John William Ashe

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John William Ashe
John William Ashe.jpg
President of the United Nations General Assembly
In office
17 September 2013 – 16 September 2014
Preceded by Vuk Jeremić
Succeeded by Sam Kutesa
Personal details
Born (1954-08-20)20 August 1954
St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
Died 22 June 2016(2016-06-22) (aged 61)
Dobbs Ferry, New York, U.S.
Nationality Antiguan
Residence Dobbs Ferry, New York, U.S.
Alma mater University of Pennsylvania (PhD)
Saint Mary's University
Technical University of Nova Scotia

John William Ashe (20 August 1954 – 22 June 2016) was the President of the United Nations General Assembly at its 68th session, which ran September 2013 to September 2014.[1] He was also the ambassador to the United Nations for Antigua and Barbuda between 1995 and 2004. In 2015, he was arrested and charged with accepting bribes but died shortly before his scheduled trial.

Early life and education[edit]

Ashe was born in St. John's, Antigua.[2] His parents did not complete high school. His paternal grandfather gave his signature as an "X" and his mother, in turn, was a descendant of slave plantation owners in Barbados. Consequently, Ashe was the first in his family to attend university.[3] He was a graduate of St. Mary's University in Nova Scotia and the Technical University of Nova Scotia,[4] and in 1989 graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a PhD in Bioengineering.[5][6][7][8]

Political career[edit]

From 1989 to 1995, he worked for his country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations as Scientific Attaché, Counsellor and Minister Counsellor. Between 1995 and 2004, he was Antigua and Barbuda's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He served as Chairman of the thirteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, which met at United Nations Headquarters on 11–22 April 2005.[citation needed]

In April 2009, he was elected chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP), and was responsible for overseeing negotiations leading up to and including the final phase at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.[9] Towards the end of 2011, Ashe was the consensus candidate of all 33 GRULAC members states to be the president of the 68th session of the UNGA,[10] thus not necessitating an election, unlike his predecessor Vuk Jeremić who was challenged in an election to preside over the 67th session.[11]

Ashe led negotiations on budgetary and administrative matters within the conventions on biological diversity and desertification, the Basel Convention and the Montreal Protocol. He served on the Executive Boards of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). He was also his country’s ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and had ministerial responsibility for WTO and sustainable development matters.[citation needed]

Bribery accusation[edit]

On 6 October 2015, Ashe was arrested and charged,[12] along with five others, in a criminal complaint by federal prosecutors in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, reflecting an expansion of a probe into the dealings of Macau real estate developer Ng Lap Seng. The complaint accuses Ashe of using "his official position to obtain for Ng potentially lucrative investments in Antigua" as part of an alleged broader scheme to funnel more than $1 million in bribes from Chinese sources to facilitate business dealings, particularly in real estate.[13] He died five days before his trial was scheduled to begin.[14]

Personal life and death[edit]

Ashe was found dead at his home in Dobbs Ferry, New York on June 22, 2016.The Westchester, New York, medical examiner's office reported that Ashe died of injuries when a barbell he was lifting from a bench dropped on his neck.[15] U.N. spokesman Dan Thomas previously reported that Ashe died of a heart attack. The medical examiner clarified Ashe died from traumatic asphyxia and suffered laryngeal fractures.[16]

Until his death, Ashe was married to Anilla Cherian, had two children and lived in Dobbs Ferry, New York.[17][18][19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "General Assembly opens its 68th session with long-term development a prime goal". United Nations News Centre (17 September). 2013. Retrieved 2015-10-06. 
  2. ^ Aaron Morrison - Special to the Miami Herald (25 September 2013). "Antiguan Assembly head increases Caribbean prominence at U.N.". bradenton.com. The Bradenton Herald. Retrieved 23 June 2016. Born in St. John’s to Arnold and Beryl Ashe, both deceased, John is one of seven siblings. 
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013. 
  4. ^ "WEDDINGS;Anilla Cherian and John Ashe". nytimes.com. The New York Times. 2 June 1996. Retrieved 23 June 2016. He graduated from St. Mary's University in Nova Scotia and the Technical University of Nova Scotia, from which he received a master's degree in electrical engineering. He also holds master's and Ph.D. degrees in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. 
  5. ^ "WEDDINGS;Anilla Cherian and John Ashe". nytimes.com. The New York Times. 2 June 1996. Retrieved 23 June 2016. He graduated from St. Mary's University in Nova Scotia and the Technical University of Nova Scotia, from which he received a master's degree in electrical engineering. He also holds master's and Ph.D. degrees in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. 
  6. ^ Aaron Morrison - Special to the Miami Herald (25 September 2013). "Antiguan Assembly head increases Caribbean prominence at U.N.". bradenton.com. The Bradenton Herald. Retrieved 23 June 2016. ...after having earned a Ph.D. in bioengineering in 1989 from the University of Pennsylvania. 
  7. ^ UNIS (2005). "Press Releases: Biographical Note, John William Ashe of Antigua and Barbuda Fifth Committee Chairman [self-created biography in a UNIS press release on committee appointment]". United Nations Information Service (Vienna, 14 September). Retrieved 2015-10-06. [better source needed]
  8. ^ "1st Implementation Cycle - Policy Session". Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved December 21, 2009. 
  9. ^ "Antigua and Barbuda's ambassador Dr John Ashe releases two key negotiating texts ahead of key climate change talks". Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2010. 
  10. ^ "Antiguan endorsed as president of 2013 UN General Assembly". Caribbean360. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 2015-10-06. 
  11. ^ "Vuk Jeremic is standing for the presidency of the UN General Assembly". The Economist. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2016. 
  12. ^ Former UN General Assembly President and Five Others Charged in $1.3 Million Bribery Scheme — FBI
  13. ^ Santora, Marc; Weiseroct, Benjamin (6 October 2015). "Top United Nations Official Is Accused in Bribery Scheme". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-10-06. 
  14. ^ Viser, Steven; Frehse, Rob (22 June 2016). "John Ashe, ex U.N. leader indicted last year, dies". CNN. Retrieved 2016-06-22. 
  15. ^ http://abc7ny.com/news/coroner-ex-un-official-died-when-barbell-fell-on-his-neck/1399029/
  16. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/22/us/united-nations-john-ashe-dies-while-awaiting-bribery-trial/
  17. ^ "John Ashe, Ex-U.N. General Assembly President in U.S. Bribery Case, Dies: Lawyer". nbcnews.com. Reuters. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016. 
  18. ^ Sengupta, Somoni (22 June 2016). "John Ashe, Ex-Diplomat Accused in U.N. Corruption Case, Dies at 61". cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved 23 June 2016. 
  19. ^ Associated Press (23 June 2016). "AP: Ex-UN official chief from Dobbs Ferry dies amid bribery case". lohud.com. The Journal News. Ashe died at his home in Dobbs Ferry, according to Sgt. Vincent Ingani, of the Dobbs Ferry Police Department. 
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Vuk Jeremić		 President of the General Assembly
2013–2014		 Succeeded by
Sam Kutesa
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