Foreign Service officers of various levels and new ambassadors are heading T&T’s missions in the UK, Canada, India, Costa Rica and the United Nations mission in New York, according to information from Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran.
Replying to Opposition queries in Parliament yesterday, Dookeran listed a number of heads of missions who have been recalled over the past three years. This includes former high commissioner to the UK Garvin Nicholas and Rodney Charles, T&T’s representative at the permanent mission to the UN in New York.
Dookeran said both resigned, receive no emoluments and are now back home. Nicholas is UNC’s Diego Martin East “caretaker” and Charles is the UNC’s communications spokesman.
Dookeran listed those recalled from missions.
They included Razia Ali (ambassador at the Caracas Embassy), recalled in June 2011, and Therese Baptiste-Cornelis (of the permanent UN mission in Geneva), who resigned in September 2012.
Also recalled were Dennis Francis (ambassador to the UN in Geneva) who was required to assist the ministry in T&T from October 2011 and Chandradath Singh (of the New Delhi High Commission) who was reassigned as ambassador to China in March 2014.
Dookeran listed foreign service officers (FSOs), currently manning the missions that people have left.
These include Candica Shade in Costa Rica, who is on maternity leave and being replaced by Colin James.
Dookeran said financial attache Jennifer Siblal is in charge of the mission until James’ arrival on November 23.
In London, Tedwin Herbert is holding the fort. In Ottawa, Venessa Ramhit Ramroop is in charge. Dookeran said Haseeb Mohammed was heading the India mission and in New York, ambassador Eden Charles is in charge.
Dookeran said all the officers were suitable to manage Government’s business.
Missions without heads
• Costa Rica.
• London High Commission.
• Ottawa High Commission.
• New Delhi High Commission.
• Permanent mission to the UN in NY.