Diplomats must adhere to principle of non-interference – CARICOM’s Council of Ministers
RESIDENT members of the diplomatic corps in Guyana, as well as in other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states, must adhere to diplomatic proprieties.This was the consensus of the CARICOM’s Community Council of Ministers, which held its 35th meeting at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana on Friday.
The Council also stressed the need for members of the diplomatic corps to ensure that there is non- interference in the domestic affairs of member states.
Andrew Ayre
These sentiments follow several tense incidents between with members of Guyana’s own diplomatic corps and the current administration.
FEATS OF FOLLY
The most recent such occurrence saw British High Commissioner, Mr. Andrew Ayre, commenting on Guyana’s political status quo at a news conference where he made statements that drew the ire of the Government.
Ayre’s comments were largely premised on the November 10 prorogation of Parliament and the fact that it has continued to date.
The British High Commissioner is of the opinion that Guyana is in “clear breach” of Guyana’s Constitution and the Commonwealth Charter – the latter violation being grounds for possible sanctions against Guyana.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon was the most recent critic of Ayre.
During a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, he said there seems to be something about Western foreign envoys who are about to depart this country that encourages them to comment on Government’s affairs or as he described it as “feats of folly.”
Referring to the soon to depart UK High Commissioner, the Cabinet Secretary noted that the official who has served for three years, took the opportunity to be “unusually remembered” by government, further describing him as “terribly dishonourable” for attempting to depict President Ramotar’s actions as a constitutional crime.
He added that the High Commissioner also attempted to portray the prorogation action as one worthy of Commonwealth sanctions, and one that could result in the withdrawal of developmental aid.
It was further noted by Dr Luncheon that the UK High Commissioner, “sinisterly and conspiratorially” revealed the European Union’s and the UK’s handiwork in the recent EU dishonouring of its agreement with the Guyana Government on budgetary support.
“His attempts to damage Guyana’s credibility and its economic prospects are considered by cabinet to be unpardonable,” the HPS stressed.
It was pointed out by the Cabinet Secretary, that since such concerns are usually shared bi-laterally, the High Commissioner’s actions needed to be condemned as they are, “unacceptable in the realm of international diplomacy as any concerns of the UK Government can and ought to be continued to be shared conventionally.”
