"I met Maurice Isaacs many years ago before becoming Secretary-General of the Convention Secretariat. I have always known him as a professional dedicated to conservation so that current as well as future generations could enjoy and benefit from nature. He was one of those rare persons who could brighten up any room he entered, and we will all the more miss him for this quality in future CITES events. May he rest in peace and his family take comfort in the many achievements and friends he accumulated over his lifetime." - Ivonne Higuero, CITES Secretary General
The Secretariat was deeply saddened to learn of the recent death of Dr Maurice Isaacs. Maurice Isaacs has been the face and voice of the Bahamas in CITES forums for nearly 25 years.
He attended his first meeting of the Conference of the Parties at CoP10 in 1997 and since that time he has led the Bahamian delegation at most CoPs and was personally chosen as Vice-Chair of CoP18 in Geneva in 2019. In the Standing Committee, the Bahamas, represented by Maurice Isaacs, was elected alternate regional representative for the Central and South America and the Caribbean region at CoP15 in 2010 and full representative for the region at CoP17 in 2016. In the latter role, Maurice was selected as one of the Standing Committee Members representing CITES in discussions over the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. He was an important figure in the establishment of the Caribbean Regional Wildlife Enforcement Network - the Bahamas hosted the first meeting of this forum in 2016. He also championed efforts to conserve Caribbean iguanas in particular by working to stamp out illegal trade in specimens of these species. He will be remembered for his insightful contributions to CITES over the years, his winning smile and his warm Caribbean personality.
The Secretariat is certain that it will be joined by all Parties and observers in extending its sincere condolences to Maurice’s family and friends, and to the staff in the CITES authorities in the Bahamas.