Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge yesterday confirmed that Guyana’s ambassador to Venezuela, Cheryl Miles, is among several envoys who have been recalled by President David Granger.
Speaking at a People’s National Congress Reform press conference at Congress Place, Greenidge told reporters that Miles “has been instructed to wrap up by the end of December.”
Stabroek News had previously reported that Miles and Guyana’s Ambassador to Switzerland John Ford, Ambassador to China Bayney Karran, High Commissioner to Canada Clarissa Riehl and High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago Bishwaishwar Ramsaroop-Maraj were being recalled by President Granger as part of an “organisational restructuring” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Government has so far only identified Miles though it had promised last week to provide more information.
Yesterday, Greenidge declined to offer a reason for the recall but explained that it was unlikely that any of those recalled would be re-employed by the ministry. “They are not members of staff of the ministry… they were on contract and are now expected to find other opportunities,” he explained.
Greenidge deferred to the explanation provided by President Granger on the recall, while noting that false statements on the matter would have been addressed through that explanation.
On Wednesday, Granger told reporters that the decision to replace several overseas mission heads was in keeping with plans to professionalise the Foreign Service, including reducing the number of political appointments.
“There’s been no shake up and at the start of my presidency I had made it clear that the ambassadors who have been appointed would be there for only three years,” Granger said while speaking with reporters at the Ministry of the Presidency.
Granger explained that the restructuring would see a reduction of political appointees, while allowing career officers who were recruited and trained to become diplomats. He called it a transition. “My intention has always been that the appointment of persons who did not come through the Foreign Service should be reduced,” he said.
He added that the contracts of many of the ambassadors and high commissioners expired during the time while there was uncertainty about an elections date. As a result, changes were not made at that time. However, he said when it became certain that elections will be held in March 2020, a decision was taken for the changes to be made.
However, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said the president was being deceptive, while noting that a number of the “political appointees” had been appointed by the president himself.
Jagdeo told a news conference that the president’s explanation could cause people to assume that those who were being recalled were persons that the PPP hired. He went on to name three persons who he said were all appointed by the government.
“This entire shake up has nothing to do with professionalising the ministry. It has to do with a bunch of people who are incompetent as far as I’m concerned and who would sell out national interest for perks,” Jagdeo said, while also charging that the removal of Audrey Jardine-Waddell from the post of Director General was a “disastrous act” of demotion after several internal disagreements on foreign policy, particularly as it relates to Guyana’s sovereignty.
Jagdeo further noted that there is still a number of “political appointees” who were installed by the current administration and who have not been removed from their posts.
The ministry last week announced that career diplomat Charlene Phoenix had been appointed to the newly created post of Permanent Secretary, which will replace the designation of Director General.
It added that Jardine-Waddell, who served as Director General from June 2015, had proceeded on a period of annual leave pending reassignment.
Granger noted that Jardine-Waddell has not been demoted but promoted as she is likely to one of those reassigned to head a mission.
He said that they have made criteria for ambassadors who will serve at foreign posts, which include foreign languages and more specifically being able to speak the language of the capital to which they are posted. “She’s qualified for a higher post and on vacating the post of Director General it was my decision to appoint a Permanent Secretary who will continue the administration of the Foreign Service. It is not a demotion but a promotion,” the president said.
