Rocheforte Lafayette Weeks
Encyclopedia
Rocheforte Lafayette Weeks (1923 – 1986) was a politician, diplomat and university president in Liberia
. Weeks was the Secretary of Liberian Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly
in 1954 and 1955. From 1960 to 1972, Weeks was President of the University of Liberia
and from 1961 until 1972, he was Special Consultant for Liberia to UNESCO
. He was foreign minister
under President William R. Tolbert, Jr.
in 1972 and 1973. He was preceded by Joseph Rudolph Grimes
and was replaced by Charles Cecil Dennis
. From 1973 to 1976, he was Managing Director of the Technico-Auriole Engineering Company. From 1976 to 1982, Weeks was the Special Maritime representative to the United States
after which, Weeks retired to Liberia where he died in 1986.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. Weeks was the Secretary of Liberian Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
in 1954 and 1955. From 1960 to 1972, Weeks was President of the University of Liberia
University of Liberia
The University of Liberia is a publicly funded institution of higher learning located in Monrovia, Liberia. Authorized by the national government in 1851, the school opened in 1863 as Liberia College and became a university in 1951. The school is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning...
and from 1961 until 1972, he was Special Consultant for Liberia to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. He was foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
under President William R. Tolbert, Jr.
William R. Tolbert, Jr.
William Richard Tolbert, Jr. was the 20th President of Liberia from 1971 to 1980.Trained as a civil servant, he entered the country's House of Representatives in 1955 for the True Whig Party, then the only established party in the country...
in 1972 and 1973. He was preceded by Joseph Rudolph Grimes
Joseph Rudolph Grimes
Joseph Rudolph Grimes was a leading politician in Liberia. A trained lawyer, he served as Secretary of state from 1960 to 1971.-Early life:...
and was replaced by Charles Cecil Dennis
Charles Cecil Dennis
Charles Cecil Dennis was a Liberian political figure who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under President William Tolbert from 1973 until the coup d'état by Samuel Doe on April 12, 1980...
. From 1973 to 1976, he was Managing Director of the Technico-Auriole Engineering Company. From 1976 to 1982, Weeks was the Special Maritime representative to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after which, Weeks retired to Liberia where he died in 1986.