The APNU-AFC Government is becoming inscrutable

Nov 18, 2015 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

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The recent diplomatic appointments are another worrying sign that the new Government elected in May, may not be properly moored in the waters of political sensibility. If any decision is bizarre and unfathomable since the coalition took office, it is the appointment of Halim Majeed to be our ambassador to Cuba. No doubt young people may have asked the question, Halim who?
There are some basic considerations that go into diplomatic postings. Obama has been accused of departing from that tradition by awarding ambassadorship to persons who were heavy contributors to his campaign. In other words, Foreign Service Officers were overlooked. But Obama has simply continued a tradition in American diplomacy. Most presidents have rewarded business people who contributed to the election campaign. One remembers the media frenzy when President Ronald Reagan appointed his fellow Hollywood actor, John Gavin, as the US envoy to Mexico.
Generally, Presidents and Prime Ministers in perhaps all the countries in the world bestow ambassadorships on close friends. But in many instances there is a logical underpinning.
Take John Gavin. He was just a film actor when he got the job, but he was a popular actor, known in Mexico and around the world. And his mother was Mexican. Obama appointed a Kennedy to Japan. Obviously, her name should make her effective. Many envoys are from the business community where it is hoped that they would use their connections to gain investments
Small countries have a special need that developed states don’t suffer from. They have to post talented people to important countries where trade concessions and aid assistance are vital. It may not be wise for a Prime Minister or President of a developing state to take a beauty queen and put her in the United Nations. She may smile more than talk.
Forbes Burnham was a perfect example of the search for skilled intellectuals to represent Guyana abroad. Burnham never joked around with diplomatic postings. He made sure his choices were either experienced or highly educated.
Cheddi Jagan, on the other hand, stunned Guyana when shortly after becoming president; he put his friend Brindley Benn as High Commissioner to Canada. Benn was a die-hard, unchanging communist and Cuba was the logical choice. This was in contrast to Burnham, who appointed a UG professor, Dr. Robert Moore, to Canada.
Most of Mr. Burnham’s Ambassadors were highly educated people. Among them were E. R. Braithwaite, author of the famous, “To Sir with Love,’ who was posted to the UN; Sir John Carter (US, UK, China); Dr. Ann Jardim (Brazil); Sir Lionel Luckhoo (UK); Frank Campbell (Cuba). The list also included, Winifred Gaskin, H.B. Gajraj, Pat Thompson; Noel Sinclair, Cecil Pilgrim, Hubert Jack, all prominent Guyanese.
Mr. Hamley Case to the UK seems fine. This is a Guyanese with a wealth of foreign business experience. The Clarissa Riehl choice at first glance doesn’t seem plausible.  But she is a long-serving PNC activist who is a prominent lawyer and one that has remained in Guyanese politics the past twenty-three years when the PNC was in opposition.
The Halim Majeed choice is extremely disconcerting. Mr. Majeed, who should be in his sixties, left Guyana a long time ago, and is based in the US. He has been inactive in politics for decades now, and as far as I know, is not involved in constant commentary on Caribbean affairs or international politics.
I would be more than eager to hear a justification of how this man could be Ambassador to Cuba, given the availability both APNU and the AFC have of young people with university training in international relations. What about serving Foreign Service Officers?  This choice may be more than inexplicable. It may be mysterious.
At a time when we have an aggressive border threat from a neighbour, we need a highly skilled diplomat in Cuba. The logic is simple. Cuba is the strongest ally in world politics that Venezuela has. Guyana has been a strong friend of Cuba. What is needed here is diplomatic finesse. It is virtually a minefield. You have to keep Cuba from openly siding with Venezuela knowing full well that Cuba will not distance itself from Venezuela. Majeed was a presidential assistant to Forbes Burnham in 1976, and through Majeed’s mentor, Ranji Chandisingh, he would have made contacts with important officials in Cuba. But that was forty years ago.
Those officials may have long retired. The Majeed thing calls into question just how well grounded this new government is, as Dr. David Hinds often writes on. Are there more mysteries in store for us?

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