I CONGRATULATE you dear friend and former working colleague on your accession to the high office of prime ministerial candidate for the PPP/C Party in the upcoming general elections. Your selection as a running mate for President Ramotar is welcomed by yours truly and I hasten to say by all Guyanese. I wish you God’s blessings in all you say and do. I met Mrs. Harper at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987. I was a Second Secretary in Political Division II while Mrs. Harper was a Senior Foreign Service Officer in Political Division I. We were a cadre of professionals that established a standard of cordiality and statesmanship that went way past my time at the ministry.

I know Mrs. Harper would be reading this, so, with nostalgia, I remind her of the days when we had to maintain professional outlook as befitting members of the diplomatic corp when all the prevailing circumstances militated against it. We had to showcase Guyana to the world; we were the public relations of a failed state called Guyana. Nevertheless, the foreign ministry officials rose to the challenges of the day and made the best of what there was in those troubled times.
Those were the days of other professional women such as Elma Langevine Daniels, Barbara Haley, Audrey Jardine-Waddell and of course, Elisabeth Harper. Mrs. Harper comes from a gene pool of dignified ladies.
So, it came as no surprise to me when Mrs. Harper was selected to be President Ramotar’s running mate.
Elisabeth, as she was fondly called by her working colleagues then, always carried a welcoming smile for all who knew her. She is affable, with a winsome personality. She brings to the political stage, a freshness as the morning dew on the grass.
I commend Mrs. Harper to the position she has aspired, knowing that she will do her work with due diligence.
I wish you all the best Elisabeth. God’s speed.

NEIL ADAMS