Boy I eh know nah.....its only 9 months.....and counting.....
Kingston rejection
By Keith SuberoJust when we search for possible avenues to "move on" as the Prime Minister suggested, there comes the news of a diplomatic snub, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is trying desperately to contain.
As part of changes in diplomatic postings, the Government late last year sent off to the Jamaican government the name of a person to head our High Commission in that country.
Diplomatic sources said traditionally such an appointment is communicated through the Ministry's Protocol Division; this time the person's name was kept hush-hush, and went directly from the office of the Minister.
One report said the person was "a well-known, retired Petrotin pipe-fitter from Penal"; another source reported it was "a young, low-level employee in the Plant Quarantine Department"; a third source pointed to a former UNC energy minister.
Reports in diplomatic circles said that after the Jamaican government did the customary background checks on the individual, it "gave a polite rejection" to the T&T Government.
Such was the embarrassment in Port of Spain that the Government went in immediate search, quickly arriving with the name of Dr Iva Gloudon, UWI Director of Sport and Physical Education, and a practising pastor, whose name was sent immediately to the Jamaican government.
It is reported that the choice, when presented by Transport Minister, Jack Warner, was approved promptly by Foreign Minister Suruj Rambachan. Warner, on his recent trip to Jamaica on Caribbean Airlines matters, is said to have spoken further with the Jamaican Foreign Ministry about her appointment.
Attempts last week to get the name of the rejected individual drew "blanks" in every quarter. One staff member said: "No one knows what is going on; it is very difficult around here. Matters are conducted secretively, kind of creepily. Close-circuit cameras are installed, and staff members have been instructed that files are not to remain on desks overnight; they should be locked away every evening."
In diplomatic circles, how is such a snub interpreted?
"First, this is not the first time the Jamaican government has said no to us. Knowlson Gift, you would recall, who served there, was suggested for a return, but was refused by the Jamaican government," a source said.
"It is obvious that the Jamaican government's background checks turned up more information than we have on that individual, or which we chose to ignore. Our choice was not seen as suitable for Kingston, and, possibly, that government felt insulted.
"In international circles, it's a blot on relations, a serious embarrassment to T&T. In fact, Jamaica is saying that our Government's choice is not to be good enough to represent T&T in their country."
High commissioners and ambassadors are considered the official face of a country. They monitor, represent, and negotiate their country's commercial, legal, economic, cultural and scientific interests in a host country.
"Such a person, in fact, is the representative of our President; in his credentials, he promotes friendly relations between the two countries; he attends functions on our behalf; at all times, he must display proper diplomatic etiquette, e.g. in those circles, there must be proper pronunciation and recall of names, and familiarity with places and events," the source said.
"So to seek the Jamaican government's approval for such person as a pipe-fitter or a young, plant quarantine employee would be seen as an insult in Kingston."
Recently, Venezuela refused to accept a US envoy, which has meant a further deterioration in their relations. In diplomatic circles, a rejection could heighten tensions, which may be expressed by diplomats politely ignoring each other, refusing to shake hands, cancelling appointments, postponing meetings indefinitely, or walking out at formal meetings.
However diplomatic sources said the Jamaican government's rejection of the candidate was considered as "informal". In turn, the T&T Government could have expressed its displeasure by not submitting another choice for some time.
But this country, on one hand, wants to be seen as re-branding its image after the Prime Minister's two diplomatic "mis-steps" with our Caribbean neighbours—stating that TT was not the Caribbean's "ATM"; and that humanitarian aid to the region would be given with strings attached.
In addition, there are niggling, unresolved areas in the Caribbean Airlines takeover of Air Jamaica— with potential for further tension.
But, at the same time, the Rambachan strategy, called "value-based diplomacy" is described by senior staff as "confusing".
The CSME Unit was disbanded last week, and a number of International Relations Officers, employed on contract, were sent home recently.
These officers were told that to be re-employed they would have to sit an entrance examination, and face interviews.
Besides the rejection from Jamaica, the administration also struggles to contain reports, circling among its staff, about the "inappropriateness" of appointments of the two young, inexperienced persons to head Missions in the United States.
"We wondered, but recently we identified their uncle," the source said.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Kingston_rejection-116138244.html