Dr Thomas (Theo) Gittens (US)

B.A., M.A., PhD. Retired. Formerly, Secondary School Teacher, Guyana; Senior Lecturer, University of Guyana; Assistant Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Guyana; Programme Manager, UNDP NY; Country Director, UNDP Suriname.

Eighteen (18) years of experience teaching at high school and university levels; Teaching and academic research in international relations, comparative political development, political economy of the Caribbean, regional integration, development studies, Latin American and Third World Politics. In-depth knowledge of contemporary development challenges of the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, (1972-1990).

Twenty-three (23) years of experience as a development practitioner working in the United Nations system, including with UNDP on assignments in Trinidad and Tobago, UNDP Headquarters, NY, and in Suriname, (1990-2013).

International Consultant in Aid Management, (2015); Strategic Planning for Ministry of Social Cohesion, Guyana; Public Procurement Commission, Guyana; International Decade for People of African Descent – Guyana (IDPADA-G), (2016-2020); Special Envoy, Guyana-Suriname Cooperation Council (2017-2019).