For Antigua and Barbuda and other Caribbean states, Paul Spencer is a familiar collaborator for economic development. Currently serving as an Advisor (Caribbean Affairs) in the Office of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), he brings 30 years of experience in foreign policy and governmental affairs. He has delivered advice on Caribbean issues, disaster response and preparedness matters and was part of an expert team supporting OAS efforts in Haiti from 2000 to 2005. On this last point, Mr. Spencer was a constant on all policy and operational decisions relating to the establishment and functioning of the OAS Special Mission for Strengthening Democracy in Haiti from 2000 t0 2005 and generally on matters relating to the Organization’s engagement in that country.
In the past 20 years, Mr. Spencer made his mark at the OAS by serving in various capacities. He started at the OAS as Field Director at the Office of the General Secretariat in Guyana, South America in 1993. In this capacity, he directed all office operations including personnel supervision, funds distribution, and resource management. He also played an instrumental role in establishing and implementing a comprehensive eco-tourism plan in Guyana. Upon his return to the United States, he was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Secretary General where he coordinated the operations of all 28 OAS Offices in Member States with some 90 employees from 1997 to 2004. He worked closely with all other departments/Offices within the General Secretariat, particularly Human Resources and Budget and Financial, to maximize resource allocation for each field office. He was successful in improving work productivity and efficiency by restructuring the field offices, which helped reduce operating expenses 20% from 1997 to 2004. Paul also served as the OAS Representative in St. Lucia from 2006 to 2008. From 2008 to 2010, he was Principal Adviser in the OAS Secretariat for Political Affairs.
Prior to joining OAS, Paul held the second highest rank at the Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda as the Minister Counsellor. He was the first career foreign service officer for the newly independent nation of Antigua and Barbuda in 1981. He coordinated and implemented foreign policy elements for the island and evaluated the impact of American foreign policy initiatives. His expert knowledge of critical foreign issues affecting US-Caribbean relations led to his selection as charge d’affaire (director of Embassy operations) on several occasions during the Ambassador’s absence and in between Ambassadors.
Early in his career, Paul was involved in trade promotion and initiated foreign investment programs to boost direct American and Canadian investment in Antigua and Barbuda. Throughout his career, he has worked to strengthen foreign relations between the United States and Caribbean countries.
Paul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from University of Essex and did postgraduate work in Economics at the London School of Economics, and in diplomacy and international affairs at the Polytechnic of Central London, all located in the United Kingdom. He also has a Master of Science degree in International Public Policy from the School of Advanced International Studies at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He has written on the “Security Problems of the Island States of the Caribbean” and “The Elimination of Article 8 of the Charter of the Organization of American States.”