Her Excellency, Jacinth Henry-Martin

Ambassador of the Embassy and Permanent Mission of St. Kitts and Nevis in Washington, D.C.

Her Excellency, Jacinth Henry-Martin, diplomat, cultural advocate, and champion of youth empowerment is the Ambassador of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the United States of America and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS). In these pivotal roles, she upholds her nation’s principles and priorities on the global stage while fostering collaboration across the Americas. She dedicated her early career to culture and youth development, serving as Director of Culture and later as Parliamentary Secretary for Culture. Her ascent to Minister of Information, Culture, Youth & Sports upon her election to the National Parliament in 2004 was marked by transformational initiatives to preserve and promote the rich heritage of Saint Kitts and Nevis through contributions that extended beyond policy to active participation in the cultural and social fabric of the Federation. Ambassador Henry-Martin’s diplomatic journey began in 2005 with key representational assignments in the United Kingdom and the United States. Her historic appointment as the first female Ambassador of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the USA in 2011 also encompassed roles as Permanent Representative to the OAS and concurrent non-resident Ambassador to Mexico and Paraguay. From 2015 to 2023, Ambassador Henry-Martin advanced her regional impact through various roles at the OAS, including Chief of Staff to the Secretary General and Advisor to the Assistant Secretary General. Her responsibilities included coordinating the Offices of the General Secretariat across the Americas during which she led two OAS Electoral Observation Missions, underscoring her commitment to democratic governance and transparency.

In July 2023, Ambassador Henry-Martin answered the call to represent her nation once again as Ambassador to the USA and Permanent Representative to the OAS. Her wealth of experience, vision for sustainable development, and dedication to fostering regional cooperation make her a formidable voice for the Federation on critical hemispheric issues. An acclaimed writer and performer, she has published two anthologies of poetry and is known for her captivating dramatic presentations, often accompanied by drumming and choir ensembles. She frequently mentors young people as a motivational speaker and serves on the Board of the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), which promotes leadership and entrepreneurial initiatives among youth. Ambassador Henry-Martin holds a Master of Arts in Technical and Specialized Translation from the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom, is fluent in Spanish and French along with her native English and leverages her linguistic proficiency to build bridges of understanding in diverse international forums. Proudly committed to her nation’s development and the vision of shared prosperity, her contributions as a daughter of Saint Kitts and Nevis have been celebrated with numerous accolades, recognizing her dedication to the social advancement of the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis and her outstanding representation on the world stage.