by Linda Straker
- No diplomatic appointments made since NDC voted into office on 23 June
- PM Dickon Mitchell unaware of investment summit between Grenada and Nigeria
- Photo taken during courtesy call last Monday evening
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said that stories citing a statement of a Nigerian businessman in the oil and financial sector in his homeland claiming that he was appointed as an ambassador-at-large for Grenada by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, are false, because there have been no diplomatic appointments since the party was voted into office on 23 June.
“Our government has not appointed any ambassador at large, nor any honourary consul. We have made no diplomatic appointments. I indicated at the swearing-in ceremony of the ministers of cabinet that we were recalling all diplomat appointees,” said the Prime Minister when he was questioned about the appointment during the post-cabinet briefing on Tuesday.
Tochil Nwaneri from Imo State is widely reported by several Nigerian newspapers to have stated that his appointment came into effect on 11 July and he will be at the helm of affairs as Chairman of the official Diplomatic headquarters which will be situated in Abuja.
Nwaneri also promised to use his new office to further strengthen and create investment opportunities between the two countries, and said that Nigeria and Grenada will be having an investment summit in October 2022 to be held in Grenada.
However, the Prime Minister said that he is unaware of any investment summit between the two countries. “I am not aware of any summit or investment summit planned between Grenada and Nigeria. It’s the first time I am hearing about it,” he said.
“I am not aware that the gentleman you have referred to has been appointed to any diplomatic position for Grenada. If he was, he would not have been appointed by this Government. If he has been appointed, he will certainly be recalled,” he added.
In another Nigerian news website which published the statement, there is a photo with both Nwaneri and PM Mitchell shaking hands in front of the Grenada flag. The Prime Minister said that the photo was one given during a courtesy call.
“I met the gentleman last Monday evening. It was a courtesy call that he asked to pay to me. He was accompanied by another Grenadian who was also appointed as a diplomat by the prior administration and when he made that courtesy call, he asked for a photo and the photo was given. When I met the gentleman, I certainly was not under the impression nor did he convey to me that he had been appointed as any diplomat,” said the Prime Minister who preferred not to name the former Grenadian diplomat who accompanied Nwaneri.
Again a “photo opt” could convey the wrong impression and can be used to promote false and misleading information.
This new prime minister should be aware of such. Where are his trusted advisors?
Looks like he’s shaking hands with one of his trusted advisors…
That bloke bears a striking resemblance to a conker.
The integrity of the PM should be protected at all cost. Send a clear message that will not be tolerated.
No one should be able to bring the P.M office in disrepute/ tarnish the reputation through fraudulent means.
If it turns out there is a hint false pretense, the individual should be immediately deported.