PROMINENT Attorney at Law, Nigel Hughes cannot hold the position of Chairman of the Alliance for Change and seek to promulgate himself into the post of Honorary Consul of Italy to Guyana.
This is the position of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall who said that Hughes was making a mountain out of a molehill, even though he too is aware of the basic facts that would support government’s reason for not finding favour with his name as proposed for the position.
Nandlall, speaking during an invited comment on the issue, which has benefited from widespread media attention with the AFC Chairman laying discrimination charges at the feet of the administration, said that Hughes “cannot function” as an ambassador or diplomat.
“There are international norms, rules, practices and conventions which govern the appointment of diplomats. It’s a process that is based on mutuality”, the Attorney General argued.
Nandlall submitted that both countries must be satisfied with the competence, character and conduct of the individuals being proposed on either side of the divide to hold office as ambassadors or diplomats. The AG reminded Hughes that the process is left up to the sending and receiving countries that rely heavily on international laws and norms to govern their interactions and relations.
“The two countries must arrive at a candidate that is acceptable to both; that’s international practice everywhere and it is an axiomatic practice”, Nandlall said passionately.
Nandlall, advancing his arguments, said that “when you are in active politics in a country, you ought not to be appointed an ambassador….it is a norm and practice which, over the years, have crystallised into almost a rule”.
The Legal Affairs Minister said that the Government of Guyana takes note of all of the comments and allegations as well as the misinformation being peddled by Hughes through various sections of the media, with the aim of using this issue to achieve narrow political objectives “but it simply wouldn’t work”.
“Mr. Hughes is the Chairman of the Alliance for Change. He has thrown his hat into the ring as an active politician”.
Minister Nandlall has also rubbished the accusations made by Hughes that the government was engaged in practicing double standards when it had appointed other persons who were Ministers of Government to diplomatic posting. He referred to an incident which saw Manniram Prashad holding the post of Honorary Consul from Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana, while he held the office of Tourism Minister.
Nandlall said that Prashad was not a politician, but rather someone who was appointed to the post from the civic component of the ruling party. He also cautioned Hughes about making statements about Prashad’s appointment, explaining that the minister held the portfolio for a short period of time while in office.
“The important thing is that they are persons who are not in the hierarchy of any political party”, Nandlall advised, explaining quickly that other professionals such as Clifford Reece and Richard Fields have held positions with the diplomatic corps without holding any political office at the time.
Asked to comment on accusations that the government has deprived Italy of probably the most competent person to hold the post as honorary consul, Nandlall said, “I don’t know that Mr. Hughes wields the monopoly of competence in the area of diplomacy and I don’t even know that he has formal training in the area of diplomacy…and I certainly don’t know that he is a person that has monopolized the speciality of representing this country in the international arena”.
The minister has since dismissed Hughes as a person who is always allegedly engaged in race and discrimination banter. “If the rain fall too hard, is because of something to do with race and ethnicity”, he opined.
The Government of Guyana maintains the view that Hughes should seek answers from the Italian Government about the withdrawal of his name as a possible nominee for the diplomatic posting of honorary consul of Italy to Guyana.
Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, speaking during an invited comment, had said currently no one is substantively appointed to the post. Luncheon appeared to be saying that the government did not interfere in the process that it outlined to appoint persons to diplomatic postings, but rather followed established protocols and conventions.
“The Italian Government does not have an honorary consul in Guyana and until the Government of Guyana appoints or agrees to the nomination from the Government of Italy, then the appointment of an honorary consul is not possible,” he said when quizzed by the media.
He was adamant that Hughes’ quest for answers was directed in the first instance to the wrong administration, while opining he should not have any difficulty in obtaining the requisite information from the right administration. “He obviously is questioning why he is not appointed and the reason may very well have come from Italy”, Dr Luncheon said.
Hughes has reportedly been acting as Italy’s honorary consul to Guyana for the past 18 months, but Dr Luncheon did not seek to confirm or deny this. Hughes, who is an attorney, has now turned into a political figure, with his ascension to the chairmanship of the Alliance For Change (AFC).
The post is voluntary and does not offer any remuneration.