AMID much speculation, the Government of Guyana says it is awaiting the agreement of the host countries concerning those persons identified by Guyana to serve as diplomats abroad.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, in an invited comment, told the Guyana Chronicle that the process is a “tricky one” and must be dealt with carefully. He explained that, after putting together its list of proposed persons, it is for Guyana to await the host country’s approval. This is currently being done.

“You can’t announce the appointments. This is not the United States, where Congress has to pick their candidates. The normal protocol requires that you wait for the country to accept the person before you announce it. Otherwise, it would cause embarrassment,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said.

Quizzed on whether the persons identified are qualified, Minister Greenidge said this is not a worry.

“You think we would appoint people that are unqualified?” he asked, as he said the process for the appointment of diplomats requires that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs identifies persons, possibly in consultation with others, and then discuss the list of persons with the President. It is for President David Granger to approve, he said.

“…because, although it is something that has to be taken to the Cabinet, these are representatives of the President — the Head of State. It is not something you can do if the President doesn’t have confidence in the person. It has got to be somebody he is sure of,” the Foreign Affairs Minister explained.

He noted that, in the next few weeks, Guyana hopes to receive the host countries’ agreement to accept the nominees.

SOME SPECULATION
Asked whether Clarissa Riehl, Hamley Case, Hamid Majeed, and retired Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Bruce Lovell, were identified by the Government of Guyana to serve as ambassadors, Greenidge replied, “A number of names were wrong…some were speculation.”

He said those names that have been floating around in the media were probably as a result of “earlier discussions or ideas.”

President Granger believes that before this month ends, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be in a position to make “an official statement” on the diplomatic appointments. He explained that his government does not want to make any mistakes, and would accordingly take its time before announcing the postings.

VERIFICATION
“We don’t want to make any errors. Some recommendations have been made, some nominations have been made, and we have laid down criteria and we are now in a process of verification. I myself had hoped it would have been completed by December 31. We are looking at other issues, not only qualifications, but citizenship and other requirements for establishing those missions,” he told journalists on his televised weekly programme, ‘The Public Interest.’

President Granger said the “process is far advanced”, and in due course the names of those identified will be taken to Cabinet.

Asked whether the Alliance For Change (AFC) had agreed to the persons nominated for diplomatic appointments, the President said, “There is no requirement under the accord for any form of sharing. It is an Executive function. We function through Cabinet. When nominations are ready, I will bring it to Cabinet. This is how the government works. It is not subject to an agreement by the parties to the Cummingsburg Accord.”

President Granger said his government wants to ensure “that there is balance, that there is competence, and (that) the interest of the country would be put first above party or other interests.”

“If we are to advance that thrust of economic diplomacy, we have to look for the best. That’s why it is taking so long,” he explained.

By Ariana Gordon