President Irfaan Ali and the Office of the Leader of the Opposition yesterday lauded Guyana’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2024-2025.
In statement, President Ali said: “Today, Guyana was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nation’s Security Council for the period 2024–2025. Guyana is honoured and humbled by the confidence that has been expressed by the international community in electing us to this most important position of responsibility on the global stage.
“Guyana has now been accorded the opportunity to serve on the Security Council, which is charged under the UN Charter with the responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is a responsibility that we will assume with utmost seriousness and dedication, mindful of the complex and challenging times in which we live.
“The theme of our candidacy ‘Partnering for Peace and Prosperity” serves as a guide to Guyana’s approach to service on the Security Council. We intend to be a constructive and engaged partner with the members of the Council and the wider international community in the search for solutions to the myriad of momentous challenges that beset our human family”.
The election took place yesterday at UN Head-quarters in New York.
The President expressed deep gratitude to the Mem-ber States of the United Nations for the overwhelming support extended to Guyana’s candidature. He also thanked the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Inter-national Cooperation, the Permanent Representative and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York for their tireless efforts in advancing the country’s candidature and “securing the result which we witness with great pride today”.
In a statement, Shadow Minister of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amanza Walton-Desir also offered congratulations. In a statement from the Office of the Opposition Leader, she said that the APNU+AFC Parliamentary Opposition welcomed the announcement that Guyana has once again secured a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
“The international security landscape presents complex challenges that require concerted global efforts to address. We in the APNU+AFC believe in managing these challenges through the rule of international law and constructive dialogue among nations. Guyana’s appointment to the Security Council provides us with an opportunity to advocate for these principles and contribute meaningfully to the Council’s work.
“We are proud to note that this will be Guyana’s third time serving on the Security Council, having served in 1975-1976 and 1982-1983”, the statement said.
Walton-Desir expressed gratitude to “our dedicated Foreign Service personnel for their efforts in this regard as well as to the international community for their support throughout Guyana’s bid for this prestigious seat”.
She also extended congratulations to the other elected states, Algeria, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia.
The Reuters news service yesterday reported that Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone and South Korea ran unopposed for a spot on the 15-member body, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security. In the only competitive race, Slovenia beat out Belarus – allied with Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. The five elected nations will replace Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates.
Reuters noted that the Security Council is the only U.N. body that can make legally binding decisions such as imposing sanctions and authorizing the use of force. It has five permanent veto-wielding members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
To ensure geographical representation, seats are allocated to regional groups. But even if candidates are running unopposed in their group, they still need to win the support of more than two-thirds of the General Assembly, the report said.
Guyana received 191 votes, Sierra Leone 188, Algeria received 184 votes, South Korea 180. Slovenia won 153 votes to beat Belarus, which received 38 votes.
