President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday defended his government’s decision to support controversial Trump administration official, Mauricio Claver-Carone, for the presidency of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at elections next month.
“The US candidate was put to us and we have offered our support because we think the US candidate is a good candidate and it is a candidate that would effectively carry out the functions,” Ali said on the sidelines of the swearing in of ministers of his government at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
Claver-Carone’s nomination has divided Latin America and there are continuing efforts to delay the election.
Asked about the rationale behind supporting the US official when conventionally the candidate has always come from a Latin American country, Ali replied, “I am not dealing with convention. I am dealing with a request that was made to the Government of Guyana and the Government of Guyana has no objection in supporting that.”
Elections for the IDB President will be held from September 12 to September 13. A candidate needs the support of at least 15 of the 28 regional member countries and a majority of the total vote to win. Reuters said that the percentage of voting control relates to each country’s shares in the bank and there must be at least 75% for quorum or the election must be rescheduled.
Two days after Ali was sworn in, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced this country’s support. “The Government of Guyana is pleased to support the candidacy of Mr. Mauricio Claver-Carone who has been nominated by the United States of America for the post of President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB),” the statement said.
“Mr. Claver-Carone’s experience in senior positions of the US Treasury Department, the US National Security Council and as US Executive Director of the IMF augur well for his presidency”.
Takuba Lodge added that Claver-Carone’s nomination demonstrates the US commitment to leadership in important regional institutions, and the advancing of prosperity and security in the Western Hemisphere. It said that his leadership of the IDB – a key financier for Guyana – is expected to “strengthen its ability to deliver development impact to the region”.
The nomination of the hawkish Claver-Carone has even seen intervention by the European Union – not a member of the IDB – but which appears to have reacted to concern about his positions. The candidate has been known for his hardline positions on Venezuela and Cuba.
If elected, Claver-Carone would be the first person from outside Latin America to lead the Washington-based IDB since its founding in 1959.
On Friday, Reuters reported that support is growing in Latin America for a move to delay the election. Mexico’s finance ministry said on Friday that the vote should be postponed “until the conditions were right,” echoing a similar call on Thursday from Chile.
Argentina’s Senate foreign affairs committee said in a statement on Friday that it unanimously supported having a Latin American candidate run the bank.
