The functional and operational capacity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ headquarters in Georgetown is currently being enhanced as part of a holistic approach to improve the country’s diplomatic representation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge in a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), said that an advisory committee comprising two seasoned ambassadors has been established to assist the ministry with its work.
“We’ve also started to put the Foreign Service Institute on a permanent footing, giving it a certain structure …we will then bring in skills that will help us to lift the capacity within the ministry starting at the highest level,” Greenidge disclosed.
The ambassadors and high commissioners will be appointed in 2016, and the training programme will be rolled-out, as well, Minister Greenidge added.
According to a GINA report, the Ministry will be restructured to provide better representation in the areas of advancing Guyana’s trade and economic interests, protect the country’s territorial integrity and improve relations with its neighbours. This will see more departments and senior persons now managing the country’s diplomatic affairs.
Noting that the Foreign Affairs’ headquarters should be a place where some of the most seasoned ambassadors operate, Greenidge said plans were enacted to post officers overseas.
“You do have senior officers who would not have served abroad who have been here for 12 to 18 years…we have moved some of those out along with a few younger ones…this allows you to bring in other senior persons to serve with Director General (Audrey) Waddell,” Minister Greenidge said.
The Minister explained that some officers were placed abroad to strengthen the outreach and communication lines between the Ministry and missions. “Senior officers were temporarily placed in South Africa, Venezuela, and Washington D.C. in the United States to reinforce, develop, clean-up and sort out the mission before returning or before being posted elsewhere”.
Greenidge disclosed that within the past two months, former Consul General from Barbados, Michael Brotherson has returned to Georgetown, and will be looking at a variety of areas including those related to communication and information. He is joined in Georgetown by former officer Marion Herbert who was posted to London for several years. She has considerable experience and capacity, and long service in the ministry. She will supplement the managerial and decision-making capacity of the headquarters.
Now you sound like the Minister of Foreign Affairs, not what you did in the first six months. but we would wait to see how you handle the previous blunders before Congratulation you