Dear Editor,
I HAVE been following with considerable interest President Granger’s recent statements in New York City of his intention to look to new diplomats whom he will be appointing over the coming weeks to advance Guyana’s interests internationally, Guyanese diplomats who shall be able to propel our country’s economic diplomacy much more quickly than it is being propelled currently.
This is very inspiring news, and causes one to engage in nostalgia and makes us remember when our foreign service was in capable hands of the likes of Fred Wills, Shridath Ramphal, Rashleigh Jackson, Dr. Cedric Grant, Sir John Carter, Sir Lionel Luckhoo, ER Braithwaite, Pat Thompson, Dr Anne Jardim, RB Gajraj, Winifred Gaskin, Sir Edward (EV) Luckhoo, Lloyd Searwar, Harry Dyett, Rudy Insanally, Noel Sinclair, Dr Bobby Moore, Cedric Joseph, Rudy Collins, Dr Denis Benn, Dr Barton Scotland, James Matheson and Ronald Austin, Guyana’s diplomatic corps was a thing of admiration for the world to see for a prolonged period of time.
Now with Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty once again being challenged, it is critical for us to solicit the support of all small and large nations at the UN, the Commonwealth, the AU, the OAS, NAM and CARICOM etc.
In leading and coordinating such a charge it is my hope that President Granger and Minister Greenidge remember and consider appointing one of Guyana’s most experienced, influential and skilful career diplomats Elisabeth Harper, to be the backbone in the building of this new cadre of diplomats who will be responsible for making sure that Guyana is heard.
Over the years, as the Director- General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Harper’s intellect has contributed in no small measure to building a committed, and professional corps of foreign service officers who have worked quietly but assiduously in the background; and she has consistently shown herself as willing to share her knowledge and experience in the national interest, serving several presidents, governments and foreign ministers. It would be a shame if in such a small country, with such limited human and other resources, we fail to capitalise and fully exploit the talents of our patriots and public servants such as Ms. Harper, as we seek to pursue an activist foreign policy and to maintain a diplomatic firewall.
Sincerely
Debra Gibson