The Washington envoy

GOVERNMENT HAS yet to deny or confirm persistent media reports that Deputy Prime Minister Seymour Mullings is tipped to replace Dr. Richard Bernal as Ambassador to Washington. In response to queries by The Gleaner, Information Minister, Maxine Henry-Wilson has provided essentially a convoluted wait and see answer.

The Prime Minister has brushed aside the question of his deputy's Ambassadorship with silence, even when asked directly by a reporter. Minister Karl Blythe's diplomatic response has been a little more enlightening: He could neither confirm nor deny the media report. In the world of diplomacy, this is code for saying "it is not my business to make the announcement".

The Washington post is the most powerful and demanding position in the diplomatic service. The United States is our major trading partner, the home of our largest migrant population, the source of most of our tourists, our biggest donor, the major source of most of our deportees and illegal guns, and the major destination of drugs out of Jamaica. The greatest diplomatic skills, energy and experience available, therefore, need to be deployed in Washington.

Neither Mr. Mullings nor his predecessor are career diplomats. Mr. Mullings is 70 years old. He has been a Member of Parliament for the ruling PNP in the South-East St. Ann seat since 1969. In Government he has held several ministerial portfolios including Foreign Affairs. It is incumbent upon the Government to demonstrate that, all things considered, Seymour Mullings, in retirement from active politics, can best serve the interests of the Government and the country as the country's Ambassador to the United States.

There is a long tradition, not unique to Jamaica but particularly well developed here, of rewarding party faithfuls with diplomatic posts when they are no longer useful on the frontlines of winning elections and serving in Government. Quite apart from the danger of undermining the morale of the professional diplomatic service, there is the danger of square pegs being placed in round holes by such appointments. The Washington post is far too vital to this country for party political considerations to unduly influence appointments. The next Ambassador must convincingly be the best man for the job.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.

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