Former head of the public service Reginald Dumas is seeking a meeting with President Anthony Carmona to discuss the recent breaches of protocol during the State visit to Port-of-Spain by Chinese President Xi Jingping. Dumas, himself a former ambassador, said he was seeking to meet with the President because the entire matter was very embarrassing to many ordinary citizens who raised concerns with him. He did not give the date and time for the proposed meeting.
Dumas was among many who have spoken out about the breaches said to have been committed by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. He spoke in a brief interview with the T&T Guardian on the controversial matter. Dumas was also asked to respond to a comment by permanent secretary in the Foreign Affairs Ministry Margaret Parillon, 24 hours earlier that the Prime Minister had used her personal touch for the comfort of the guests.
Dumas said that could be interpreted to be an admission of a breach in protocol, but it may not have been deliberate. He insisted the matter was a very serious one because “it related to our President. People were asking what was going on and why was this taking place.” He referred to President Carmona “lagging behind” during the visit of the Chinese leader.
Dumas also said he would not respond to comments made by T&T’s permanent representative to the UN Rodney Charles. Without naming anyone, Charles in a letter to the T&T Guardian, wrote dismissively of “old-school diplomacy” practised by “geriatrics.” Dumas said he would not respond because the matter was not a personal one with Charles but a serious one requiring professional attention.