GUYANA has signaled its intention to establish a High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago, President David Granger confirmed yesterday.He told the press corps yesterday that his government is currently in talks with their counterpart in the twin-island republic. “It is likely that a high commissioner will be based in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

While the official instrument has been sent to the Trinidad and Tobago government, its Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, during his inaugural address at the opening of the 37th meeting of CARICOM leaders in Guyana last evening said his Cabinet has approved the exchange of High Commissioners between his country and Barbados.

And while Dr Rowley went on to hint that another CARICOM country could be seeing a similar development in the near future, he did not indicate which.

Asked about the likelihood of Guyana’s application being the next to be approved by the Trinidad and Tobago government, Mr Granger said that question would be best answered by that country’s Prime Minister.

ONLY A CONSULATE
Guyana currently has a consulate in the twin-island republic. That consul, which is located in St Clare, is manned by Consul-General, Ernie Ross.

As consul-general of Guyana to Trinidad and Tobago, Ross’s position is unpaid. At present, Trinidad and Tobago has no representative in Guyana.

The agreement of Trinidad and Tobago’s cabinet for Guyana to establish a High Commission in that country would also see the twin-island republic establishing one here.

Ross is no stranger to controversy. In early 2015, Ross was fingered in a witness tampering allegation, which saw the twin island republic’s former Prime Minister, Kamla Persad Bissessar firing her National Security Minister, Gary Griffith.

The allegations against Ross came just a few months before both Guyana’s People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and Trinidad and Tobago’s United National Congress (UNC) lost their countries’ respective elections.

MIRED IN CONTROVERSY
Ross, a former campaign manager for Trinidad and Tobago’s UNC, which was headed by Persad Bissessar, although mired in controversy had received full endorsement by Guyana’s foreign ministry under the former PPP/C administration.

The PPP/C lost its election bid in May 2015 against the David Granger-led coalition, A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC).

In Trinidad and Tobago, on the other hand, the UNC was ousted in September 2015 by Dr Keith Rowley’s of the People’s National Movement (PNM).

Although most of Guyana’s Foreign representatives were recalled by the new administration, as per diplomatic protocol, Ross continues to have the confidence of this new administration.

Foreign Minister, Carl Greenidge was questioned yesterday about the coalition government’s continued support of Ross, but he refused to comment, as he hurried off to an afternoon caucus of regional leaders at the Arthur Chung Convention Center, Liliendaal.

The Guyana Chronicle reached out to their source at the foreign ministry some time ago to determine the status of Guyana opening diplomatic channels with Trinidad and Tobago.

The source said there is yet to be an official response to the invitation by the Trinbagonian authorities, but that the process could take some time.