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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to clarify that the person who was reported in one of the daily newspapers of June 1, 2004, as having been charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine, is not a diplomat or foreign service officer.

The substantive post of that person is Clerk II. He was attached to the High Commission as accounts officer.

The article also states that he was based in London for the last nine years.

That information is erroneous, as the officer concerned was posted to the High Commission in London in September 2002.

Concerns have been expressed in the media about the silence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the misuse of the diplomatic mailbag.

However, that is not the case, since both (Foreign Affairs) Minister Knowlson Gift and (Energy) Minister Eric Williams (who acted for Gift) did make statements to the Senate on the incident.

It must be reiterated that there are ongoing investigations in respect of certain specific matters arising out of the incident and prudence dictates that some things should not be publicly stated at this point in time.

In this regard, both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Security are working together to ensure that all those found guilty are brought to justice and that the diplomatic mailbag will not be used in any illegal manner.

It must also be noted that the discovery of the illegal use of the diplomatic mailbag was the result of the work of officers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Police Service.

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