A new Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has been appointed. He is Prince Cole. The substantive Director General, Mrs. Florence Bangalie (a seasoned administrator and diplomat) has proceeded on leave. She is not likely to return to the Foreign Office again.
It is rumoured that the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation must have influenced the decision to appoint his right-hand man, Prince Cole, as Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Prince Cole served as Permanent Secretary in the office of Chief Minister when Prof. David Francis was Chief Minister at State House.
Sources in the Foreign Office have confirmed that even though Mr. Prince Cole is a seasoned administrator, he has never worked in the Foreign Office before. โSince 1996, no one has ever held the position of Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without being either a senior official in the Ministry or a former Ambassadorโ, observed a retired Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The new Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prof. David Francis has introduced a new foreign policy approach which he calls, โDevelopment Diplomacyโ. Whatever that means!
Meanwhile, it is believed that Mrs. Florence Bangalie agreed to proceed on leave after consultation with State House and HRMO.
