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12/5/2012 
GOVERNMENT CRITICISED OVER DIPLOMATIC FIRING  
The government of Grenada has been described as “vindictive” as a firestorm of protest erupted on Tuesday after news broke that the Tillman Thomas-led administration had fired Derrick James, the country’s consul general to New York. The news was reported on Internet sites and was the commentary of bloggers, who described James as hardworking and dedicated. An official government release, issued late Tuesday afternoon, confirmed the dismissal of James but said “statements, accusations and other forms of misinformation now being peddled are designed to mislead the public”. James, a U.S. citizen, was appointed consul general in 2008 by former foreign minister Peter David following the general election victory of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). “The fact that Mr James is a United States citizen renders him ineligible to be appointed to the position of consul general,” the government statement said. “His citizenship would properly allow him only an appointment as honorary consul. The government of Grenada has been aware of these circumstances for some time, and in the wake of the US State Department’s most recent representation on the matter has no alternative but to bring an end to Mr James’ purported appointment.” But David, who resigned from government in April, said James’ firing was motivated by political considerations. James is a longtime friend of David and helped him in his campaigning to win the Town of St George seat in 2003 and 2008. “Consul General James is paying a price for being a friend of mine,” said David, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism. “There was political motive behind this removal of Mr James.” David said as far back as 2009, a “simple solution” to solving James’ diplomatic citizenship issue was presented. He said it was a solution based on a model used by other countries, including Antigua, whose top diplomatic in New York has been an Antiguan with US citizenship and holding the title honourary consul general. The consul general is assisted by a deputy who is a non-US citizen. James has done an “excellent job” as consul general but it appears that “competence counts for nothing with this government”, said David. Public sentiments on the removal of James from Grenadian-Americans have been generally supportive of him. One Grenadian in New York called the firing “vindictive and vengeful. Derrick is well-favoured and respected among many Grenadians and organizations out here and that would be evident in weeks to come”. As well, a Grenadian group which had invited Thomas to a Grenada independence anniversary celebration in New York next year was meeting Tuesday night to consider withdrawing the invitation in protest. The news outlet, Caribupdate, said it was informed by “reliable sources in the government” that cabinet decided to send James packing because “he is not in tune with the current objectives of the administration.” Prime Minister Thomas has also been quoted as saying that the move to disengage James was also based on a policy his administration which now wants a full consul general. According to government, it “intends to dialogue with Mr James as to how he may be of continued service to Grenada.” Reports have also surfaced that, during Monday’s cabinet meeting, not only was James’ employment status reviewed and a decision taken, but there also were lengthy discussions on journalist Hamlet Mark, a Caribupdate director. Mark is a well-known commentator who has been particularly critical of the performance of Finance Minister Nazim Burke. Burke, Mark has said, is Grenada’s worst finance minister since independence in 1974. The finance minister, in an apparent reference to Mark in a recent radio interview, said: “This person has taken a very strong dedicated commitment to try to bring the government down.” Thomas, too, has taken exception to some of Mark’s commentaries on government, calling him “dangerous to Grenada” and of “trying to create instability in Grenada”. “This is a man that is giving Grenada a bad image abroad,” Thomas said in January. “When people go out to undermine and to create instability in the country deliberately we have to take a stand against it.” Source: caribnews.com
 

 


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GOVERNMENT CRITICISED OVER DIPLOMATIC FIRING  
hE IS A uS CITIZEN Keith tell the truth you liar.
00By: Roland
12/5/2012 5:40:20 PM