London Delivers High Wattage Political Appointee As UK Ambassador To Cuba. Since 1931, Only Third “Sir” To Serve. Issues: UK-Connected Libertad Act Lawsuit & China-Connected Bank Lawsuits.
/London Delivers High Wattage Political Appointee As UK Ambassador To Cuba. Washington Should Do The Same.
Since 1931, Only Third “Sir” To Serve As UK Ambassador To Cuba.
Big Issues For New Ambassador: One UK-Connected Libertad Act Title III Lawsuit And Three China-Connected Bank Lawsuits.
Will Sir George Be The Needed Example For The United States?
Might He Be The On-The-Ground Political Catalyst Required For Canada, United Kingdom, and United States Forge A Common Strategy?
On 27 January 2022, Sir George Michael Edward Hollingbery will replace The Honorable Antony Stokes LVO OBE, who has served since 2016 as Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Republic of Cuba. Sir George’s appointment was announced [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-her-majestys-ambassador-to-cuba-sir-george-hollingbery-kcmg] in January 2021.
The tenure of Ambassador Stokes [https://www.gov.uk/government/people/antony-stokes], who is highly-valued by his peers in the Republic of Cuba and by United Kingdom-based commercial interests, has been successful despite a challenging commercial, economic, and political environment.
Sir George is a former Member of Parliament (Conservative Party), Minister of State for Trade Policy, Lord Commissioner Of Her Majesty’s Treasury, Parliament Private Secretary to the Home Secretary and later to the Prime Minister.
Perhaps most intriguing is his wife, Janette, was born in the United States. They have three children. Sir George is a horticulture hobbyist; his garden has been featured on the television programme Gardeners' World.
Wikipedia
George Michael Edward Hollingbery was born on 12 October 1963. He was educated at Radley College before studying at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford for a BA in human sciences which he was awarded by the University of Oxford in 1985. He then gained an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, US.
Hollingbery's earlier career was spent investing in and starting up businesses, the best known of which was veterinary chain Companion Care, sold to Pets at Home in 2002. In 2005, he began a property investment business, run from his Alresford home. Hollingbery was elected to Winchester City Council in 1999, becoming deputy leader in 2006. Hollingbery stood in Winchester in the 2005 general election, having managed the previous candidate's campaign in 2001, but was defeated by Liberal Democrat Mark Oaten.
In the 2010 general election, Hollingbery contested the new constituency of Meon Valley in Hampshire, created as a result of boundary changes. He was elected with a majority of 12,125. He was re-elected in 2015 and 2017 with majorities of 23,913 and 25,692 respectively. Hollingbery subsequently served on the Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art and the Communities and Local Government Committee. In parliament, Hollingbery was a close ally of Maidenhead MP Theresa May. He supported her candidature in the 2016 Conservative Party leadership election. He also served twice as her Parliamentary Private Secretary, first in her role as Home Secretary from 2012 to 2015 and then as Prime Minister from 2016 to 2018. Hollingbery was interviewed for the 2017 documentary Theresa vs. Boris: How May Became PM, in which he was also portrayed by Daniel Casey in dramatisations. Hollingbery was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in Theresa May's resignation honours on 10 September 2019. On 7 November 2019, Hollingbery announced he would not contest the 2019 general election. He added he supported Boris Johnson's Brexit deal but wanted to pursue career opportunities outside parliament. He was succeeded as MP for Meon Valley by Flick Drummond.
LINK To Sir George Video Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW_rc84kIQI
LinkedIn
Antony Stokes
British Ambassador to Cuba at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
22 December 2021
An end to red tape? The Cuban government has announced that embassies may send formal documents electronically. Previously an embassy driver would take papers requesting meetings, goods imports, official travel and much else to the ministry. Known as Notes Verbales, each had to be stamped and signed. An ambassador told me that in his farewell call on the Foreign Minister he had appreciated the professionalism of Cuban diplomats but joked of acquiring repetitive strain injury. “It’s all those formal notes you made me sign.” We do not know whether we must print them to be stamped and initialed, then scan them back in. With luck an electronic signature is acceptable. We have one lethargic printer (maintenance is complicated). Paper is short (so much so that no ration books will be distributed in January). Today we submitted a series of meeting requests. We are hoping our printer holds out: the new policy is in effect from 5 January. Image (by the author): happiness in the form of beer arrives at the embassy in the “combo”, 22 December (see previous posts). British brands not currently available.
LINKS To Related Analyses
President Biden: A Special Presidential Representative For Cuba Negotiations- With Or Without An Ambassador. January 31, 2021
15 Candidates For President-elect Biden: U.S. Ambassador To Cuba. Job Description Requirement: Negotiator. December 20, 2020
LINKS To UK-Connected Lawsuits
China-Owned Bank In London Sues Cuba Central Bank And Government Of Cuba. Either Sue For Custodian Account Holders Or Be Sued By Them? Embarrassing For Cuba To Be Sued By "Good Friend." December 21, 2021
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher (London) Represented Plaintiff In US$100 Million Lawsuit Against Cuba. Firm Represents Plaintiff In Libertad Act Lawsuits In Florida, New Jersey, Texas. China A Defendant. December 07, 2021
UK Lawsuit Seeks US$100+ Million From Central Bank Of Cuba & Government Of Cuba. Four Countries. Three Banks. Questions- Defining A "Loan" And Capacity To Contract. Read The 14 Court Filings. December 06, 2021
LUIS MANUEL RODRIGUEZ, MARIA TERESA RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a MARIA TERESA LANDA, ALFREDO RAMON FORNS, RAMON ALBERTO RODRIGUEZ, RAUL LORENZO RODRIGUEZ, CHRISTINA CONROY, and FRANCISCO RAMON RODRIGUEZ, Plaintiffs, v. IMPERIAL BRANDS PLC, CORPORACIÓN HABANOS, S.A., WPP PLC, YOUNG & RUBICAM LLC, and BCW LLC, a/k/a BURSON COHN & WOLFE LLC [1:20-cv-23287; Southern Florida District].
Berenthal & Associates (plaintiff)
Rodriguez Tramont & Nunez (plaintiff)
Nelson Mullins (defendant)
Allen & Overy (defendant)
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr (defendant)
Broad & Cassel (defendant)
Akerman (defendant)
Trenam, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O’Neill & Mullis (defendant)
Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky & Lieberman (defendant)
Strook & Strook & Lavan (defendant)
Lawsuit Against Imperial Brands (UK), Habanos (Cuba), WPP (UK), Young & Rubicam (US), BCW (US) To Receive Second Amended Complaint. 206 New Pages Filed. December 22, 2021
