Dennis Francis elected 78th UNGA president

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Dennis Francis, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago (TT), created history by becoming the first TT citizen to be elected as the President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

An overview of the news 

• The election took place at the UN headquarters in New York, US, on 1 June. 

• Francis, who has served in the diplomatic service for over 40 years, was nominated on April 1 and faced no opposition in the election. 

• He will serve as the 78th President of the UNGA.

• He will enforce the rules of procedure, such as opening and closing debates, regulating speaking times for representatives, suspending or adjourning debates, and setting the agenda for the assembly.

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

• It is the United Nation’s chief policy-making and representative organ and was created in 1945.

• It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN).

• It serves as the main deliberative, policy making and representative organ of the United Nations.

• Its powers, structure, functions and procedures are set out in Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter.

• Its main functions are to prepare the budget of the United Nations, appoint non-permanent members to the Security Council, appoint the Secretary-General of the United Nations, receive reports from other parts of the United Nations system, and make recommendations through resolutions.