Career diplomat Elisabeth Harper dies

Sep 14, 2025 News

---

Kaieteur News – Former Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Guyana’s Ambassador to CARICOM Elisabeth Ann Harper died on Saturday at the age of 67, following a period of illness.

Harper, who is the wife of former Guyana Cricket Coach Mark Harper, was reportedly battling cancer. In 2015, she was nominated as the People’s Progressive Party Civic’s (PPP/C) prime ministerial candidate.

At the time of her death, the career diplomat served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President Irfaan Ali in a message of condolence said that Harper’s distinguished career in foreign service “was marked by excellence, dedication and unyielding commitment to advancing the nation’s interest.”

He noted that Harper was “an extremely knowledgeable diplomat whose insight and experience enriched every sphere she worked.”

“She was gifted with exceptional organistational skills,” said President Ali who noted that she earned the respect of all who worked with her.

“Guyana has truly lost an outstanding citizen,” the president said while noting that Guyana will forever be grateful nation for her dedication to the foreign service.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in a statement said, “It is with deep sorrow that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announce the passing of Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Elizabeth Harper who died at the age of sixty-seven years old on 13th September 2025.”

The ministry said that since joining the Ministry in 1976, Ambassador Harper dedicated her life to the Foreign Service during which she served with distinction in every position.

“She will be remembered for her distinguished service, humility, and unwavering commitment to serve her country and the people of Guyana.  The Ministry extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Ambassador Harper during this time of grief,” the ministry said.

Similarly, Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) party in a statement lauded Harper’s service to Guyana.

“The Forward Guyana Movement extends heartfelt condolences on the passing of Elisabeth Harper, a career diplomat and servant of our nation.

From her early days at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to her leadership as Director-General, Ms. Harper exemplified integrity, professionalism, and love for country. Her journey—marked by excellence in scholarship and diplomacy—brought honour to Guyana at home and abroad,” the statement said.

Further, the party, whose leader Amanza Walton-Desir served as Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs in the National Assembly said, “We salute her life of service and the values she represented: dignity, commitment, and the pursuit of excellence.”

The party extended its sympathy noting that Harper’s legacy must continue to inspire all who seek to serve Guyana with distinction.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) in a statement said that Ambassador Harper’s dedication to public service, diplomacy, and her country leaves a legacy that all Guyanese can be proud of.

“Elisabeth Harper was a trailblazer in many ways. A career diplomat with decades of service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she rose from entry-level posts to become Director General and later held the office of Permanent Secretary.

She played a pivotal role in safeguarding Guyana’s sovereignty and border security, and was instrumental in representing Guyana in regional and international fora (Caricom, UN, Commonwealth, among others),” the AFC said.

Further, the party noted that her 2015 selection as Prime Ministerial Candidate for the PPP/C was historic — a recognition of her competence, breadth of experience, and potential to lead on issues of education, economic growth, equality, and protection of vulnerable populations.

“We mourn not just an ambassador and public servant, but a woman whose life and work challenged barriers and inspired many.

May her family, friends, colleagues, and all Guyanese find comfort in her many accomplishments, and may we continue to build a Guyana worthy of her vision.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website said that Harper started her education at St. Gabriel’s Primary School in Georgetown after which she attended the St. Rose’s High School.

In 1986, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French from the University of Guyana, passing with Honours. She also attended the University of Oxford where she attained a Certificate in Diplomatic Studies in 1990.

Harper joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1976 as a Clerk in the Registry. She has since acquired a wealth of experience in international affairs and other governmental matters serving in every major department of the Ministry with a wide scope of responsibility.

She served as Foreign Service Officer I in the Administrative Division (1981-1984), Foreign Service Officer II in the Protocol Division (1984-1988), Foreign Service Officer III in the Political Affairs Division with responsibility for Latin America and the Caribbean (1988-1991), Head of the Frontiers Division (1990-1991), Counsellor at the Guyana High Commission in London (1991-1995), Director of the Department of the Americas and Asia (1996-2001) and Director General (2001- 2015). As Director General, she also held the portfolios of Ambassador to CARICOM and Non-resident High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis.

Harper was a member of Guyana’s Delegation to numerous meetings of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Amazonian Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO), the Latin American Economic System (SELA), the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the Rio Group, the United Nations (UN), the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Commonwealth. She was a member of Guyana’s Team for the Guyana-Suriname Maritime Arbitration and was involved in several negotiations on behalf of Guyana both at the bilateral and multilateral levels.

She was once chair of the CARICOM Intergovernmental Task Force to revise the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Harper’s distinguished service to Guyana was recognised by the Government in 2011 when she was awarded one of Guyana’s most prestigious National Awards, the Golden Arrow of Achievement, for long, dedicated and distinguished service in the Guyana Foreign Service.

From 2016 to 2020, Mrs. Harper served as a Consultant to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Border Matters.

In October 2020, she was appointed Special Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and in December 2020, she was appointed as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

She was also the Co-Agent for Guyana in the case regarding the validity of the 1899 Award about the frontier between Guyana and Venezuela which is currently before the International Court of Justice.

Mrs. Harper was born in Kitty, Georgetown on October 2, 1957. A devout Christian, she is married to Mark Harper. Between them, they have five children.

---

• CARICOM, dies, diplomat, Elisabeth Anne Harper

---