Dear Editor,
In a Stabroek News editorial comment to my letter titled “Least developed countries like Guyana can benefit from the Organization of Islamic Conference” (08.03.15) regarding the OIC Summit in Dakar, Senegal it was stated, “We have been informed that Guyana’s Ambassador to India, Mr Ronald Gajraj, and Mr Fazeel Ferouz, President of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), attended the Summit.” I was also informed by the OIC and Senegal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Mr Ronald Gajraj was expected to represent Guyana at the just concluded summit. Here again we have witnessed another diplomatic fiasco by the Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to bad planning and micro-management. If the Guyanese delegation was formalised in advance and travel arrangements were made in a timely manner this poor image that Guyana displayed at Dakar could have been avoided.
Thirty-seven heads of state attended the summit, and according to the OIC office in Jeddah and the International Islamic Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO) in Rabat, Morocco, CIOG’s Fazeel Ferouz was there only on the final day of the summit because he left Guyana on March 12 and arrived in Senegal on the evening of March 13. The Heads of State Summit began on March 13 and ended on March 14, 2008. This is another embarrassing diplomatic blunder especially after Senegal sent a three-member high-level delegation led by its Minister of State, Mr Ousmane Masseck Ndiayne to invite President Bharrat Jagdeo personally to the Heads of State Summit.
Why not designate a desk officer to handle, inter alia, OIC affairs as is customary in other countries? We do not have to look too far, just next door Suriname’s Mr Rafiq Chiragally is that government’s envoy to the OIC. Dr Odeen Ishmael served for several years in a similar capacity when he represented Guyana at many OIC fora, but the Government of Guyana is yet to give a logical answer as to why he has been sidelined from the OIC meetings. As well, Mr George Hallaq, Guyana’s Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and Greece who represented Guyana at several OIC meetings, and who is versed on OIC affairs could have attended the Dakar Summit. Was Mr Hallaq contacted? Sending Mr Gajraj from India to Senegal is not an issue of geography and money, because it is more convenient to travel from Caracas to Dakar. The PPP government needs to put personal grudges aside and conduct international affairs professionally.
According to the Surinamese Mission to the United Nations, Paramaribo was represented by a robust four-member delegation led by its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lygia L Kraag-Keteldij and comprising its Ambassador to the UN, Henry L Mac Donald, Ambassador of OIC Affairs, Mr Rafiq Chiragally and Ms Jacintha Asarfi. The OIC and its subsidiary organs, the IsDB and ISESCO have been supporting the health, transportation and education infrastructure in Suriname. It is not only for this reason that this small Dutch-speaking country in South America sent a strong delegation to Dakar, but more importantly the recognition of the opportunity at such global fora to lobby for development assistance for the country and forging of strategic multi-bi collaboration. Suriname is now eligible for a US$35 million debt write-off from the OIC and will benefit further from the proposed US$10 billion fund, which will focus on poverty and development programmes. Saudi Arabia already pledged US$2 billion towards this fund.
The OIC and its subsidiary organ – ISESCO – have taken important decisions in favour of Least Developed Countries. Again, ISESCO prepared the “Letter of Intent” for Guyana to join that group, one added benefit as a member is that Guyana can get its dues waived, and at the same time vote on all issues, and is fully eligible for the projects and programmes of the organisation. With no member of the government present in Dakar, according to ISESCO, the letter could not be signed and has been sent to Guyana for signature, after four years of failed attempts. Hopefully, Dr Frank Anthony will sort this matter out as soon as possible.
It is my opinion that the Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs revamping and some sort of freedom to conduct international affairs without being micro-managed.
Yours faithfully,
Ray Chickerie
In Morocco
