New American ambassador arrives

Last Updated on Friday, 25 September 2015, 15:48 by GxMedia

Ambassador Perry Holloway arrived in Guyana Thursday, September 24th after having been confirmed by the Senate in August, the American embassy here said.

He was sworn in as Ambassador to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on September 18, 2015.

Hollaway takes over from Ambassador Brent Hardt with whom the former Guyanese administration had had unhealthy relations that ended up with him being sent off with a “feral blast” by then acting Foreign Minister Priya Manickchand at a reception.

Ambassador Holloway, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, most recently served as Political-Military Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan (2013 – July 2014).  Known as a talented leader, consensus builder and manager, with broad, high-level policy experience in Latin America and in managing the interagency process, Ambassador Holloway will bring essential skills to the task of furthering bilateral relations with the Government of Guyana, an important U.S. partner in Latin America and within the Organization of American States.

Previously, Ambassador Holloway served in the Department of State as Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia (2010 – 2013), Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Asuncion, Paraguay (2009 – 2010), Director, Narcotics Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Bogota, Columbia (2007 – 2009), Deputy Director, Narcotics Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia (2005 – 2007), Andean Counterdrug Initiative Coordinator, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Washington, D.C. (2004 – 2005), Director, Narcotics Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Guatemala City, Guatemala (2000 – 2003), General Services Officer, U.S. Embassy Quito, Ecuador (1997 – 2000), Administrative Officer, U.S. Consulate Tijuana, Mexico (1994 – 1997), General Services Officer, U.S. Embassy San Salvador, El Salvador (1992 – 1994), Ambassador’s Staff Assistant, U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia (1990 – 1991) and Consular Officer, U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia (1989 – 1990).  Before joining the Foreign Service, he was a manager of Radio Shack stores in Georgia and South Carolina

Ambassador Holloway earned a B.A. in foreign languages from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, a M.A. in International Business Sciences from the University of South Carolina, and a M.A. in National Resources Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C.  He is the recipient three Senior Foreign Service Performance Awards, eight Superior Honor Awards and two Meritorious Awards from the Department of State. 

He speaks fluent Spanish. Ambassador Holloway, and his wife Rosaura, have two children.