The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie is “late again” according to Shadow Minister of Immigration and Foreign Affairs Hubert Chipman, who criticised the delay in confirming Mr Christie’s diplomatic appointments to the United States.

It was announced earlier this year that Elliston Rahming had been appointed as Ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the Organisation of American States.

However, although he was officially appointed to the OAS position, there has been no confirmation from the United States on the former prison superintendent’s ambassadorship.

In addition to Dr Rahming still not being confirmed in that post, former senator Paulette Zonicle – who was named Consul General for Washington DC – has not officially taken up her position either, Mr Chipman said.

“She has not started work because, I am told, the Consular General is going to be separate and apart from the Embassy and they will require permission from the US government in order to do that,” Mr Chipman said. “I’m told that that permission has not been granted as yet.

“The Consular General – I think there was something in the press yesterday about Atlanta and Miami – well, it’s simple as Perry Christie, the prime minister, making an appointment, issuing a letter of appointment and those people would be appointed.

“They don’t need clearance to do a Consular General in Miami or Atlanta. So I think the Prime Minister again is late on this. Here it is, this is now July, they’ve been in office from May 2012, and the Consular General complement has still not been confirmed.”

As for Dr Rahming, Mr Chipman said he “really doesn’t want to speculate” as to the reasons for the delay, only offering: “It’s been now five months, one would expect, even prior to him going to Washington – all due respect to Dr Rahming – the clearance should have been given.

Last month, Mr Chipman said it has been speculated that the government will swap out Dr Rahming for retired neurosurgeon Eugene Newry, pointing to the government’s failure to obtain agreements from host countries prior to announcing appointments.

He said: “What is even more concerning than the government’s lazy and lax attitude toward filling diplomatic vacancies of their own making, has been the debacle and amateur missteps in the appointment of an ambassador to the US.”

The month before that, in May, called on the government to “come clean” and explain to the public exactly why some of the country’s diplomatic appointments to the United States had not been confirmed.

“After an entire year in office, this is a major failure on the part of the Prime Minister,” he said.