Dear Editor,
I refer to the March 8 editorial titled ‘Diplomatic appointments’ in the Stabroek News and wish to say that I am largely in agreement with both the grand observations and the specific concerns posed. I would like, however, to add some points of clarification if not correction:
- First, two of the current Ambassadors, Mr George Talbot and Mr Keith George are career diplomats, who have “worked their way up through the ranks”. Mrs Esther Griffith, former Chief of Protocol, who is to be the Consul General in Nickerie Suriname, has been in the service for well over twelve years without ever having been posted or heading a mission before.
- That more new Ambassadors have not been chosen from serving officers is attributable to the points you have mentioned about career planning, training, posting abroad as well as nil or inadequate exposure of those at headquarters to the front line. It may be helpful for you to note, nonetheless, that a number of officers were recently posted abroad at levels just below Heads of Mission (HOM) in preparation for eventual HOM positions. They, like some of those recently recalled, are well on the way to being appointed HOMs in the next round, within the next 2-3 years.
Additionally, I am happy to inform you that Ambassador designates Mr David Hales and Mr Neville Totaram, the latter of whom is both a career diplomat and a very long-serving Permanent Secretary will be posted to the Guyana Mission in Brussels
Finally, among Heads of Mission to be appointed or for whom agréments have been requested are a few former members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who returned to contribute to the national struggle after extensive service abroad or in the region on the diplomatic circuit.
Yours faithfully,
Carl B Greenidge
Vice President and Minister of
Foreign Affairs
