While expressing appreciation for its role in defending democracy here, Guyana on Tuesday called on the Organisation of American States (OAS) to do its “utmost” to address the myriad problems facing small developing countries and it also stressed the importance of consensus building.
Addressing the 50th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly virtually, Guyana’s Foreign Minister Hugh Todd pointed out that the office of the hemispheric body is strategically positioned in Washington, DC right next to the world’s leading financial institutions including the Inter-American Development Bank.
“…we therefore urge the OAS not just to carry on with its relatively small development programmes and valuable scholarship opportunities, but also to do its utmost to address the problem that we face as small developing countries”.
Todd cited the COVID-19 pandemic which he said continues to have a most negative impact on the development and is rolling back the gains made towards attaining the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
“Any further delay in bringing this pandemic under control and alleviating the extreme economic distress our countries are experiencing will result in a deepened crisis, involving an increased debt burden, also a worsening unemployment situation, continued challenges to the provision of education to our children and young people, as well as a weakening of our ability to deliver adequate healthcare, among other things.
“It is therefore imperative that an organisation like the OAS helps to find lasting solutions to existing hurdles that have impeded and continue to impede our progress towards a progressive and sustainable development trajectory, even as we endeavor to ensure that all four pillars of the OAS remain on equal footing”, Todd declared.
The Foreign Minister also zoomed in on the climate change threat. He said that it continues to be one of the “greatest existential” threats to this country and others in the hemisphere.
He said he was therefore pleased to note that the resolution, spearheaded by the Delegation of Barbados and co-sponsored by all 14 CARICOM countries at the OAS and nine other member states, `Advancing the Hemispheric Response to Climate Change in the context of COVID-19 Pandemic’, will be adopted at the end of the session
He posited that the hemisphere is also faced with security challenges, citing transnational organized crime, corruption, narco-trafficking, cyber-attacks, terrorism and violent crime.
“My Delegation is mindful of the fundamental differences which may exist in our acceptance of the inter-related nature of these challenges but, nevertheless, calls on the entire membership of the OAS to acknowledge that a collaborative and cohesive approach in meeting these challenges would provide the greatest benefits for all”, Todd urged..
Pointing out that OAS remains the principal forum for political dialogue in the hemisphere, Todd said “This rules-based (institution) must pursue consensus-building, especially on the pressing issues that continue to confront us, bearing in mind the principles enshrined in our Charter. We must set aside the notion that there are separate rules and another set for others, and recognise that whatever the prevailing circumstances, now and in the future, this body must be ever mindful that the Charter must be applied equally across the board”.
The Foreign Minister asserted that Guyana intends to continue to play its part, as a responsible member of the hemispheric community.
“Even in the midst of a current crisis, Guyana anticipates exponential growth, in the next few years, as a result of the benefits that are expected to be derived from our new oil and gas sector, the proceeds of which will be used responsibly for the benefit of all Guyanese. In this respect, I take this opportunity to assure our regional partners that Guyana will play its role to support Energy Security in the Caribbean and contribute to the further development of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas…”, he said.
Adverting to Guyana’s commitment to uphold democracy, he extended gratitude on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana to Secretary-General Luis Almagro and officials of the General Secretariat, in particular the Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation, as well as the member states of the Organisa-tion for the support provided during the recent five-month electoral crisis here, “which culminated in the will of the Guyanese people being respected and democracy and the rule of law triumphing”.
He also expressed appreciation for the role played by the Chief of the Electoral Observation Mission for the March 2nd general elections, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding and the members of the Mission, for their “unwavering dedication throughout the protracted process”.
He said it should come as no surprise to anyone that Guyana is very concerned about the increasing challenges to democracy in the hemisphere and around the world.
“As a consequence of the pandemic, more than 67 countries and territories have had elections postponed and more than 80 countries have declared a state of emergency, with a consequent deterioration in the quality of democracy and respect for human rights in most of those countries. On the other hand, during this period, 11 countries have become democracies. I therefore posit that, with collective vigilance and mutual support, and with the right amount of political will and citizen participation, democracy can prevail. We must therefore monitor ourselves daily for any regression from upholding the principles of democracy and human rights and we must be careful, moreover, not to allow the fragilities and vulnerabilities of our countries, particularly of small developing countries, be completely undermined by this pandemic”, Todd urged.
