President David Granger yesterday downplayed the “organisational restructuring” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as he said the recently announced decision to replace several overseas mission heads was in keeping with plans to professionalise the Foreign Service, including reducing the number of political appointments.
“There’s been no shake up and at the start of my presidency I had made it clear that the ambassadors who have been appointed would be there for only three years,” Granger said yesterday while speaking with reporters at the Ministry of the Presidency.
Granger explained that the restructuring would see a reduction of political appointees, while allowing career officers who were recruited and trained to become diplomats. He called it a transition. “My intention has always been that the appointment of persons who did not come through the Foreign Service should be reduced,” he said.
He added that the contracts of many of the ambassadors and high commissioners expired during the time while there was uncertainty about an elections date. As a result, changes were not made at that time. However, he said when it became certain that elections will be held in March 2020, a decision was taken for the changes to be made.
“So it is not a ‘shake up.’ It is a planned change and the ambassadors and high commissioners knew that the intention of the government has always been to professionalise the service and that is being done,” he added.
Granger said that he did not believe that the change would have any negative impacts on the country as it is typical in most other countries to have professional Foreign Service officers. He added that the benefits are that there will be a number of ambassadors and high commissioners who have been in service for over 20 years, which is in the country’s interest.
‘Not a demotion but a promotion’
Granger also addressed the removal of the former Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Audrey Jardine-Waddell and he noted that she was one of the persons who have been earmarked for a foreign posting. He said that they have made criteria for ambassadors who will serve at foreign posts, which include foreign languages and more specifically being able to speak the language of the capital to which they are posted. “So she’s qualified for a higher post and on vacating the post of Director General it was my decision to appoint a Permanent Secretary who will continue the administration of the Foreign Service. It is not a demotion but a promotion,” the president said.
The ministry last week announced that career diplomat Charlene Phoenix had been appointed to the newly created post of Permanent Secretary, which will replace the designation of Director General.
It added that Jardine-Waddell, who served as Director General from June 2015, had proceeded on a period of annual leave pending reassignment.
It also said a decision has been taken to bring an end to the services of a number of Heads of Missions, especially those who might have enjoyed an extended tenure of duty beyond the official limit.
The tenure of an Ambassador is generally between three and five years. However, for a variety of reasons and factors, some of Guyana’s Ambassadors have been abroad for as long as two decades.
According to the Ministry, this situation has become an impediment to younger and rising Foreign Service Officers, whose performance and professional competence might require that they should be appointed to the summit of the Foreign Service.
Stabroek News was told that included in the number to be recalled are Guyana’s Ambassador to Switzerland John Ford, Ambassador to Venezuela Cheryl Miles, Ambassador to China Bayney Karran, High Commissioner to Ottawa Clarissa Riehl and High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago Bishwaishwar Ramsaroop-Maraj.
Each has reportedly been informed that their last day of service is to be December 31st, 2019.
