Loreen Ruth Bannis-Roberts

Loreen Ruth Bannis-Roberts is a Dominican politician and diplomat who has served both as a Parliamentary Representative and later as Ambassador of Dominica to the United Nations. Her career spans public service, international diplomacy, and community representation, with a focus on advancing Dominica’s foreign policy agenda and strengthening its presence within multilateral organisations.

Early Life and Education

Loreen Bannis-Roberts was born in the village of Castle Bruce, a constituency she later represented in the House of Assembly of Dominica. Information on her early education links to Dominica’s rural schooling system, which provided the foundation for her later public service. She pursued higher education overseas, focusing on governance, development, and international relations.

Political Career

She entered politics under the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and served as Parliamentary Representative for Castle Bruce Constituency. During her tenure, she supported projects in rural electrification, feeder roads, and social development initiatives. Her parliamentary work often aligned with national policies under Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, especially in community empowerment and social resilience.

Diplomatic Service

In 2016, Bannis-Roberts was appointed Permanent Representative of Dominica to the United Nations, making her one of the few Dominican women to serve at that level. She presented Dominica’s case for climate resilience, small island development, and access to international funding for disaster recovery. At the UN, she also advocated for SIDS (Small Island Developing States) and worked closely with CARICOM missions on regional policy coordination.

On 28 August 2025, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced her appointment as Dominica’s Permanent Representative to the United Kingdom, with full credentials to be presented to King Charles in due course. The appointment was formally approved by President Sylvanie Burton.

Contributions and Community Work

Loreen Bannis-Roberts has been active in promoting gender equity, rural development, and youth empowerment. She has also supported cultural initiatives from her constituency, including education scholarships, village beautification programmes, and sports development.

Parliamentary Work

• Represented Castle Bruce Constituency in the House of Assembly.
• Supported infrastructure, social welfare, and education reforms.

Diplomatic Engagement

• Appointed Ambassador to the United Nations in 2016.
• Advocated for climate change adaptation and SIDS resilience.

Development Projects

• Promoted community initiatives in Castle Bruce and surrounding villages.
• Supported youth training, women’s empowerment, and housing programmes.

Regional and International Representation

• Worked with CARICOM missions at the UN.
• Raised Dominica’s profile in multilateral diplomacy.