Retired politicians don't always make good envoys

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

A certain prime minister of Jamaica, who shall be nameless, is reported to have said that it is not important who is appointed ambassador because he had a telephone.

Although this is patently absurd, it has become an axiom of an approach to foreign policy by succeeding governments since the 1970s. Most unfortunately, it has been practised with disastrous results in the capitals of some of the countries that are most important to Jamaica, namely Washington, DC; London; and Ottawa.

It is important to stress that we are not pointing the finger at any of our current cadre of ambassadors, even though in some cases we do not know enough about their credentials.

The late Michael Manley pioneered this course with a will in Ottawa and pursued it in earnest in London as palliative to persons being removed from his Cabinet. Hence began the practice of ambassadorial appointments as a pension plan for politicians past their prime or indeed, some who never attained prime status.

This dumping policy is not received well in foreign capitals because the "host" country knows what is being passed off and is insulted. The fog that engulfed United States-Jamaica relations has not yet cleared in Washington, DC.

Ambassadorial postings cannot be a pension plan for retirees or for politicians with other infirmities such as health problems. Even undistinguished backbenchers have become ambassadors if they are willing to accept less attractive postings. We have seen some who acceded to the diplomatic life without any aptitude, and even when they do not perform they are retained or offered another prestigious posting.

Some of these appointees regard their positions as a reward for work already done and do not exert themselves, to the detriment of Jamaica. Their verbal incontinence is an embarrassment to their country and their sartorial eccentricities a source of derision among their countrymen in the Diaspora. These retirees have not even been aware of their shortcomings while "enjoying" the privileges. They conflate the ceremonial with the cerebral and confuse the deference given to the office with respect for their person.

They are disparaged in dispatches to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by their own staff who file demeaning reports critiquing their conduct and work ethic, disregard for proper procedure and an ignorance of protocol.

We by no means want to rule out able and energetic persons who were or are politicians from serving as ambassadors and high commissioners. We fully appreciate that Jamaica has benefited immensely from the excellent service of people like Mr Derick Heaven and Mr Dudley Thompson. These were exceptions. Neither gentleman was at the time seeking a ministerial post or in need of a pension, but accepted the draft at personal sacrifice to help their country in challenging postings.

We are looking to Prime Minister Bruce Golding to put a stop to these types of appointments and to refrain from rewarding or condoning failure with inappropriate appointments. One bad term does not deserve another. There must be some other form of pension or local sinecure for retired politicians. Jamaica will not be taken seriously or get on any country's foreign policy agenda if we do not have effective representations.

The persons appointed as ambassadors/high commissioners, especially in Washington, DC; London; Ottawa; and at the United Nations, must be suitably qualified persons who could include competent politicians but not those in need of a pension.

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COMMENTS (8)

Don Rowe
3/10/2010

While I believe that this author quite eloquently expressed some statements of fact with respect to the expectations fo some former politicians' aspiration to become diplomats, there is the usual error of comparison. For example, referrence about host countries being insulted, I can quote numerous Canadian former politicians who were appointed envoys after retiring or after loosing elections. Same would be true for the United States. Jamaica is not engaging in an isolated practice (wrong or right). This practice is common in the countries we seem to quote the most. England used to appoint Governors accross the Colonies who gave military service. It is the established reward system. Nough said.

Brooklyn Jamaican
3/10/2010

I see that this Editor or moderator is not open to criticism. They do not post anything that points out flaws in an editorial.

carlos king
3/10/2010

Mr. Editor, you're wasting your time, not even the "thunder of Oreb" will cause our tribal politicicans to do the right thing. Only the threat of economic, that is, general election lost wil force them to do what is right. What a sorry state of affairs!
Regards,

JA Cynic
3/10/2010

The same can be said of those appointed to positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs such as Mininster , Minister of State and Parliamentary Secretary.
This is not a comment on any particular set.
Like we do we do with some criminal problems we cannot deal with locally, we just send them abroad & hope that they are not deported--sorry,requested to be withdrawn.
JA Cynic

Gene Knall
3/10/2010

Funny how the Bruce Golding administration is suddenly being asked to fix and correct every ill and bad process this country has know for decades. Why is a fragile two year old administration being saddled with all this responsibilty to fix the country overnight? Where were all these voices when we had eighteen years of nearly unchallenged rule by the PNP?

Brooklyn Jamaican
3/10/2010

This is no better than bar stool "suss". Why write this long winded "drop wud" article without calling names? What purpose does it serve if no one will be shamed into resigning or shamed into not serving in the future?
It is time you write bold incisive articles calling names, placing it all on the line, while providing useful information and making a difference.

3/10/2010

Mayor McKenzie's mass grave proposal should have made the editoral. Is this for uptown people or ghetto people. Should New Kingston topple are they going to put diplomats and politicians in the May Pen mass grave? Resources in this country are now distributed based on class and to some extent colour, wont this be the case in the event of a distaster? Who are the people in jamaica who suffer ? This is disturbing more than any earthquake to tell the truth.

John Christian
3/10/2010

well said...so often these persons should disappear quietly,and the govt resurrects them...take heed Bruce...great editorial..

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Retired politicians don't always make good envoys