Notes on Guyana’s Diplomatic appointments

Sep 12, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Given the recent utterances of various Government spokesmen, in the light of the revelations in the media about the appointment of an alleged legal defaulter as an Ambassador, it looks as if the “diligence” that was “due” in relation to such appointment s was “less than”, or “insufficiently” or “inadequately” due. I notice that the gentleman’s political sponsor, the AFC arm of the coalition, through its leader Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, is reflecting on whether or not His Excellency’s wrongdoing caused him to lose his voting rights. What the dickens could we the Guyanese people care two hoots about whether or not this man can vote in “farrin”, the so-called land of milk and honey!? In fact, we should be glad if any of our Ambassadors can no longer vote in America, though not under these circumstances.
Your newspaper reports that the Foreign Minister says that diplomatic appointees ‘must possess the special skill needed for the intended territory such as a language skill and that person must be a trusted individual, possessing the adequate repertoire [sic.] with the Head of State of their home country’. Respectfully, when you look at the recent appointment of diplomats, the sufficiency or adequacy of due diligence or compliance with the criteria raise questions. Those appointed consist of political has-beens, retirees, and persons who don’t know anything about diplomacy. Their average age is 60+, pushed to that height by octogenarians like Messrs Hamley Case and Bhiswaishwar “Cammie” Ramsaroop. The Oxbridge and Harvard man Dr. Riyad Insanally is an exception.
Does High Commissioner Case, a big PNC financier, have the energy to argue Guyana’s case in the uncertainty of post-Brexit UK, to preserve Guyana’s market access bilaterally or in the context of the EPA? Can he keep up with the demands of a hectic diplomatic/social circuit and that of an active and expectant Diaspora? Does “Cammie” have what it takes to rush off to Piarco in the wee hours of the morning to look about the free movement rights of Guyanese, Cephill Hodge and others? Or will he send the younger number two to do all the “heavy lifting” and confine himself to the diplomatic functions, or at least those that don’t run too late into the night?
Similarly, the Government has chosen to send as its Ambassador to the UN, a former staff member of the Ministry, whose separation from the Public Service in the 1980’s was less than straightforward (has this been forgotten/ forgiven/overlooked in the process of “due” diligence?), and who spent his years at the UN since then as a translator While in what could be considered self-imposed exile in the US, His Excellency failed over the decades to rise to the heights of distinguished Guyanese the likes of Mr. Stoby , Dr. Bertie Ramchand (lawyer) Dr. Bertram Collins, Ms. Hazel Fetherstone or her replacement Mr. Anand Goolasarran (Director), or Ms. Katherine Pollard, currently in charge of the General Assembly.
This new Ambassador has never spoken officially on behalf of Guyana in any UN meeting prior to his new appointment. In other words, he is an unknown quantity, an untried representative, who will have a steep learning curve since his days in the Ministry dating back to the fourth quarter of the 20th century. Much has changed since then and his infrequent visits to Guyana since the 1980’s, which he should be able to count on one hand, leaves him out of touch with the local conditions in the country that he now represents. Just like Ambassador Bayney Karran, a political appointee of the PPP era who was unsuccessful in his bid to jump ship to the OAS and who still managed to survive the change of government.
This was so even though the Foreign Minister had said that political appointees had to go. He has lived abroad close to two decades now. And one of the criteria listed for appointments is their rapport with the Head of State. Right now, Guyana’s greatest foreign policy challenge is once again the threat to its territory by Venezuela. It is not free movement within Caricom or selling rice and rum and plantain chips abroad, or attracting investment from overseas. That would not come in any case if there is no stable political environment, functioning judiciary for investors to go to, and the removal of the threat from aggressive neighbours.
I cannot remember Venezuela claiming water, only the Essequibo. This must have to do with the offshore oil found recently. And to lead our fight against Venezuela, the Government has placed retirees in Venezuela and at the UN, the latter never having functioned at that level. In both cases however, there knowledge of languages will serve them well.
So maybe the “diligence” that was “due” to be carried out at the Ministry, by the Advisory Committee, or wherever these names came from, might not have been met in other cases besides our man in Kuwait. These other appointees are APNU candidates.
I make these comments in light of the clear views expressed by the Government on Thursday to ‘respect public opinion at all times’, to take account of ‘the interest of the people of Guyana’ and Cabinet’s acknowledgement and respect for ‘true participatory and inclusionary democracy’. Equally, i pray that those who are ‘humans and not angels’ have it within their nature to recognise and assimilate constructive criticism for what it is, the greater good, the Good Life for all Guyanese.
Informed citizen

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