TRINIDAD’S VEXATION BECAUSE OF ”REPRESENTATION”………….

‘Foreign service not for failed politicians’

Furore over Baptiste-Cornelis’ speech

By Julien Neaves

FORMER foreign affairs minister Ralph Maraj and former Ambassador Reginald Dumas have described a speech by former health minister and ambassador Therese Baptiste-Cornelis as an embarrassment to the country.
“So I think the Prime Minister should really consider her position because that is not something that can be tolerated at all,” said Maraj.
“(If) she has not been performing and if she has been disastrous in other areas (as an ambassador) as well it might amount to an indictment against her and she might have to leave,” he said.
He was referring to a 37-minute address by Baptiste-Cornelis, Ambassador to Geneva, Switzerland, for a non-profit organisation in Geneva. The speech was posted on video sharing site Youtube and has received more than 30,000 hits and a slew of critical comments. Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has called for her to be removed after viewing the video.
Dumas told the Express he was astonished by the speech, noting that a lot of remarks had absolutely nothing to do with the theme of cultural diversity and sustainable development.
“I can’t understand how this ambassador of ours could have made remarks like that,” he said.
Dumas also criticised her statements that she was wary that if she did not accept her ministerial appointment she might be fired from the University of the West Indies (UWI) by the Prime Minister, which gave the impression that this country was authoritarian.
He also disapproved of her “subliminal techniques” while as a UWI lecturer of flashing the face of Persad-Bissessar in her presentations to her students.
“This is not for a lecturer to do and that was quite wrong. Totally wrong. That is a misuse of the lecture room and the lecture hall,” he admonished.
He said she made a “serious” and “stupid error” but he noted there are a number of local ministers who had been accused of “missteps” and are still ministers.
Dumas said he did not want to rush to judgment and say because she embarrassed herself and the country she should be automatically dismissed. He noted that he was interested in how well she has been functioning as an ambassador and, if not, and if the speech was one element of her poor representation “she had better find something else to do”.
“But I would need to look at the entire picture rather than rush to judgment and try to hang her because of her stupidity,” he said.
Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Suruj Rambachan informed the Express that he would be speaking to Baptiste-Cornelis yesterday on the matter.
On the calls for her removal Maraj said some explanation has to be given by the ambassador and “certainly an apology to the nation should be the least that should be done”.
He also commented on the issue of failed politicians being given appointments in the foreign service.
“Especially under this administration it seems that the foreign service is being used as a dumping ground for failed politicians and that is not the right thing,” he said.