuesday as the UN General Assembly started its 78^th session, which is being held under the theme ‘Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all’.

Francis was elected to the post by acclamation during a ceremony in the iconic General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York on June 1. He will hold the position for one year.

Francis, who has had a nearly 40-year-career, pledged to prioritise encouraging and facilitating meaningful dialogue to ensure the clarity of priorities and the strengthening of common purpose in the interest of coherence during his tenure.

Conscious of the office’s sensitivity and weighty duties, he also pledged to discharge those responsibilities with transparency, accountability, vigour and dedication.