MFA Press Statement: Presentation of Credentials

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

(a) The Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia,
Her Excellency Mrs Patricia Eugenia Cárdenas Santamaría;

(b) The High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Lesotho,
His Excellency Anthony Rachobokoane Thibeli; and

(c) The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic,
His Excellency José del Carmen Ureña Almonte.

The curricula vitae of Her Excellency Mrs Patricia Eugenia Cárdenas Santamaría, His Excellency Anthony Rachobokoane Thibeli and His Excellency José del Carmen Ureña Almonte are attached.

. . . . .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
26 JULY 2007

MRS PATRICIA EUGENIA CARDENAS SANTAMARIA

AMBASSADOR

REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA

BORN: 1 April 1958

AGE: 49

MARITAL STATUS: Married

EDUCATION: Industrial Engineer, University of Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia, March 1983

Diploma in Economic Development, University of Oxford, UK, June 1985

CAREER: 1982-1984 Administrative Director, Research Institute SER

1985-1989 Head of the Planning, Economic and Fiscal Analysis Office, Ministry of Finance and Public Credit

1989-1992 Advisor to Minister, Ministry of Finance and Public Credit

1996-1997 Commercial Director, Naturandina Ltda, International Trading Co

1998-2000 City Council Member of Bogota D.C.

2001-2006 President, Banking and Financial Institutions Association of Colombia, ASOBANCARIA

CAREER:
(cont'd) 2007
to date Ambassador of Colombia to Japan, based in Tokyo

3 May 2007
Ambassador-designate of Colombia to Singapore, with residence in Tokyo.

26 July 2007 Ambassador of Colombia to Singapore, with residence in Tokyo

OTHER
APPOINTMENTS: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1987-1989 Joint Administrator of the Institute of Social Insurances, Representative of the Minister of Finance
Committee of Credit of the National Energy Finance, Representative of the Minister of Finance

1988-1989 Plan of Integrated Rural Development, Representative of the Minister of Finance

1996-1997 Fiduciary Bogotá

2000-2006 Crafts of Colombia, Representative of the President of the Republic

2001-2006 National Fund of Guarantees Co Ltd

2002-2006 Latin American Federation of Banks - FELABAN

2004-2006 Modern Art Museum of Bogota

Directive Council of the University of Los Andes

. . . . .

July 2007

ANTHONY RACHOBOKOANE THIBELI

HIGH COMMISSIONER

KINGDOM OF LESOTHO

BORN: 26 June 1950

AGE: 57

MARITAL
STATUS: Married
Has two children

EDUCATION: Junior Certificate, 1977-1979

Helicopter Private Pilot Licence, Germany, 1979-1980

Cambridge Overseas School Certificate, 1982-1983

Junior Staff Course Certificate, Maxwell Air Force Base (Squadron Officer School), Alabama, USA, 1992

Civil Military Relations Course, Certificate Herbet Field, Florida, USA, 1998

Short Courses

Occupational Safety, Air Squadron, Maseru, Lesotho

Communication, Lesotho Institute for Public Administration and Management, Maseru, Lesotho

Quality Control (Equipment), Air Squadron, Maseru, Lesotho

Several Military courses organised by Lesotho Defence Force Training Wing

Computer Appreciation Course, Quadrant Computer Training Institute, Maseru
CAREER: 1970 Joined the then Police Mobile Unit

1994-1997 Commanding Officer, Air Wing

1999-2002 Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander Lesotho Defence Force

2002 Retired

March 2006 to date Ambassador of Lesotho to the People's Republic of China, based in Beijing

24 May 2007
High Commissioner-designate of Lesotho to Singapore, with residence in Beijing

26 July 2007 High Commissioner of Lesotho to Singapore, with residence in Beijing

OTHER ACTIVITIES: Has participated actively in several regional and global meetings, including:

• Lesotho delegation led by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mossisili to Libya and Italy

• Maritime Committee Meetings held in the Republic of South Africa

• Aviation Committee Meetings held in the Republic of South Africa and Zimbabwe

Promotes and facilitates local and international military activities, as well as sports as an integral part of the professional defence force.

. . . . .

July 2007

JOSE DEL CARMEN URENA ALMONTE

AMBASSADOR

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

BORN: 26 January 1945

AGE: 62

EDUCATION: MBA in Business Administration, Yale University in the United States of America

CAREER: 1979 - 1996 President of the Bank of Trade

President of the Security Company,
Reaseguradora Central

1967 - 2001 President of the commodities trading company Casa Ureña, C x A.

1994 - 2005 Honorary Consul of the Republic of Hungary in the Dominican Republic

2005
to date Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Japan, based in Tokyo

7 Sep 2005
Ambassador-designate of the Dominican Republic to Singapore, with residence in Tokyo

26 July 2007 Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Singapore, with residence in Tokyo
OTHER APPOINTMENTS: Member of Board of Directors of the National Drugs Council

Member of the State Sugar Production Council

Member of the Academic Community of Dominicans

Member of the Directors Council of the Catholic University of Santo Domingo

Founder of the Monumental Rotary Club in Santiago City

Founder of the International Junior Chamber in Santiago City

AWARDS: The Gold Key of the State of Florida

The Gold Button of Paul Harris

Supreme Silver Award by Jaycees International

Entrepreneur of the Year by the Inter-American Business Association

Award by the Government of Hungary for 10 years of Efficient Labour

PUBLICATIONS: Author of the book, Breaking the Silent

INTERESTS: Baseball and Golf

. . . . .

July 2007

Travel Page