Dear Editor,
President Bharrat Jagdeo, in his brief remarks at the swearing in ceremony of newly appointed Ministers, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Pauline Sukhai of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs had this to say, “…their appointments were due to hard work…”.
The President also stated that he was impressed with the quality of work these ladies put out.
These comments caused me to reflect on the role of, arguably, one the most popular females in the PPP/C’s government, Gail Teixeira. I, therefore, wonder whether the President does not feel the same way about Ms Teixeira. Or is it that Gail’s ability to be “ministerially” productive has been retarded or seriously challenged.
While I am aware that the President, with the power vested in him by the constitution, has the perogative to name the members of his cabinet I cannot imagine that he would bypass the opportunity to name Gail Teixeira Minister of Foreign Affairs. Despite the fact that Teixeira is touted as one of the more effective party propagandists, many Guyanese believe that she was one of the few PPP/C’’s Ministers who actually made some positive impact with the Ministries she managed. But the fact that Mr Jagdeo removed her from Youth Sports and Culture, refused to confirm her as Minister of Home Affairs, after she acted in this position, after the fall of Mr Gajraj, and has now refused to name her as Minister of Foreign Affairs does not look good for Gail. So is Gail Teixeira no longer relevant to serve as a minister of the PPP/C government or is it that the President thinks the “old guards” of the PPP/C have outlived their usefulness, based on his personal ideology and conviction.
Or did Teixeira take a personal decision not to be involved at this level of government. I guess we will never know but I will not be surprised to hear Gail accepts the latter position to justify her perceived alienation from Jagdeo’s “inner-house”, in the name of salvaging party unity and delaying further fall-out between government and party supporters.
Or is Gail just comfortable with sitting in the Office Of the President, relishing her now advisory role.
I wish the two ladies the best of luck in their new challenges.
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor
