GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyana government has defended the decision to appoint former prime minister and president, Samuel Hinds, as the island’s ambassador to the United States.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips and former prime minister Samuel Hinds in discussions on Monday (DPI PhotoPrime Minister, retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, said Hinds, who paid a courtesy call on Monday, will make an excellent ambassador to the North American country.
Prime Minister Phillips congratulated Hinds on his position, and during their discussions said that the former head of state has a wealth of knowledge and experience which is a major asset going into his new role.
“Samuel Hinds is the man for the job….I know that coming from his years of experience and knowledge of governance in Guyana, he is well-positioned to guide Guyana’s interaction with the United States of America,” Philips said.
He said that there was need to have someone with such experience in the position, since the United States is a major development partner.
“As you know the United States of America is one of the main development partners for Guyana, especially at a time now where we have a new investment from Exxon in Guyana, and other forms of investment coming to Guyana as a result of the country now becoming an oil and gas producing state,” Prime Minister Phillips added.
Hinds said that his meeting with Phillips should not be viewed as an isolated occurrence, noting that over the coming weeks he will be meeting with several government ministers to get a better understanding of the Irfaan Ali’s administration’s agenda, so that he can efficiently function in his role.
“I’ll be meeting with other ministers over the next two weeks, to establish contacts and to learn of what interests they might have in my job coming up,” Hinds said, adding that upon assuming office, among his priorities will be to build a stronger relationship with the Guyanese Diaspora in the United States.
Hinds, 78, served as prime minister in previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administrations from 1992 to 2015. He also briefly served as President of Guyana in 1997. He was awarded Guyana’s highest national award, the Order of Excellence (O.E.) in 2011.
