Gustavo Bell
Encyclopedia
Gustavo Adolfo Bell Lemus (born 1 February 1957) is the current Ambassador
of Colombia
to Cuba
. A lawyer, economist and historian, he served as the 7th Vice President of Colombia
between 1998 and 2002 under the administration of Andrés Pastrana Arango
, during which time he also served concurrently as High Commissioner for Human Rights of Colombia and as Minister of National Defence between 2001 and 2002. In 1992, as the 53rd Governor of Atlántico
, he became the first popularly elected Governor of the Department following the enactment of the 1991 Colombian Constitution
.
where he obtained a double degree
in Laws
and Socioeconomics
. He completed graduate studies at the University of the Andes
on a Constitutional Bicentenary scholarship from the Bank of the Republic [Colombia
], the Escuela de Estudios Hispano-Americanos at Seville
on a research scholarship from Spain
's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and St Antony's College, Oxford
on a British Council
scholarship, where he also obtained a Ph.D in Modern History
.
In addition to his academic studies, Bell was one of the founding members and part of the faculty of the University of the North in Barranquilla
.
, and quickly rose to become one of the most influential journalist in northern Colombia. While working as Executive Editor of El Heraldo, Bell suffered an assassination attempt but escaped unharmed.http://www.mediosparalapaz.org/?idcategoria=2576
as an independent candidate, he became the first elected governor by popular vote of this Department for the period between 1992-1994. (governors in Colombia were appointed by the President before the constitution of 1991)
of Colombia, They were elected for the 1998-2002 presidential period.
Vice President Bell was in charge of the Colombian Office for Human Rights
issues between 1998 and 2001, year in which President Pastrana also appointed him the Ministry of National Defence.
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. A lawyer, economist and historian, he served as the 7th Vice President of Colombia
Vice President of Colombia
The Vice President of Colombia is the first in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of Colombia upon leaves of absence or death, resignation, or removal of the President, as designated by the Colombian Constitution of 1991 which also reinstated the vice president figure...
between 1998 and 2002 under the administration of Andrés Pastrana Arango
Andrés Pastrana Arango
Andrés Pastrana Arango was the President of Colombia from 1998 to 2002, following in the footsteps of his father, Misael Pastrana, who was president from 1970 to 1974.-Early years:...
, during which time he also served concurrently as High Commissioner for Human Rights of Colombia and as Minister of National Defence between 2001 and 2002. In 1992, as the 53rd Governor of Atlántico
Governor of Atlántico
The Governor of the Department of Atlantico heads the executive branch of the government of the Colombian Department of Atlántico. He or she is the highest ranking official in the department and is elected by popular vote. The current governor is Eduardo Verano De la Rosa, a Liberal and...
, he became the first popularly elected Governor of the Department following the enactment of the 1991 Colombian Constitution
Colombian Constitution of 1991
The Political Constitution of Colombia, better known as the Constitution of 1991, is the current governing document of the Republic of Colombia. Promulgated on July 4 of 1991 , it replaced the Constitution of 1886...
.
Education
Bell attended the Pontifical Xavierian UniversityPontifical Xavierian University
The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana is a private higher education institution founded in 1623. It is one of the oldest, most traditional, and prestigious Colombian universities, directed by the Society of Jesus, with its main facilities in Bogotá and a second campus in Cali...
where he obtained a double degree
Double degree
A double-degree program, sometimes called a combined degree, conjoint degree, dual degree, or simultaneous degree program, involves a student's working for two different university degrees in parallel, either at the same institution or at different institutions , completing them in less time than...
in Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
and Socioeconomics
Socioeconomics
Socioeconomics or socio-economics or social economics is an umbrella term with different usages. 'Social economics' may refer broadly to the "use of economics in the study of society." More narrowly, contemporary practice considers behavioral interactions of individuals and groups through social...
. He completed graduate studies at the University of the Andes
University of the Andes, Colombia
The University of the Andes , is a coeducational, nonsectarian private university located in city centre Bogotá, Colombia. Founded in 1948, the University has 9 faculties: Administration, Architecture and Design, Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences, Law, Economics, Engineering and...
on a Constitutional Bicentenary scholarship from the Bank of the Republic [Colombia
Bank of the Republic (Colombia)
The Bank of the Republic is the state-run central bank of the Republic of Colombia. Its main functions are detailed by the Congress according to the . One of them is the issuance of the Colombian currency, the peso.-History:...
], the Escuela de Estudios Hispano-Americanos at Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
on a research scholarship from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and St Antony's College, Oxford
St Antony's College, Oxford
St Antony's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.St Antony's is the most international of the seven all-graduate colleges of the University of Oxford, specialising in international relations, economics, politics, and history of particular parts of the...
on a British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
scholarship, where he also obtained a Ph.D in Modern History
Modern history
Modern history, or the modern era, describes the historical timeline after the Middle Ages. Modern history can be further broken down into the early modern period and the late modern period after the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution...
.
In addition to his academic studies, Bell was one of the founding members and part of the faculty of the University of the North in Barranquilla
Barranquilla
Barranquilla is an industrial port city and municipality located in northern Colombia, near the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region with a population of 1,148,506 as of 2005, which makes it Colombia's...
.
Journalism
Bell began his work in journalism in El HeraldoEl Heraldo de Barranquilla
El Heraldo is a newspaper based in the city of Barranquilla in northern Colombia. It was founded in 1933 by Alberto Pumarejo, Luis Eduardo Manotas and Juan Fernández Ortega. It is the third highest circulating newspaper in Colombia mostly covering the area of the Colombian Caribbean Region and...
, and quickly rose to become one of the most influential journalist in northern Colombia. While working as Executive Editor of El Heraldo, Bell suffered an assassination attempt but escaped unharmed.http://www.mediosparalapaz.org/?idcategoria=2576
Governorship
In 1991 Bell run for governor of the Atlántico DepartmentAtlántico Department
Atlántico is a department of Colombia, located in northern Colombia with the Caribbean sea to its north, the Bolívar Department to its south, and the Magdalena Department to its east separated by the Magdalena River...
as an independent candidate, he became the first elected governor by popular vote of this Department for the period between 1992-1994. (governors in Colombia were appointed by the President before the constitution of 1991)
Vice Presidency
After spending three years studying in England Bell returned to Colombia in 1997 and joined the presidential campaign of Andrés Pastrana. Pastrana offered him the Vice PresidencyVice President of Colombia
The Vice President of Colombia is the first in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of Colombia upon leaves of absence or death, resignation, or removal of the President, as designated by the Colombian Constitution of 1991 which also reinstated the vice president figure...
of Colombia, They were elected for the 1998-2002 presidential period.
Vice President Bell was in charge of the Colombian Office for Human Rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
issues between 1998 and 2001, year in which President Pastrana also appointed him the Ministry of National Defence.