Cuba approves Guyana’s Ambassador

Last Updated on Monday, 8 February 2016, 15:06 by Denis Chabrol

A number of diplomatic appointments have been made in recent weeks, even as government awaits final approval for appointments at key Western capitals before making an official announcement.

Demerara Waves Online News was told that Cuba has already granted approval (agrément) for Halim Majeed to be appointed Guyana’s Ambassador to that Caribbean island.

Majeed, a former political adviser to late President Forbes Burnham, is currently preparing to fly to Havana to take up the post of Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba.

Agrément is yet to be granted for the person identified to go to Brussels, Belgium. He is currently serving at a major regional organisation, according to the sources. Brussels is regarded a key diplomatic post for relations between the Caribbean and the European Union.

Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esther Griffith has been identified to replace Arlington Bancroft as Consul General in Nickerie, Suriname where there is a large Guyanese population. Diplomatic sources said preference is currently being given to Bancroft’s recovery.

Meanwhile, Guyana has recalled its Consul General to Barbados, Michael Brotherson. He had also been serving Guyanese in St.Maarten.

President David Granger said on last weekend’s edition of ‘Public Interest’ that the government was awaiting diplomatic approval from a number of intended host nations for Guyana’s top envoys. ”

“Sometimes it is imprudent to make an announcement before Agrément is granted. Because you may announce that this person is to be ambassador to the United States and the United States may not grant Agrément for different reasons – citizenship, or the person may have a reputation of attacking the United Nations,” he said.

Guyana is currently awaiting the granting of agrément- approval of proposed ambassadorial appointments – for nominees to Canada, United Kingdom and possibly the United States and China.

Guyana has already received agrément from Venezuela for Cheryl Miles to be its new Ambassador to that Spanish-speaking nation. However, she is yet to present her credentials to allow her to formally perform her duties in Caracas.  Nevertheless, sources said Miles is being invited to formal engagements by the Venezuelan government.