Foreign Consulates in New York A Waste
We shall use the term ‘embassy’ loosely today. Basically, it is an office of your country in another country, let’s say U.S.A. We are using New York as an example because of the United Nations building. You can’t miss it. It has all those country flags fluttering in the breeze from the East River. Embassies are also called consulates or foreign missions.
Once upon a time, they provided travel, health, educational and other information to people who wanted to visit their countries. Their own students, studying in America had a shoulder to cry on if there were problems. Embassies also mounted cultural and religious celebrations. All those countries also spy on each other. Let's not forget espionage of James Bond 007 and Lupin proportions. Mr. Zinobia, the ‘cultural attache’ might have culture like hand guns and dangerous drugs in his briefcase.
Embassies as Dinosaurs
It is time to close most embassies and consulates because what justified their existence is long gone. The Queen of England owned half the world through the British Empire. Initially, consulates represented British interests in colonies. This continued after independence because Africa and other subjects took down the Union Jack and hoisted their own flags, but nothing changed.
Embassies and consulates were rewards for the ruling class. Try and leaf through old letters of appointment and see the kind of ambassador British governments sent to the colonies. It was ‘old school tie’ boys, riding and hunting buddies. Britain granted colonies independence but they maintained the tradition of staffing embassies with friends and family.
Embassies and consulates must go because of the cost. It is expensive especially for small countries. You need the U.S. dollar to live in New York. Your country currency is not on par with it whether you produce oil, gold or platinum. That’s why you need 50 shillings to get one U.S. dollar.
Embassies must also go because most services are online. Terrorism is another problem. Security is so tight, it is practically impossible to enter your embassy or consulate now. Unfortunately, embassies will still be around for a long time because no politician in Africa will campaign to close them in New York, Bonn, London and Paris. Some army generals overthrow sitting governments so that they can travel abroad. To do what exactly?
Nonqaba waka Msimang
Executive Blogger
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