The announcement about this latest resignation came from the US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago:
Ambassador Beatrice W. Welters has resigned her post effective November 2, 2012 after serving as U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago for two and a half years. The Ambassador’s resignation is in keeping with the common practice of political appointees resigning prior to the Presidential election.
Ambassador Welters is looking forward to returning to her family and to her foundations in the United States, which work to improve the lives of disadvantaged youth. She will continue to work with NGOs here in Trinidad and Tobago in her private capacity.
In a message to the Embassy community she said: “I will leave this posting with a great sense of pride in what we have been able to achieve. Together our team at the Embassy has reached new heights in the areas of diplomatic engagement and cultural exchange here in Trinidad and Tobago and a lifetime of new friendships.”
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Ambassador Beatrice W. Welters, Major Lawrence Wilson and DCM David Wolfe. Major Wilson is the father of Private First Class LeRon Adrian Wilson, a Trinidad and Tobago national who joined the U.S. Army and served in Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was killed in Iraq at the age of 18.
(Photo from US Embassy Port of Spain)
Actually, I thought the common practice is for all ambassadors (career and political) to tender their resignation when a new President is elected. The career folks are usually kept on to the end of their three-year tours and political ambassadors turn over because the new President wants to bring in new people.
I imagine that if President Obama is reelected, there’s no need to submit those resignation letters. But if there is a President Romney, all ambassadors need to have those letters in.
While it is not unheard of for political ambassadors to resign prior to the elections, as with the former ambassador to the Bahamas Nicole Avant, that typically happens long before the election (Avant resigned last year). In which case, they can go back to private life and actively support their candidate.
Ambassador Welters resignation was announced on October 25, 2012 and took effect on November 2, 2012.
Back in 2009, this is a post that actually made me write, Sunday Tanka: At Embassy Port of Spain.
Am I missing anything here?
Related post:
That did not work out very well, did it? US Embassy Port of Spain Sets Record/s
Agree. Never heard of a political Ambassador resigning shortly before an election. What is really going on here?