Why is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs attributing his destruction of the Service to the one who built and elevated it?

Dec 15, 2019 Letters

Dear Editor-

Ole people often say some people like to put their curse on you. To hear Mr. Clement Rohee in his letter, “Foreign Affairs, the G77, ACP, Sugar and the President” speak of the Foreign Service and refers to a period he calls the “Burnham dictatorship” one wonders (KN, Dec 14, 2019). Why is the former minister of Foreign Affairs attributing his destruction of the Service to the one who built it and elevated it to a standard where it was second to none in the Caribbean. There was no “diplomatic gallivanting” of the Forbes Burnham administration. His Foreign Policy, in a Cold War era and the period of struggles against colonisation and apartheid, was studiously conceptualised and executed with precision by personnel of competence.

It was during the period of Mr. Rohee as Minister of Foreign Affairs the Service began a drastic decline, evident in he who held the portfolio coming after greats like Fred Wills, Sir Shridath Ramphal, Rashleigh Jackson and President Desmond Hoyte. President Hoyte held the portfolio after Mr. Jackson’s resignation. Qualitatively and quantitatively in the field and having the intellectual acumen to adroitly function in same Mr. Rohee could not put his small toe in these men’s shoes.

The Foreign Service foundation and international alliances we have were put in place by the Forbes Burnham administration. It was also during this period Guyana represented sister Caribbean countries on the international scene. This was the level of respect and admiration for our intellect and ability.
Even after leaving office he is still mixing up the names of countries. In his initial letter he refers to the “Constitution of the Republic of Guyana.”
If he is talking about this country, its name is the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and having served in the Foreign Service he more than most should know the importance of name and having it properly attributed.
Regardless of what any may think of Mr. Burnham during his time, Guyana was a leader, mover and shaker on the international scene, holding its own as an equal partner and shaping the global landscape to bring about our quest, as a small nation, for worldwide comity (i.e. peace and harmony). As the Jamaicans would say “Wi likkle but wi tallawah.” We did not have to fear that leaders or representatives would chuckle or knit their brows at our intellect and ability to grasp and respond to issues. We fearlessly held own and earned our respect to meaningfully participate and influence. We have the achievements to show. Undoubtedly, some may not have liked us, a constant feature of human behaviour, but they damn well respected us. That changed when Mr. Rohee arrived at South Road.

There are some things about Dr. Cheddi Jagan I admire but on his choice of Minister of Foreign Affairs he made a serious blunder in selecting Mr. Rohee. To head this ministry, it requires much more than the ability to sell the party’s newspaper, possessing a party card, and being a contributor in the party’s newspaper. This remains a blot on Guyana’s foreign service legacy and an unmitigated disaster of the Cheddi Jagan Government.

This is not to say what Rohee may be saying could not be reviewed for merit or demerit. Should one be informed by “The Desiderata” of Kahlil Gibran, all, “even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story,” and Mr. Rohee should speak. But to seek to use President Granger’s action to make a quantum leap and take a broad swipe to the Foreign Service during the era of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham is incredulous and unacceptable. You can say what you want about Mr. Burnham but when it comes to the Foreign Service, respect due!

Minette Bacchus

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Why is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs attributing his destruction of the Service to the one who built and elevated it?

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