Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, a national of Dominica, assumed the office of secretary-general of the Caribbean Community on August 15, 2011. He served as permanent secretary in various ministries in Dominica for more than fourteen years, including in the Ministries of Trade, Industry, Enterprise Development, Tourism, and Foreign Affairs, where he headed the diplomatic service. He also served as the principal advisor to the Government of Dominica on all matters pertaining to economic integration and regional and international trade. Ambassador LaRocque has a wealth of experience in management, public administration, economic development, trade, foreign affairs and diplomacy.