Retired Guyanese Diplomat Dr. Mohammed Ali Odeen Ishmael is dead.
Ishmael, who died in the United States on Saturday, was once a teacher, and authored several books including the 1989 “Problems of the Transition of Education in the Third World.”
In 1992 Ishmael represented Guyana at the meeting of Information Ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Kingston, Jamaica, his first diplomatic representation.
From 1993 to 2003, he represented Guyana at the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC, where he served for two periods as Chairman of the Permanent Council.
He retired from the diplomatic service in June 2014.
He last served as Guyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait, having been appointed to that post in January 2011.
In 2012, he was appointed as non-resident ambassador to Qatar. Previously, he also served as ambassador to Venezuela (November 2003-January 2011).
In January 2002, he was honoured with the Martin Luther King Legacy Award for International Service in Washington DC.
The following year, the US Congress, in a joint resolution, also paid a special tribute to him just before he completed his service in the United States.
In a statement late Saturday, President David Granger paid tribute to his work, noting his many contributions over the years.
Ishmael was a recipient of the Cacique Crown of Honour, Guyana’s third highest national honour, for his outstanding work in diplomacy.
He leaves to mourn his widow Evangeline Ishmael, his son Safraz and daughter Nadeeza.
He was 70.
