Thanking the Organisation of American States (OAS) for their work here during Guyana’s last General and Regional elections, Presi-dent Irfaan Ali yesterday underscored the importance of elections observ-ers in the preservation of democracy, as he promised that his government will ensure that their presence will always be an integral part of the country’s elections landscape.
“This experience underscores the immense value and imperative need for Electoral Observer Missions. The role extends beyond mere observation; they act as guardians of democracy ensuring that elections reflect the true voice of the people,” the President said during his address to the OAS yesterday at its Washington DC headquarters.
“…To all nations in this Council, let Guyana’s experience serve as a testament to the indispensable role of electoral observer missions. Democracy thrives not only on the will of its people, but also on the trust in its process. Let us all commit the welcoming and facilitating such missions, ensuring that the core of democracy, the balance remains untainted, transparent and truly representative,” he added.
Pointing to Guyana’s experience, where this country had a five-month impasse and there was an attempt to subvert the elections count, Ali said that it was a testing period for this nation’s democratic values when the principles enshrined in the Constitu-tion and the essence of citizens’ will were under threat.
“There were forces at play that sought to subvert the democratic process, threatening to undermine the genuine voice of our citizens and impose upon them a future they did not choose. Yet, in these challenging times, the international community stood steadfast with the people of Guyana,” he said.
Further, he added, “We remain deeply grateful for the vigilance and oversight of the Electoral Observer Missions from the Organi-zation of American States, the European Union, the Commonwealth, and the Caribbean Community. Their unwavering commitment and meticulous observation ensured eventual transparency fairness and accountability. With-out their presence and relentless pursuit of truth, our democracy might have been derailed and the will of the people sidetracked.”
As nations committed to upholding the democratic ethos, Ali said that organisations and countries must recognise the vital importance of their missions as their unbiased assessments can identify potential pitfalls, discrepancies and breaches, ensuring that elections are not just a process, but a true representation of a nation’s aspiration
Turning to Venezuela’s illegal territorial claim to over 60% of this country, he told the OAS that Caracas’ claim had set this country back decades in its quest to enter the organisation and the unfounded claim has once again resurfaced.
“It was not until the January 31st, 1991, that the doors of this Council opened to Guyana, after prolonged negotiation and consistent diplomatic work. Yet, the territorial claim remains a relic of history that challenges our nation’s peace, territorial integrity and sovereignty. In 1899, an international tribunal of the highest distinction, established by agreement of the parties at the time, issued an arbitral award that was accepted and proclaimed as a full, perfect and final settlement. Yet, in 1962, 37 years after acceptance of that award and on the eve of Guyana attaining of Guyana’s independence, the territorial claim was reopened on spurious grounds. Since then, throughout its existence as an independent state, Guyana has endured acts of aggression that threaten our territorial integrity and intimidated and discouraged investment stunting our growth and development,” he said.
“To face that adversity and aggression, Guyana, drawing inspiration from the Charters of the OAS and the United Nations, has consistently pursued the path of peaceful resolution of this unfounded claim. Our acceptance of the decision of UN Secretary General Guterres, to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice, which is currently hearing the case, is a testament to our unwavering commitment to those principles. Our stance, mirrors the ethos of this very organisation that disputes should be settled peacefully in furtherance of international law,” he added.
“…Accepting established borders has been the tradition in our hemisphere, a tradition that has shielded our nations from conflicts, paving the way for peace, cooperation and development.
“Guyana stands firm in this belief that peaceful settlement of disputes is not merely an option, but a duty and a cornerstone principle of the OAS Charter. In a world where shifting geopolitical dynamics challenge established norms, Guyana reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principles enshrined in both the OAS and UN Charter. We will continue to champion the cause of international law as we seek a lasting, peaceful resolution to the territorial claim, one that was resurrected on the brink of our independence after decades of acceptance,” he added.
Spirit
“In the spirit of the OAS Charter, all Guyana remains resolute, looking forward to a future where shared values will light the way.”
On climate change, economic shifts and other vulnerabilities, Ali said hat Guyana will work with the OAS to find solutions as neighbours while presenting a united front to the larger world. “For too long, we, the member states of the OAS, have looked outward for solutions, bypassing the vast potential for trade, investment and collaboration right here in our neighbourhood.”
And stressing that his government is mindful that oil and gas production from Guyana will now contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions that creates climate change, he reasoned that the volume of emissions from Guyana was not comparable in any way to the size of emissions by the industrialised nations of the world.
He told the body that while there are disparities in development among nations in the bloc, seen as a collective, the potential of the Americas is staggering. “All that is missing is the political will to establish an equitable integration framework, enabling cross-border investment and production tailored to both our internal and global markets”, he said.
“…Let us not merely dream, but act to keep alive the aspiration of an integrated Americans based on equity, fairness, and shared benefits,” he added.
And Guyana, according to Ali, will not forget where it came from now that it has newfound wealth. As such, countries in the region can expect to be incorporated as part of his government’s macro-developmental strategies.
“There was a time when there was an exodus of Guyanese seeking status as economic refugees in other countries, principally the United States and Canada in this hemisphere. In the current atmosphere of political stability and economic growth, that trend is now being reversed. Guyanese are now returning home to take advantage of the economic and social development that is being pursued vigorously. This emphasises that the key to curbing irregular migration and refugees is economic development and the role of democracy and respect for the rule of law in politics,” he said.
Ensuring food security was a top priority, he noted, but coupled with that and just as important, he said, is the access and affordability of foods. “The paradox lies not in our inability to jointly produce but in our inadequate systems of distribution and internal trade barriers between Latin America and the Caribbean. CARICOM Nations spend an astonishing annual budget on food imports, even as some of our countries are net producers of food and could feed the rest of the region. Why does this disconnect persists?” Ali questioned.
“The core issue isn’t scarcity, but it challenges our most vulnerable face is accessing available food. High import bills, trade barriers, and a lack of affordable transport links within our region, compound the problem,” he added.
He said that in June, at a CELAC meeting, he had advocated for a high-level conference addressing these concerns; a synergy of governments, private sectors, and multilateral banks can elucidate the intrinsic connection between food security and national prosperity and was thus urging the Permanent Council alongside Secretary General Almagro, to spearhead an initiative to organize such a conference.
“Let us rally together not just to discuss, but to find ways to transform our regional food landscape,” he urged.
