OVERSEAS POSTS AND FCO ESTATE
Written evidence submitted by Thomas Rambaut
GOVERNMENT SHUTS
EMBASSY AND
CUTS AID
TO MADAGASCAR
I am writing to you in the hope that you can
influence a situation which needs to be urgently put right. I
know that for the moment there is no Committee but that one is
expected shortly. However could you please assist with your influence
in putting right a wrong that seems totally unnecessary.
I recently returned from a visit to Madagascar—a
country of enormous potential, but one of the poorest on earth—due
mainly to a succession of bad and corrupt governments over the
past 30 years. I can confirm from my own observations that the
level of poverty, malnutrition and misery are every bit as bad
as indicated.
Since 2002 Madagascar has been governed by a
new breed of leaders; who have the interests of the people at
heart, and who are determined to beat corruption and bring prosperity
to the people of Madagascar. There is now a mood of hope which
has not been felt for two generations, and to which aid donors
and the international community have responded with generous financial
and technical assistance to help rebuild the country's shattered
infrastructure. The British Embassy has become the most visible
diplomatic presence. The Americans are bunkered down and the French
have a long and awkward history to forget. The British presence
is noted and spoken about very well, in even the remotest parts
of Madagascar where television reaches. This was all noted and
praised in a report by an FCO man called James Bevan.
Against this background I was astonished to
discover that the government has decided to close the British
Embassy in Antananarivo later this year—to save pounds sterling
300,000 a year. Furthermore, when the Embassy closes a fund used
to finance the construction of schools, equip medical centres
and projects which provide regular incomes to poor communities
will also come to an end. This cannot be right. The British government
claims to be determined to reduce poverty and suffering in Africa.
But closing the British Embassy and ending British aid will have
precisely the opposite effect.
After only three years the government of Madagascar
has achieved a great deal. It is one of Africa's few success stories,
and it is already showing the way to other developing countries.
To withdraw British support at this time makes no sense at all.
It is damaging to the interests of Britain and Madagascar and
could undermine the government's efforts. Furthermore it contradicts
everything that Mr Blair and Mr Brown have said, particularly
in the context of the recent Commission for Africa report.
I understand that several large British investments
in Madagascar have recently been announced or are expected to
be announced. The British Embassy has been in the forefront of
facilitating these. I know that it is common amongst a very few
staff of the FCO to say that they are not interested in British
investment overseas, only in generating British exports or investment
into Britain. I am sure that you are aware that most of the largest
investments overseas also arrange huge procurement in the UK.
When Companies such as Rio Tinto and BAT wish to invest in Madagascar
you must expect substantial exports from Britain to sustain these
companies' operations. It is also my understanding that these
same companies want to help pay for the operation of the Embassy
because they find it so helpful and useful in their endeavours.
So the savings can be made by other means. The FCO ignores this
offer.
I also understand that there are dozens of local
staff in the Embassy and residences, most of whom, because of
the extreme poverty, will never work again. There are opportunities
not to break up this staff and to pass the buildings and staff
to another country. Your staff in London have vetoed this. This
would seem a vile way to treat loyal staff and, those who propose
it, deserve to rot in the same kind of poverty. It is also totally
against the policies and declared intentions of the FCO.
It is fairly clear what has happened. In spite
of the glowing report by Mr Bevan,the FCO has decided to make
an economy by shutting this embassy, without thinking, analysing
or listening. Once someone had made the decision and his error
became apparent to him, all he could do was to bring forward the
closure to stop the protests. Jack Straw does not know the truth
about this and Gordon Brown and Tony Blair would surely be surprised
by the cavalier way in which this person has done his best to
bring misery to dozens of British employees, a disservice to British
industry, incomprehension to a very friendly government and a
stab in the back to those who are trying to bring aid to this,
one of the poorest countries in the World.
You know two f***s from Bob Geldorf and the
culpable manager would be well in the S***. Could the FCO not
quietly put this right before the Gleneagles Conference and save
themselves from looking asinine? The FCO have made a serious mistake
in deciding to close the British Embassy in Antananarivo. It should
be big enough to admit it and reverse this decision before it
is too late. I hope you will use your influence to ensure that
British support for Madagascar continues, for the benefit of the
people of Madagascar to end the poverty and suffering they have
endured for so long.
Thomas Rambaut
22 June 2005
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