…3 months before elections
The Government, which in caretaker mode, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Monday announced that a number of ambassadors on overseas missions will be recalled, while the Director General was replaced.
In a statement to the media, amidst reports of a major fallout, the ministry claimed that this move was decided since some ambassadors had been serving beyond the official years they were permitted to serve. In addition, there are reports that attempts to extend the contracts of these ambassadors started the upheaval at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in the first place.
“As it is well known, the tenure of an Ambassador runs to approximately three to five years. However, for a variety of reasons and factors, some of our Ambassadors have been abroad for as long as two decades,” the ministry’s statement said.
This situation, it claimed, has become an impediment to other 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. The ministry said that a subsequent announcement will be made on the matter.
The ministry’s announcement follows reports on the reason for former Director General Audrey Jardine – Waddell’s removal from the post. The Ministry confirmed that indeed, Waddell has been removed and will be replaced Charlene Phoenix as their first Permanent Secretary, with effect from December 2.
It was explained that Phoenix joined the Ministry in 1996 and previously served as the Director of the Department of the Americas since 2016. According to the Ministry, she also served as Guyana’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) since November 2017.
“The Government of Guyana has recently undertaken a number of administrative actions with a view to promoting greater efficiency in the discharge of the core mandate and essential functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a critical moment in the nation’s history. Among other things, the designation of Director General will be replaced by that of Permanent Secretary as obtains in other Ministries.”
“Ambassador Jardine – Waddell who previously served as Director General within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from June 2015, has proceeded on a period of annual leave pending reassignment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recognized and expressed its appreciation to Ambassador Waddell for her service as Director General,” the Ministry explained.
Waddell’s reassignment comes after reports that her contract was not renewed by the Government. When she was asked about these claims, however, Waddell had denied knowledge of such a development.
The shakeup at the comes just months before the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections after the David Granger led administration lost a No Confidence vote on December 21, 2018.
For the year, Granger, who is now a caretaker president, has reshuffled and even created new positions for a number of persons. Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge was himself reappointed as Foreign Secretary at the Foreign Affairs Ministry with responsibility for the Department of Frontiers and Territorial Integrity and the Department of Trade and Economic Cooperation.
The position of Foreign Affairs Minister was taken up by Dr Karen Cummings, who previously served as junior Public Health Minister.
The position of Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency was created for Joseph Harmon, who previously served as Minister of State. The Minister of State is presently Dawn Hastings-Williams, who previously served as Minister of Public Affairs.
Former Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin was replaced by Member of Parliament Haimraj Rajkumar. The position of Director of Manufacturing and Marketing within the Business Ministry with responsibility for the enforcement of standards, providing assistance to small producers and access to markets, particularly Eastern Caribbean markets, was created for Gaskin.
Former Minister of Public Service, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine was replaced by Tabitha Sarabo-Halley while Dr Roopnaraine was appointed as Director of Public Service Training within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for training standards at the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, the Guyana Defence Force Staff College and the Guyana Police Force Staff College – a position which did not previously exist.
In addition to those four ministers who resigned, there were some other reshuffling. Valerie Patterson-Yearwood, the then Minister of Communities with responsibility for housing, was replaced by Annette Ferguson, who was serving as junior Minister of Public Infrastructure. A new position called Minister of Agriculture with responsibility for Rural Affairs was created for Patterson-Yearwood.
