FORMER Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, will contribute to the continuity of work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially in relation to the territorial controversy with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

This was disclosed by President David Granger on Wednesday during an interview with the media at the Ministry of the Presidency’s Conference Room. Dr. Karen Cummings, who has served for four years as Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, was recently appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

She was appointed to the post following the resignation of Greenidge, who was forced to resign after the Court of Appeal confirmed a High Court decision that persons with dual citizenship are constitutionally barred from being elected to the National Assembly. President Granger explained that he had several meetings with Mr. Greenidge, and he will remain in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“I have had meetings, of course, with the new minister, Dr. Karen Cummings and I am to meet them again to decide, or to let them know, what my decision is, but I expect that Mr. Greenidge will contribute to the continuity of work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially with relation to the territorial controversy with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela that is ongoing,” President Granger noted.

He continued: “He (Mr. Greenidge) is engaged with the team and as you know, the case is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and there are certain aspects of the economic and international relations of Guyana with other countries that I will ask him to accept responsibility for.”

Guyana submitted its application to the ICJ requesting the Court to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award regarding the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela. The President explained that Dr. Cummings is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, “a member of the Cabinet and she has to go to the National Assembly to speak for Guyana’s international relations and to defend her ministry.”