Dear Editor,
It was with a great amount of pride and satisfaction that one welcomed Sir Shridath Ramphal’s public acknowledgement of the numerous agencies and persons who collaborated with him in the remarkable effort that concluded in the Triumph for UNCLOS.
Especially gratifying for some of us was the mention made of two staff members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – the Director General, Elizabeth Harper; and another Senior Foreign Service Officer, Keith George.
Sir Shridath’s mention of their names at the well-attended launching of his book, at Le Meridien Pegasus on Saturday evening last, would have been music to the ears of those Guyanese who know how little appreciation is usually shown to public servants in recent years. That the recognition is also recorded in the preface of the Triumph for UNCLOS will serve to remind even disinterested readers that professional performers do exist in the public service, and have indeed existed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for decades. This gesture therefore has aroused among both the named and unnamed professionals of that ministry reflections on the muted attitude of their supervisors in relation to this very project, and indeed to other important achievements. In particular one must wonder whether, as the former head of the ministry, the current Advisor to the Office of the President, may have paused too to ponder on this particular performance evaluation by one of his illustrious predecessors.
It is worth noting that the level of performance commended is consistent with the general standards of the staff in question, despite the demotivating work environment.
There must be some irony, therefore, that in the midst of this ‘Ramphal’ season of celebrating diplomacy that not a single professional Ministry of Foreign Affairs Officer is considered for an overseas ambassadorial position.
It would appear that the culture of professionalism, technical excellence, and the sophistication of diplomatic engagement, even familiarity with AJ Seymour’s writings are attributes of little consequence to the selectors concerned, when compared to the criterion of amateurism that attaches to pure political affiliation. Not a single professional has been promoted during the watch of, interestingly enough, a Minister who himself developed in the very tradition of professionalism and excellence. The most recent appointment of Ambassador to Brazil can only be seen as a contradiction of the standards set and admired in Ramphal’s enlightening Commonwealth and UNCLOS experiences.
What a descent it is – from his mountainous vision to this valley of obscurity.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address
provided)
