In that news clip which was an actual recording of the proceedings of the OAS Council, our Ambassador appeared embarrassed and fumbled his statement, after which the Dominican Ambassador appeared shocked and totally dismayed. On Thursday the Trinidad Express carried the issue on its front page. That very day (Thursday), the MSJ Political Leader spoke about it at length on the Take 2 radio programme on i95 FM, which, in his personal capacity, he co-hosts. He was highly critical of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dennis Moses, for what he described as the failure of the Minister in this matter and the serious weaknesses in this country's conduct of foreign affairs.

Since Thursday, there have been further developments and revelations. The Prime Minister has ordered a probe into this embarrassing international gaffe. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that an unspecified “public official” got the instructions wrong – suggesting that the Ambassador acted contrary to instructions. However, we now see evidence in the press that he in fact advised the Minister that Trinidad and Tobago should support Dominica’s request for the waiver of dues; and that it was the Ministry who at the very last moment instructed the Ambassador to vote against. Indeed, the Ambassador’s statement at the OAS Council meeting was almost verbatim of the instructions that he received from Port of Spain.

In the MSJ’s view it was the Minister that messed up.  This is not the first such occasion. At the United Nations we were embarrassed by the failure of this country to vote in support of a General Assembly Resolution condemning the decision by the United States to locate its Embassy in Jerusalem and giving recognition to that city as Israel’s capital. Prime Minister Rowley did not attend the biennial Summit between the Caricom Heads of Government and the President of Cuba, which took place in December last in Antigua. There is also the imbroglio with respect to career diplomat Eden Charles. These are just the issues in the public domain. There are others. The buck stops with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is failing us and his appointment should be terminated.

Movement for Social Justice

Gregory Fernandez

Chairman