Governor General welcomes new heads of mission to Canada

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, welcomed five new heads of mission to Canada during a ceremony at Rideau Hall.

During the ceremony, the following new heads of mission presented their credentials to the Governor General:

Her Excellency Adriana Solano Laclé
Ambassador of the Republic of Costa Rica

His Excellency Purmanund Jhugroo
High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius 

His Excellency Joaquim do Espirito Santo
Ambassador of the Republic of Angola

His Excellency Sisavath Inphachanh
Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic

His Excellency Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Pa’olelei Luteru
High Commissioner of the Independent State of Samoa

Upon their arrival in Canada, new heads of mission must present their letters of credence to the governor general before they can carry out their duties. Letters of credence are the official documents that accredit a diplomat as an ambassador or high commissioner to another country.