Is Camillo Ambassador Material?

by Marlon Bute 17.AUG.07

I like Camillo Gonsalves. He possesses, from my recollection, fine qualities which all of us would appreciate in our friends and family. He is quite intelligent, articulate, charismatic, energetic, humble and unassuming.{{more}}

My first memory of Camillo dates back to 1983, close to 24 years ago, when we were privileged enough to have won places to enter the St.Vincent Grammar School and the top form one to boot, One Room Four !

I would like to say that I remember it like it were yesterday, but I don’t, and I can only recall characters like Jason Cadet, Conroy Mc Barnett, Dale Ross, Peter Prescod, Ricardo Dabrell, Christopher John, Stephen Williams, Richard Brereton, Anthony [Hassanali] Defreitas, Ellsworth Dacon, James Jackson, Ronald Marks, and of course Camillo who were among the more popular form oners that year.

That year though, for sure, was a competitive one, which saw us challenging each other not only academically, with Camillo, Richard and Jason leading the pack, but also in sports, where the young Gonsalves though equipped with the best cricket gear that his father could put his hands on, owed his inclusion high up in the batting order, mainly to oratory skills and charm, and not much else.

It was Peter who totally dominated the field, though not in cricket, but in soccer and track, going on to represent us admirably at inter-secondary school sports.

That year too, was a time when a lot of us had a healthy fixation on our female contemporaries at the Girls’ High School, though it seemed that Hassanali, Christopher and Ellsworth were Casanovas of the day.

Dale Ross supplied us with the latest in music, while James the comedian and artist among us added to what was really an exciting epoch in our young lives.

So I knew Camillo then. Like others did, he too, didn’t finish school with us. He left for America.

Dale went away too. So did Jason, Richard and Ricardo.

I met Camillo a few times in the past ten years. Once at a campaign rally in Georgetown when the Unity Youth were kicking up a storm and then soon after his father became prime minister, at Hassanali’s home on the leeward side of the island. I remember that occasion vividly, simply because he appeared real calm, though everyone around him was quite excited by the fact that we had seen our time, energy, persistence and courage bare fruit. In fact, when I asked how he felt to be the son of the Prime Minister, he had shrugged and said he felt the same as always.

So unless Camillo has morphed as his father has, I would say that his eyes are on the job, not the perks. As an intellectual, he will be more interested in this tremendous opportunity for self development, than the trappings that such a prestigious office brings. I am also certain that he is looking forward to facing the challenges that confront the UN. And then how are we going to be heard, coming from so small, poor and un-influential a nation as ours? I dare say, that someone with Camillo’s attributes, is a good start.

So what if he doesn’t have the experience? Or academic qualifications in that area? When is the last time we had someone in the diplomatic corps who had training in practical diplomacy.

Of course, there is a distinct plus in having had training in diplomacy, international relations etc., that should best prepare you for a job in the diplomatic field, but studies in law, history, journalism, economics, languages and political science could also point you in the right direction.

So it’s hard for me to make a big hue and cry about the suitability of Camillo for the job.

I hope, though, that he takes advantage of the immense resources that are at his disposal to learn quickly about the job, on the job, including the second official language of the UN, which could only be to our country’s benefit.

On the other hand, I see his new role as potentially crucially strategic, and rightly so, in launching him fully into a life of politics. Needless to say, the question of nepotism had to arise primarily because he is the son of the prime minister. And it is true that he doesn’t have the experience or precise training in that area, while the question of him being too young is preposterous. Actually, his youth is exhilarating! And his father, a don of politics, as he once boasted, did make an excellent point when he said that the choice of Camillo is part of his government’s thrust to empower young people. Though one would hasten to ask the prime minister to be more inclusive of young people who haven’t had such a privileged life and also to grant the opportunity to those whose lives have been chorused by overcoming struggle after struggle. The face of youth is truly more visible around him, yet, they lack the common touch!

But yes, the critics are right when they say that there are more suitable candidates for the office of ambassador to the UN. But then, one has to be asked and one has to want the job. Let me see how many names I could rattle off; Dr Michael Dennie who is an historian and university professor of great intellect, Dr Cleve Scott, another historian who is a superb human being and contributed over the years in the cadet corps and arts and culture, Cuthbert ‘Jarrah’ Knights, a bright young man with a Masters in Development, that suggests he is well suited to working with international organizations, Clare Keizer of fine intellect, leadership skills and related experience that would make her an excellent choice, Jomo Cato, energetic, bright, young, articulate, Corletha Ollivierre who is a top-notch journalist in the Caribbean, Pee John whose talents are boundless and are matched by his fine leadership skills, and who Joel Providence is another great candidate. He speaks three languages, he has contributed over the years in the areas of culture, sports, business and he is the type of person who would have absolutely no problem delivering the goods as ambassador to the UN. I would end here, because names keep coming, like Dr Richard Cox, Junior Jack, and Luis Deshong who are all able men of solid stuff!

In the end, I won’t say that I would have chosen Camillo Gonsalves but I endorse him.

Where he falls short in experience, he makes up in sheer potential.

Besides, such appointments are understandably political and must be seen as such.