Dear Editor,
Qatar Petroleum, from the world’s richest country, is planning a major investment in the Guyana oil and gas sector. Interestingly, Doha is still waiting for Guyana to appoint an ambassador to that country. The late Dr. Odeen Ishmael was Guyana’s last ambassador to Qatar and that was some years ago, 2016.
Dr. Professor Shamir A. Ally who has been appointed Guyana’s second resident ambassador to Kuwait since 2016, is yet to be appointed to neighbouring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. These are important countries and players in the aviation, oil, gas and tourism sectors. It is logical that by now Dr. Shamir Ally should have been accredited Guyana’s ambassador to Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This isn’t the case.
Guyana and these countries have friendly ties so it’s not a political issue or strained ties that is preventing Dr. Shamir Ally’s appointment to GCC countries. Ironically, the Guyana Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Dr. Hamley Case, has been accredited to Latvia, Estonia, the Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Iceland and UNESCO.
Guyana’s Ambassador to India, Mr. David Pollard since his appointment to India, has been accredited to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
Halim Majeed, Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba was accredited to El Salvador as well. And on the other hand, Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil, George Talbot, has been accredited to Argentina and Chile. I can continue listing other Guyanese diplomats in Washington, Pretoria, Brussels and Paramaribo who are accredited to other countries.
So it remains an enigma why Dr. Shamir Ally isn’t being accredited to GCC countries where he is based in Kuwait. The ministry of foreign affairs hasn’t responded to several email inquiries on the subject.
Kuwait on the other hand is working with Guyana to settle the remaining debt write-off that was achieved this year. Kuwait is also waiting on Guyana’s approval for land to build its embassy and staff quarters. The Emir of Kuwait since 2011 has been funding the maintenance of the Guyana embassy in that country. The foreign ministry of Guyana needs to act.
Libya on the other hand is waiting on Guyana to return some of its property that it illegally lost. Libya owned properties in Guyana. The Libya World Islamic Call Society also lost properties in Guyana. Libya has waited over a decade to have this issue resolved. Tripoli can’t understand why several governments in Guyana can’t act swiftly. After this is solved then Libya will reset ties and move on the debt issue.
Yours faithfully,
Ray Chickrie
