Guyana has lost one of its most seasoned and distinguished diplomats with the passing on 4th February 2017 in New Jersey, USA, at the age of 76 of Ambassador Noel Sinclair, former Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations.

Ambassador Sinclair was one of the small cadre of brilliant Guyanese diplomats forged in the crucible of the country's early post-independence years. He joined the diplomatic service in 1966, the year in which Guyana became an independent nation, and represented the country at its diplomatic missions in Caracas (Venezuela), Washington DC (USA), Lusaka (Zambia) and at the United Nations in New York, where he returned in 1979 as Permanent Representative and served in that capacity until 1987.
Other highlights of Ambassador Sinclair's long and distinguished career include service as Personal Assistant to the Secretary-General of the Preparatory Secretariat for the Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Non-Aligned Countries, Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, President of the United Nations Security Council, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Latin American Economic System (SELA), Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, Deputy Chef de Cabinet of the President of the General Assembly, and Permanent Observer of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at the United Nations.

Ambassador Sinclair combined his solid diplomatic skills and polished professionalism with an enviable intellect and great personal warmth. He was an unfailing and selfless mentor to many an aspiring diplomat from Guyana and the Caribbean, including to the current Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, Ambassador Michael Ten-Pow.

The Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations marks the  passing of this outstanding son of our soil with respect and gratitude for his service.

Ambassador Sinclair is survived by his wife Mona and his three sons Hasani, Masambi and Janari, as well as by his siblings Adeline Peters, Joyce, Eulene, Nola and Donald Sinclair.