…knocks KN for ‘sensational stories’

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge on Wednesday told reporters that Guyana’s Honorary Consuls globally are not being paid by government.

The minister made this disclosure following publications by Kaieteur News about what has been deemed unsavory stories of the services offered by Miami’s Honorary Consul, Ramzan Roshanali. Greenidge explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs work abroad is normally undertaken by Ambassadors and Consuls General who are full time employees of the Government. However, due to financial constraints most countries also utilise Honorary Consuls, he told reporters at a press conference.

“The work of these Consulates relate to matters such as visas and passport processing, assisting Guyanese with interfacing with the host Governments and their agencies such as the police, hospitals, notarising documents, helping stranded Guyanese, among other things. It is at times very demanding work and when account is taken of the fact that it is unpaid, can prove to be too much for even the most enthusiastic and nationalistic of persons,” said the Foreign Affairs Minister.

He said it is not unusual for Guyanese within the Diaspora and particularly in the United States to complain about the consulates, honorary and otherwise. In fact, he noted that many have requested similar jobs but when told these were voluntary, changed their minds. The Minister noted too that there are stipulated criteria for a person becoming an Honorary Consul.

“Whilst not doubting the validity of these concerns, it is also the case that many complainants labour under the misapprehension that this is a lucrative undertaking and therefore there is often some resentment about being excluded,” said Greenidge. Describing the two publications by Kaieteur News on Wednesday and Tuesday as “sensational” the Minister said there is clear confusion and misunderstanding on the issue.

“The Honorary Consul, for example, has no say in the number of Consulates and their inconvenient placement. Additionally, they are not employees of the state and there is no obligation to adhere to rules about employment. We for example use private business persons or persons in professions in order to minimise or to capitalise on overheads such as office space and clerical staff who can carry out consular work at no additional cost to the firm. Guyana therefore does not have to pay for such services,” Greenidge declared.

Additionally, he disclosed that while the Honorary Consuls do not receive a salary from government, they do receive an honorarium or stipend of approximately US$500 monthly which is paid towards inconvenience. “Whatever name is used the payment is intended to cover the costs incurred in carrying out the work of the Government at the Consulate.

Labour therefore is not really paid. This should be taken into account when criticisms are being made,” said Greenidge. There are 29 Honorary Consuls whose stipends are nominal when compared to what Ambassadors, who are employed by the government, receive. There is however a plan to increase the amount of stipend the Honorary Consuls receive monthly and over time some of the said Honorary Consuls will be replaced while others will join the team of honorary consuls. “Honorary consuls will be replaced in a phased manner,” said Greenidge.