I write concerning two articles which were carried in the Kaieteur News on Thursday 4th June, 2009 –“Foreign Affairs Ministry disconnected from reality – Trotman”, and Sunday 7th June, 2009 titled “Minister’s Comments smacks of indifference, callousness – PNCR.” Both articles were referring to comments which were alleged to have been made by me regarding the situation of Guyanese in Barbados. The Alliance for Change (AFC) in its usual style proceeded to, among other things, lambaste the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by indicating that they have misinformed me while the Peoples National Congress Reform’s (PNCR) Debra Backer mentioned that my comments “smack of indifference and a level of callousness.” While I am not unaccustomed to my parliamentary colleagues seeking to score cheap political points on any issue , and as such have no interest in verification, it is reasonable to expect that your reporter would report accurately what transpired.

With respect to the comments that are attributed to me, allow me to explain what transpired. On Tuesday 2nd , 2009, an Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Office of Migration in the presence of the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Clement Rohee, staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of the media. At the end of that signing ceremony, we fielded questions from the media at which time Iana Seales from the Stabroek News asked me what were the plans for Guyanese returning from Barbados. I responded by indicating that Guyanese citizens were always welcome home and went on to say that we have no reports here at the Foreign Ministry of anyone encountering difficulties. I was referring to the particular question of Guyanese returning home in the context of the recent announcement by the Prime Minister of Barbados since I assumed this was the context in which the question was asked. Since there were no reports of persons encountering difficulties in returning home, I sought to respond accordingly. I even mentioned that with respect to enquiries in Barbados, the Honorary Consul is dealing with those matters. At no time did the Kaieteur News reporter seek to clarify my response.

It is therefore dishonest for your reporter and your newspaper to now twist my comments as if I am indeed “callous,” “indifferent” and totally oblivious to the reports being carried in several sections of the media and the historical difficulties reported by our citizens travelling through Barbados. This is extremely dangerous, especially at this time when our citizens need our solidarity and support. Since the policy was announced by the Government of Barbados, I receive a regular update from our Honorary Consul in Barbados and I am aware of the enquiries being made, most of them having to do with further explanation of the policy. It is necessary for me to point this out, since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a standard approach of formally bringing to the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Barbados any complaints reported to us by individuals who have experienced harassment or ill treatment.

It is therefore disturbing for Kaieteur News to put the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in such a negative light.
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett
Minister of Foreign Affairs