UNDP appoints new resident representative to Jamaica
DENISE E Antonio, an American citizen and native of the West African country Liberia, has been appointed United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative for Jamaica.
She presented her credentials to Foreign Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith yesterday at the ministry’s headquarters in New Kingston. She was accompanied by United Nations resident coordinator to Jamaica, Bruno Pouezat.
In welcoming the new resident representative, Minister Johnson Smith said the cooperation between the Government of Jamaica and UNDP has been deep and substantial, and expressed optimism that Antonio’s appointment would sustain and enhance this enduring partnership.
Antonio, in her first official remarks since taking up appointment, reiterated the UNDP’s commitment to supporting the Government and people of Jamaica to realise their development aspirations. She said the UNDP was looking to support productivity and inclusion of all people in pursuit of economic growth and sustainable development.
Prior to this appointment, Antonio was deputy country director (operations) with the UNDP in Angola (2015-2019); Zimbabwe (2011-2015) and deputy resident representative (operations) in Ghana (2006-2011).
Antonio served as chief budget officer with the United Nations Mission in Côte d’Ivoire in Abidjan (2005-2006). In addition, she served as peacekeeping accounts officer with the United Nations in New York (2000-2005) and as financial systems specialist with the UNFPA (1998-2000).
Before joining the United Nations, she held various positions of increasing responsibility in the USA as controller at ScreenVision Cinema Network (1998); controller at International Herald Tribune (1995-1996); senior internal auditor at The New York Times (1990-1995), and auditor at New York Life Insurance Company (1998-1990).
Antonio is a certified public accountant in New York state and a graduate of business administration in accounting from Adelphi University.
She is married to Kisseih-Tetteh Antonio from Ghana and is a mother of five — three boys and two girls.
The new resident representative took up her new assignment on May 16.
