Consul to Canada, deputy relieved of duties

by Junior Jarvis Dec.08.06

A fall-out between two top officials at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Consulate in Toronto has left the mission headless.

Foreign Minister Sir Louis Straker said that both have been relieved of their duties.

“Some problems between the top men resulted in the decision though we were hoping to hold (Consul General) Mr (Evans) John in the post until a replacement could be found,” he told SEARCHLIGHT.{{more}}

The Consul General confirmed his decision not to stay. He said that he had reached retirement age of 55 and should have left office since March 2006 but he was staying on in order to complete some projects but now he wasn’t sure that he really wanted to stay on in the post as requested.

Evans “EB” Bernard John and his second in command, Clement Ballah, spent their last day in office last weekend. The Consulate, situated at 333 Wilson Avenue in Toronto, Ontario, will be run by the staff until a new Consul General is appointed.

Sir Louis said that there is a long list of potential appointees from which two new people will be appointed early in the new year following a consultation with Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

He also told SEARCHLIGHT that a shake-up is coming among the 10 overseas missions with a new policy to rotate diplomats in an effort to “inject new blood” into the missions, and strengthen interests and investments at home.

John took up the position on July 1, 2002. Prior to his appointment, he was the manager and chairman of the board of the National Broadcasting Corporation. He holds a diploma in Mass Communications and Executive Master of Business Administration.

He was also the former Managing Director of Caribbean Communications Inc.

John said that he got along with most members of staff at the consulate, and is looking forward to returning to private life.