A Trinidadian, who migrated to the USA at the age of 14 years, has returned to his former homeland as the United States Ambassador.
John Learie Estrada, his wife and twin daughters arrived earlier this week to take up his post.
The U.S. Embassy in a release said, Estrada will assume duties after the presentation of his Letters of Credence to President Anthony Carmona.
In a welcome video posted on the U.S. Embassy’s Facebook page, Estrada, recalled the communities he grew up, in Laventille (now a crime “hot spot”), Diego Martin (West Trinidad) and Toco, (a rural area in the East).
He said that at the age of 14 he migrated to the U.S. and forged a new life.
“I brought with me a respect for diversity and an inherent sense of the equal value of all people. I served with honor in the United States Marine Corps attaining the Corps’ highest enlisted rank, 15th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps,” he said.
“As ambassador with that ideal as my guide, I want to strengthen the ties between the citizens and elected representatives or our nation. I am proud to be nominated by President Barack Obama to further serve my country in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,” he added.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Estrada as an ambassador on Feb. 12. Before coming to T&T, Estrada lived in Freeport, Maine, with his wife Dr. Elizabeth Anne Cote and their two daughters, Eva and Marie.
