Former Bahamas Ambassador Joshua Sears dies

Joshua Sears, a distinguished Bahamian diplomat who served as Ambassador to the United States from 2000 to 2006, has passed away. He was 72 years old.

Born on July 18, 1952, in Exuma, Sears dedicated nearly four decades to public service. He began his career in 1975 with the Ministry of External Affairs and held various positions, including First Assistant Secretary, Deputy Permanent Secretary, and Undersecretary. He was appointed Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2008.

His diplomatic tenure included postings as Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS).

In recognition of his excellence in foreign policy analysis, Sears was named Professional of the Year 2010 by the American’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals and was listed in Strathmore’s Who’s Who for his leadership and achievement in the field.

Then-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Hon. Brent Symonette, praised Sears for his long and outstanding service, noting the respect he garnered internationally for his quiet and unassuming manner. Symonette remarked, “The awards are only a small token of the sacrifice Mr. Sears and his family have given to this country.”