He will succeed Winston Cox of Barbados, and becomes the first Jamaican to serve as a Commonwealth Deputy Secretary General, according to a Commonwealth press release issued yesterday.

Smith is currently Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the Office of the United Nations and its specialised agencies in Geneva, Rome and Vienna. He is also Ambassador of Jamaica to the World Trade Organisation, and serves as Ambassador to a number of European countries.

Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon said, "I am delighted to have Ransford Smith join our team at this time of growth and challenge in the Commonwealth's economic, trade and development work".

"Last year, Commonwealth Governments pledged to substantially increase their commitments to our aid programmes. They have also mandated the Secretariat to strengthen intra-Commonwealth trade and economic linkages, in order to influence the Doha Round of world trade negotiations. Mr Smith brings all the skills and talents required for this important and sensitive work," said McKinnon.

Smith is expected to assume office in July 2006.

"I am excited at the prospect of joining the Commonwealth team and for the opportunity to contribute in areas of importance for members, especially development co-operation and the strengthening of trade performance," said Smith. "I welcome this new challenge, and very much look forward to taking up the post."

Smith is a career diplomat of nearly 30 years standing in the Jamaican Public and Foreign Service. He previously served as Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce and Technology, and also Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Investment. His diplomatic career has included postings at the Jamaican Embassy in Washington DC and the Jamaican Mission to the United Nations in New York.