Sir George Hollingbery KCMG has began his appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba (gov.uk)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
Sir George Hollingbery KCMG, newly appointed as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, took up his official duties this week. Sir Hollingbery is the UK’s Man in Havana. The appointment of the former Conservative MP as ambassador to Cuba raised a few eyebrows because of his lack of diplomatic experience. Hollingbery is a crony of PM Boris Johnson. Cuba is an extremely important posting that requires a seasoned diplomat. Hollingbery was a former trade minister and Tory MP until 2019.
“Sir George Hollingbery’s appointment, with little obvious relevant expertise and no competition, once again suggests that to this government, who you know is more important than what you know. Ambassadorial posts are key to securing the UK’s interests abroad. Political appointments undermine the country’s longer-term interests, as they will almost inevitably change with a change in government.”
-Dave Penman, the head of the FDA union, which represents Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) staff told the UK Guardian Jan. 26, 2021 after Hollingbery’s appointment was made public.
El Embajador de Su Majestad Sir George Hollingbery KCMG entregó Copias de Estilo a @AnayansiRCamejo, Viceministra de @CubaMINREX cómo inicio a su misión en #Cuba, relaciones diplomáticas que en este 2022 cumplen 120 años de establecimiento. #UKinCuba 🇬🇧 🇨🇺 pic.twitter.com/nFRX4GMDOr
— UKinCuba 🇬🇧🇨🇺 (@UKinCuba) February 9, 2022
Then-UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab said last year of Hollingbery’s choice as the new Man in Havana:
“Sir George Hollingbery brings a wealth of experience to the role, including from his time as a Trade Minister. I look forward to working together as we continue to build on the UK’s important relationship with Cuba.”
Sir George Hollingbery said:
“I am honoured to have been appointed as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Cuba and I hugely look forward to taking up the role.
The relationship between our two countries has been carefully fostered and deepened by my predecessors and I look forward to continuing the work.”
Sir Hollinbery Replaces Dr Antony Stokes as Cuba Ambassador
Mr Antony Stokes LVO served as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba from 2016 – 2021. (Credit: gov.uk)
Former UK Man in Havana Antony Stokes an Experienced Diplomat
Before his posting in Havana, Antony Stokes, previously served as Ambassador-at-Large for Climate, and from 2010-2014 as Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a period which saw a rapid strengthening of UK-Vietnam relations. Stokes also served as Head of Mission to Latvia. As Head of the FCO’s South Asia Department, he covered UK relations with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. As Political Counsellor in Seoul, South Korea, he worked on the establishment of a UK diplomatic presence in North Korea. His first diplomatic posting was to Thailand, where he was also accredited to Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
