THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday announced six diplomatic appointments to the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Belgium, Cuba and Suriname.

The announcement comes 10 months after the APNU+AFC coalition government took office.

In a statement to the media, the ministry said David Hales will serve as Guyana’s Ambassador to Belgium. Hales was a former Director at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.
Businessman and long-standing People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member Frederick Hamley Case, will serve as Guyana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, replacing Laleshwar Singh who served in that capacity for over 20 years under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP) administration.
Meanwhile, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly under the People’s National Congress (PNC), Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister and Attorney Clarissa Riehl has been appointed Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada. She replaces PPP/C member Harry Narine Nawbatt.
Also appointed Ambassador is Bayney Karran, who will serve as Guyana’s Ambassador to China. Karran has a wealth of experience in foreign policy and diplomacy and has served as Ambassador to the US,the Organisation of American States (OAS), Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico.

Former Political Assistant to President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Halim Majeed, has been appointed Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba.

He replaces Attorney Mitra Devi Ali, while Esther Griffith will hold the post of Consul-General, Nickerie, Suriname. No appointments have been made to the United States and Brazil.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also announced that Ambassador Ivan Evelyn, former Ambassador of Guyana to Brazil will replace Griffith as the Chief of Protocol.
Arrangements are currently being made for the identified diplomats to take up their respective appointments.
In January, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge had told the Guyana Chronicle that the delay in the announcement of the diplomatic appointments was a result of the non-receipt of the host countries’ agreement to accept those persons identified by Guyana to serve as diplomats abroad.
He described the process as a “tricky one,” noting that it should be dealt with delicately. Last month, Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela Cheryl Miles was accredited by that government following a prolonged wait due to an age-old controversy with this country over ownership of two-thirds of Guyana.

Ambassador Miles presented her Letters of Credence to Venezuela’s Minister of People’s Power for External Relations Delcy Rodriguez, on February 17.
Minister Greenidge had assured that all persons identified by the APNU+AFC coalition government to serve as ambassadors (diplomats overseas) are qualified.
Meanwhile, President Granger had said that his government wants to ensure “that there is balance, that there is competence and the interest of the country would be put first above party or other interests,” in selecting the local diplomats.

“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 told the Guyana Chronicle.