In a surprise move, Dr Karen Cummings has been appointed as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Cummings, who had been serving as Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, was one of four ministers who took the oath of office yesterday before President David Granger and he urged them to “fulfil their obligations at all times.”
Cummings takes up the new post as a result of the departure of former minister Carl Greenidge, who was forced to resign due to him being a dual citizen.
On April 25th, Granger had announced that Dawn Hastings-Williams, Hemraj Rajkumar and Tabitha Sarabo-Halley would serve as Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister of Business and Minister of the Public Service in the Ministry of the Presidency, respectively.
Notably, no announcement had been made for the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Asked yesterday what led to Dr. Cummings being appointed as Foreign Affairs Minister, Granger said, “The deciding factor is that the country could not be without a foreign minister and I felt in my considered judgment that she was the fittest person to hold that portfolio.”
Meanwhile, Cummings acknowledged that she has no foreign affairs experience. “’It’s a learning curve for me and I look forward to working and making myself available and to serve with distinction,” she said.
She told reporters that she is aware that her new portfolio entails a lot of hard work but she “is prepared for the task.” She expressed hope that she will be able to serve in her new capacity with distinction.
Cummings said that her appointment “to some extent” came as a surprise to her as she herself had been wondering who would fill that post given the vacancy.
She added that while serving in the Public Health Ministry she saw some achievements and she singled out the establishment of a Commission to deal with Non-Communicable Diseases, the passage of Tobacco legislation along with strides in vaccination and universal healthcare. Noting that today will be her first assignment on the job, she said that she is hoping to see Greenidge there. “I still think that he can be my coach. It’s a new area and so I look forward to working with him,” she added.
Solemn promise
The four new ministers will all be joining the Cabinet, while the other appointees, who are non-Cabinet ministers, will be going to their new ministries.
Annette Ferguson was reassigned to serve as the Minister in the Ministry of Communities, with responsibility for Housing; Simona Broomes was reassigned to serve as the Minister in the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for Youth Affairs; and Valarie Adams-Yearwood was reassigned to serve as the Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for Rural Affairs.
Ferguson previously served as Junior Public Infrastructure Minister, Broomes as Junior Natural Resources Minister, and Adams-Yearwood as Junior Communities Minister with responsibility for Housing.
Adams-Yearwood, against whom conflict of interest allegations have been levelled, was absent from the ceremony.
In a brief address after the oaths were taken at the simple swearing-in ceremony, which was held at the Ministry of the Presidency, President Granger reminded that the constitution empowers the President to appoint ministers “from among persons who are elected members of the National Assembly or are qualified to be elected as such members.
He said the very constitution mandates, also, that every minister shall subscribe to an oath of office “…before entering upon the duties of his or her office, make and subscribe the oath of office.”
The oath of office, he noted, is not a ceremonial ritual. “It represents a solemn promise and creates three principal obligations – first, to swear true faith and allegiance to the people; second, to execute the duties of his or her office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will; and, third, in so doing, to honour, uphold and preserve the constitution,” he told the new ministers, other ministers present and special invitees.
First, the minister, by swearing “…true faith and allegiance to the people,” Granger said, acknowledges the source of sovereignty – the people – and pledges loyalty to them in the exercise of that sovereignty.
Second, the minister, by swearing to execute his office “…without fear or favour, affection or ill-will,” commits to ensuring that his conduct will be free of the vices of malice and partiality and will be motivated by the pursuit of the common good, he further said.
He added that third, by swearing “…to honour, uphold and preserve the constitution,” the minister binds himself to respect and comply with the constitution.
Granger told the gathering that the resignations of Greenidge, Dominic Gaskin, who was Minister of Business, Joseph Harmon, who was Minister of State; and Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, who was Minister of the Public Service, which took effect from April 25th, had “necessitated a rebalancing of the executive.” “The Guyanese nation can be assured and can continue to look forward to the smooth functioning of their government as a result of these changes,” he said.
Roles for former ministers
With Harmon already appointed the Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Granger was asked if Greenidge, Gaskin and Roopnaraine will be taking up roles in the government. He told reporters that he has had discussions with Greenidge and Roopnaraine. “I hope that they continue to assist the government. Minister Greenidge, for example served under President (Forbes) Burnham and President (Desmond) Hoyte, [so] he has tremendous experience and I hope that he would continue to serve. It is up to him. Minister Roopnaraine, as well, has brought a lot of experience as an academic. It’s up to him [but] I would like him to continue to work…,” he noted.
Granger added that it is not a question of offering them a job but rather it is up to the remaining three whether they want to continue to serve. “I would like to have them onboard yes,” he said.
Asked if there were any difficulties shifting ministers around because of the coalition’s make-up, Granger said that the coalition has worked together for nearly four years and “I have very respectful relations with my partners and I consulted the leader of the Alliance for Change with regard to the appointment of a Minister of Business. As far as I am concerned, a recommendation was made to me for Mr. Rajkumar and I accepted that recommendation.”
Granger said that government is currently “rebalancing” and after the next Cabinet meeting and an opportunity to have discussions with the ministers, “I can see what assistance they need and if that necessity [appointing any MPs to serve in a junior minister portfolio] arises, I will act on the basis of their advice and based on my own considered judgement.”
Speaking later at a post-Cabinet press briefing, Harmon said earlier in the day the president met with Greenidge. “Therefore, there are some ongoing discussions that are taking place. There is some discussion taking place with former minister Dominic Gaskin as well as some discussion taking place with former Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, so these are all works in progress and once the situations have been clarified and decisions made we will keep the public informed,” he added.
