In recognition of his sterling contribution to relations between Guyana and Japan, former Foreign Affairs Minister Rudy Insanally was yesterday conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government.
The award is the highest order that a foreign national can receive from the Japanese government and was conferred on Insanally at a simple ceremony held at the Georgetown Club. Kiyoshi Takeuchi, the Deputy Head of the Japanese Mission in Trinidad and Tobago bestowed the honour on Insanally on behalf of Japanese Emperor Akihito.
With the conferment of the honour, Insanally became the first Caribbean national to receive this award from the Japanese government and the seventh recipient from the Pan-American region. Insanally served as Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister from 2001 to 2008 before stepping down from the post due to ailing health and other personal reasons. He has also served as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and was elected President of the UN General Assembly in 1993. Insanally also served as Ambassador to Japan from 1992
Speaking at yesterday’s ceremony Takeuchi hailed the former Ambassador “a true friend of Japan” and acknowledged his sterling contribution to regional and international development. According to him, Insanally had played an integral part in several collaborations between the two countries over the years. He also pointed out that Insanally, during his outstanding diplomatic career, had the distinction of being the first to accomplish many things.
After receiving the award, Insanally while expressing his gratitude to the Japanese government for bestowing the honour upon him made an appeal for the Japanese administration to render whatever assistance was needed to the people of Haiti following the devastating effects of Tuesday’s earthquake.
He acknowledged the important role that Japan is playing in the fight against climate change and said recent initiatives undertaken by the country’s administration were good steps in addressing the issue.
The former Foreign Affairs Minister stated that the development of the Kyoto Protocol – named for the Japanese city of Kyoto – was an important step in the fight against climate change. And while he acknowledged that the December climate change conference in Copenhagen had not been as successful as many had hoped, he said it signaled that together the issue of climate change could be confronted. He commended Japan for its pledge to contribute a total of $15 billion over the next three years to address the issue.
Speaking about the relationship between Guyana and Japan, Insanally said he believed that his award is evidence of the good relationship that exists between the two countries. He identified President Bharrat Jagdeo’s trip to that country as one of the high points of this relationship.
Meanwhile, if there was one regret about the occasion, Insanally said it would have been the fact he was unable to travel to Tokyo to receive the award from Emperor Akihito. This, he explained was due to his ill health.
He, however, recounted the pleasurable experiences he had while he served as Guyana’s Ambassador to that country.
Insanally, meanwhile, acknowledged the support he had received from his family and the government of Guyana while he served in various capacities in the diplomatic service. He also thanked the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Oder of the Rising Sun was established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji.