Greenidge retained at Foreign Affairs Ministry – President

Amid the recent resignation of former Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge due to his dual citizenship status, President David Granger has informed that he will remain at the Ministry to serve in another capacity.

The President told the media on Wednesday that discussions are ongoing regarding the appointment but while a decision is yet to be made, it is expected that the former Minister will contribute to the resolution of the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela. Greenidge was replaced by Dr Karen Cummings, who served prior as Junior Public Health Minister.
“I’ve had several meetings with Mr Greenidge and he will remain in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I’ve had meetings of course, with the new Minister, Dr Karen Cummings, and I am to meet them again to let them know what my decision is,” the President said.

He further stated, “I expect that Mr Greenidge will contribute to the continuity of work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially with relation to the territorial controversy with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Guyana that is ongoing.”
Presently, the case is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) but it was mentioned that Greenidge may also be given responsibilities for other areas relating to Guyana’s international relations. Nevertheless, the Head of State sought to assure that the Minister’s duties will remain intact.
“There are certain aspects of the international economic relations of Guyana with other countries that I will ask him to accept responsibilities for. There isn’t two Ministries. It is one Ministry and Dr Cummings is the Minister. The function and everything else that falls within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will come under the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” the President said.
According to a ruling by acting Chief Justice Roxane George in January, it is illegal for persons with a second citizenship to serve in the National Assembly. This decision was upheld in Guyana’s Appeal Court in March.

Apart from Greenidge, three other Government Ministers – Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Business Minister Dominic Gaskin and Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine were also forced to resign from Cabinet and the National Assembly, owing to their dual citizenship status.
It was previously indicated that all these Ministers, with the exception of Gaskin, will be renouncing their second citizenship. Gaskin is a born Briton and according to the courts, by renewing his British passport he is pledging allegiance to another State.
Last Friday, Minister Cummings was sworn-in to undertake her new responsibility along with new Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams; Business Minister Haimraj Rajkumar; and new Public Service Minister Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.
This period also saw a reshuffling of Cabinet members with Junior Ministers Annette Ferguson and Simona Charles-Broomes being transferred to their new posts after they were transferred from the Ministries of Public Infrastructure and Natural Resources, respectively.
Minister Ferguson was appointed Housing Minister within the Communities Ministry, while Minister Broomes holds the mantle for youth affairs within the Ministry of the Presidency.
Moreover, Minister Valerie Patterson-Yearwood was reassigned as Rural Affairs Minister within the Agriculture Ministry. Her removal from the Housing Department came at a time when much controversy erupted over conflict of interest issues after her husband was awarded several contracts from the very Ministry she headed.
So far, Harmon has been appointed as Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, a position which did not previously exist. It is unclear whether the other two former Ministers will take up other roles within the coalition Government.