Why Moses should be removed from office

THE EDITOR: As a former TT ambassador to the US, Mexico and ambassador/permanent representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) and cabinet secretary for integral development of the OAS, I can safely speak on this matter with a measurably objective point of view.

What transpired at the Permanent Council meeting of the OAS recently has done irreversible damage to the already precarious standing of TT’s reputation in matters of Caricom, Western Hemispheric and by extension international importance.

An act of God ravaged a neighbour, an ally, a friend – the Commonwealth of Dominica (among other friends). I was somewhat (albeit short-lived) hopeful when the Prime Minister of TT extended a humanitarian hand of support. This is what friends do – they help, even if it means they are momentarily discomforted.

My God – I was so wrong in my hope. We gave hope and we ripped it away in the glare of the international community. We spat vitriolic betrayal in the face of a friend, in public, with no explanation. I have received multiple communications from concerned diplomats across the hemisphere asking understandably troubling questions: Why? What happened? Is there something you can share so we understand this? My response – I don’t know.

I listened attentively to a weak, pitiful presentation by our ambassador in Washington. Please know that I like the guy, he is a patriot. I suspect he was acting on instruction from his line minister – Dennis Moses.

Minister Moses needs to go. Now.

He has:

* Weakened our standing in the international community.

* Not displayed the grit and capacity to operate an this level, or, quite frankly, at any level.

* Embarrassed our country sufficiently and inexcusably.

* Not been able to articulate a foreign policy position on matters of global importance.

* Compromised our long-standing relationship with crucial allies including the US, Caricom member States.

* Not been able in any form to gain the respect of his peers, resident ambassadors, leadership of international organisations. I seldom author letters of this nature. But I am a lover of my country. This is wrong – incompetence is our tipping point – a potential failing State administered by evidential failures. Change is inevitable. I’m in.

DR NEIL PARSAN

via e-mail