Jagdeo rejects CARICOM post

By Azad Ali

Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo has rejected an offer to assume the post of CARICOM secretary general when he demits office after Guyana’s elections in November.

Jagdeo confirmed that he turned down suggestions from some CARICOM leader at the recent CARICOM Summit in St. Kitts.

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Jagdeo’s party has nominated Agriculture Minister Donald Ramoutar to be its presidential candidate.

Bharrat said when he was asked by leaders to take up the post, he told them that he did not want it.

“I do not want to be secretary general… I am not looking for a job right now,” he told reporters.

He has, however, pledged his continuing support for the regional integration movement even after he becomes a private citizen.

CARICOM heads of government left the Summit without appointing a secretary general.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the leaders wanted to interview the five nominees, but this was not possible since there was not enough time to get them to St. Kitts before the Summit ended.

She said mechanisms had been implemented for the five to be interviewed over the next two weeks.

She assured the leaders that the issue needed to be dealt with quickly.

The post of Secretary General became vacant when Edwin Carrington retired after l8 years on the job.

He is now Trinidad and Tobago’s ambassador to CARICOM.

Lolital Applewhaite has been acting as secretary general.

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