The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a new permanent secretary in the person of former Director General (DG) Ambassador Elisabeth Harper.
Harper confirmed to Stabroek News last evening that she has been appointed to the post with effect from December 8, 2020.
After 15 years as DG, Harper had resigned in 2015 to enter politics as the Prime Ministerial Candi-date for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). When the PPP/C lost the 2015 elections the career diplomat reportedly rejected an offer to enter the National Assembly as an opposition member and quietly rejoined the Foreign Ministry as a special consultant in 2016.
Then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge had explained that Harper was rehired based on her skills on border issues.
“Mrs. Harper has been retained by the ministry… to work with us in a couple of the areas in which she has rather unique skills, as Director General and as a member of the staff of the ministry for many years,” he said at the time.
Notably Harper has replaced her successor Audrey Waddell who held the post of PS for less than five months. Waddell also a former Director General served in that post following Harper’s resignation in 2015. She was removed by the APNU+AFC coalition in December 2019 when the Ministry was restructured and the DG post replaced with a Permanent Secretary.
At that time President David Granger claimed that Waddell had been earmarked for a foreign posting.
From December 2 to August 18, 2020 Ambassador Charlene Phoenix led the Foreign Service as its Permanent Secretary. It is not clear what post Phoenix has held since the PPP/C returned to office.
It is also not clear what new position Waddell holds but she will remain at the Ministry.
