Barbados

Commander Errington Shurland assumed the position of defense attaché on April 1, replacing Col. Clyde Parris, who departed the post March 31.

Botswana

Tebelelo Seretse Mazile became ambassador of Botswana to the United States on Feb. 16, 2011. She previously served as minister at the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications (2002-04) and minister at the Ministry of Trade Industry, Wildlife and Tourism (2000-02), as well as acting minister (2000) and assistant minister (1999) for presidential affairs in the Office of the President. Ambassador Seretse was also senior research office at the Bank of Botswana (1978-84) and finance manager with BP Botswana Ltd. (1984-89). In addition, she has been a member of a variety of boards from 1996 to 2010, including Denel, the Bank of Botswana, Debswana Diamond Co. and Botswana Insurance Holding Ltd., and has served as a chairwoman of the Labour Advisory Board, RPC Data, Funeral Services Group, and Diragake Ltd. She was also director of the board of Excess Petroleum Ltd., and head of the African delegation for the Fourth World Trade Organization, Ministerial Conference in Doha in 2001. Ambassador Seretse received a bachelor’s of law degree from the University of Botswana, a bachelor’s of science in accounting and a bachelor’s of arts in economics from Morgan State University in Maryland, and a master’s in economics at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. She speaks English, Setswana and I’Kalanga.

Portugal

Nuno Filipe Alves Salvador e Brito became ambassador of Portugal to the United States on Feb. 23, 2011. Ambassador Brito previously served as director-general for foreign policy (political director) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including co-chair of the U.S.-Portuguese Standing Bilateral Commission (2008-11), and director-general for European Affairs at the ministry, including co-chair of the Luso-Spanish Commission for Trans-Border Cooperation and counselor of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council (2005-08). He was also principal diplomatic advisor to the prime minister (2002-05), deputy permanent representative at the United Nations in New York (1999-2002), chief of cabinet for the secretary of state of defense (1995-97), and a member of the cabinet of the foreign affairs minister (1993-95). Ambassador Brito, who served at the Portuguese Embassy in Washington from 1987 to 1993, began his Foreign Service career as a desk officer for the Americas in the Political Directorate in 1984. He holds a law degree from the University of Lisbon and is married with two children.

Trinidad and Tobago

Dr. Neil Parsan became ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago on Feb. 14, 2011 after having largely worked in business management and health care for the last two decades. He previously served as consultant to the Business Development Co. of Trinidad and Tobago (2009-11), director of Document Wizard (2007-11), and consultant to FirstToKnow (2007-11). He has also served as director of numerous organizations from 2006 to the present, including: SaMaya Trading in Antigua, the Caribbean Chapter of the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants, Centaur Investments, ParCorp LLC, ParMor International, and TrinVision Enterprises, as well as chief executive officer of the CL Financial Subsidiary of HealthNet Ltd. (2004-10). In addition, Ambassador Parsan was owner and surgeon at Ridgevale Clinic (1995-2005), a lecturer of anatomy at the University of the West Indies (1995-2005), and customer service representative for American Airlines (1990-92). He holds a doctor of veterinary medicine degree with distinction from the University of the West Indies, a master’s degree from the Institute of Business at the University of the West Indies, a certificate in acute care management from Harvard University, and a diploma in international trade management from the Swedish Trade Council. Ambassador Parsan, 39, is married and fluent in Spanish.

Uruguay

Paola Repetto assumed the position of third secretary on Jan. 18.

Nestor Rosa departed the post of counselor last June.

Zimbabwe

Rwatirisa Matsika assumed the position of political counselor on April 1.