The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday announced that a decision has been taken to terminate the services of a “number of Heads of Missions especially those who might have enjoyed an extended tenure of duty beyond the official limit.”
A statement from the Ministry did not reveal the identities of the diplomats or state how many of them will be recalled.
“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 Foreign Ministry said.
According to the statement, these diplomats have been impeding on the progress of younger Foreign Service Officers.
“This situation 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. A subsequent announcement will be made on this particular matter.”
“It is the wish and expectation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that this statement on the on-going exercise within the Ministry will help to allay any concerns and put to rest any and all surmisings and or misrepresentations that may have arisen in the public domain concerning this normal administrative undertaking,” the statement concluded.
File photo of President Granger and Ambassador Waddell
Foreign Affairs replaces Director-General Ambassador Waddell
By Editor On Dec 2, 2019
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it has replaced Director-General Ambassador Audrey Jardine – Waddell with the appointment of a Permanent Secretary who was identified as Charlene Phoenix, with immediate effect.
The Government’s statement comes two days after the Director-General refuted reports in the Stabroek News that her contract with the government was not renewed.
The statement Monday from the Ministry revealed that Ambassador Waddell, who is a career diplomat 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.”
Ambassador Waddel served as Director General within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from June 2015.
According to the Ministry, the Government 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.”
The new PS joined the Ministry in 1996.
“Ambassador Phoenix has served as the Director of the Department of the Americas since 2016 and as Guyana’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) since November 2017.”
