Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd yesterday met with Permanent Representatives of the Group of Latin America and Caribbean States (GRULAC) at the United Nations headquarters in New York and pitched Guyana’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 term.
A release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that he also outlined Guyana’s vision and priorities once successful. Todd also expressed Guyana’s appre-ciation to the Permanent Representatives for their respective Governments support for Guyana’s candidacy. The election is scheduled to be held on 6 June 2023 in New York.
During his presentation, the release said that Todd under-scored the fact that the Latin America and Caribbean group has made significant contributions to international peace and security, including through the establishment of the region as a Zone of Peace.
Additionally, countries from the region, big and small, have served and are currently serving on the Council.
The release said that the Minister identified several priority areas that would engage Guyana’s attention as a non-permanent member of the Security Council including climate change, food insecurity and conflict; Children in armed conflict; Youth, peace and security; Women, peace and security and; Peace building and conflict prevention.
Thanking the members of GRULAC that offered to share their experiences on the Council, the Minister said that Guyana’s term will not be a “national flag waving moment but a continuity of GRULAC’s contribution to peace and security”, the release said.
He emphasized the primacy of the United Nations Charter and the importance of multilateralism in safeguarding the indepen-dence and security of States, especially for Small States like Guvana.
GRULAC is allocated two of the ten non-permanent seats on the Council, currently held by Brazil and Ecuador. Guvana submitted its candidacy to GRULAC In 2011 and is the region’s sole candidate for the one vacant seat. It has received the confirmed support of all thirty-two members of GRULAC, the release stated.
