Foreign Secretary to supplant the minister 

Dear Editor

Dr Irfaan Ali’s Government must be commended for reducing Granger’s BLOATED Ministerial portfolios from some 30 Ministers of Ministries and substantively non- ministries – jobs for the boys and girls – to 19 Ministries/Ministers.

However, the recently created position of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, which was criticised by the then Opposition, now Government, is convenient and useful to give one of the boys a cushy, non-substantial job, conflicting with the full responsibility of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The established, tried and tested structure of the Ministry with a Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Director General of Foreign Affairs along with specialist Advisers must be restored/maintained.

Mr. President, please listen to the many voices of reason, and abolish the position of Secretary of Foreign Affairs and allow the Minister his full responsibility along with that of Director General. Mr. Robert Persaud, please tell the nation your qualifications, training and suitability for such a position in international relations and diplomacy. Are you planted, may be to supplant, the real Minister. The Minister of Foreign Affairs should demand this, and if refused, walk in protest for his own dignity and self-worth. Mr. President, please in the national interest, send Robert Persaud to the Ministry of Agriculture to do some real, sustentative work in the sugar industry and rice sector to earn his keep, to the satisfaction of tax payers

Regards
Joshua Singh