Denise E. Antonio, an American citizen and native of the west African country, Liberia has been appointed United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Jamaica.

She presented her Credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith today at the Ministry’s headquarters in New Kingston, accompanied by United Nations Resident Coordinator to Jamaica, Bruno Pouezat.

In welcoming the new Resident Representative, Minister Johnson Smith said the cooperation between the government of Jamaica and UNDP has been deep and substantial, and expressed optimism that Ms. Antonio’s appointment would sustain and enhance this enduring partnership.

Ms. Antonio, in her first official remarks since taking up appointment, reiterated UNDP’s commitment to supporting the government and people of Jamaica realize their development aspirations. She said UNDP was looking to support productivity and inclusion of all people in pursuit of economic growth and sustainable development.

Prior to this appointment, Ms. Antonio was Deputy Country Director (Operations) with UNDP in Angola (2015-2019); Zimbabwe (2011-2015) and Deputy Resident Representative (Operations) in Ghana (2006-2011). Denise served as Chief Budget Officer with the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire (ONUCI) in Abidjan (2005-2006).  She also served as Peacekeeping Accounts Officer with the United Nations in New York (2000-2005) and as Financial Systems Specialist with UNFPA (1998-2000).

Before joining the United Nations, she held various positions of increasing responsibility in the USA as Controller at ScreenVision Cinema Network (1998); Controller at International herald Tribune (1995-1996); Senior Internal Auditor at The New York Times Company (1990-1995), and Auditor at New York Life Insurance Company (1998-1990).

Ms. Antonio is a Certified Public Accountant in New York State and a graduate of Business Administration in Accounting from Adelphi University.

She is married to Kisseih-Tetteh Antonio from Ghana and is a mother of five – three boys and two girls.

The new Resident Representative took up her new assignment on 16 May 2019.