Speaking at a Human Rights and Corruption Panel on Sunday, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett pointed out that the Regional Security System (RSS) of which this country is a member caters for collective self-defence.
The issue has assumed greater interest given that Guyana is now facing aggression from Venezuela which is making preparations for the annexing of the county of Essequibo in flagrant violation of rulings by the International Court of Justice.
Presenting virtually on matters related to the United Nations and treaties among other areas at a panel organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Rodrigues-Birkett pointed out that the RSS Treaty allows collective self-defence.
“..the same treaty also speaks to an armed attack against one of them by a third state or from any other source is an armed attack against them all and consequently in the event of such an attack each of them in the exercise of their inherent right of individual and collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the UN will determine the measures to be taken to assist the state so attacked including the use of armed force. This is an extremely important inclusion in the RSS”, she said.
Since the threats by Venezuela, the government here has not addressed whether the article requiring collective defence would be invoked. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Irfaan Ali has said nothing about it.
On Saturday, Stabroek News asked the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan about whether Guyana would invoke the collective defence article in the RSS but he skirted the question.
On November 28, Stabroek News pointed out that Guyana would be able to rely on the principle of collective self-defence if attacked by Venezuela.
Guyana joined the RSS last year and the treaty covers collective defence under Article 4. The RSS comprises Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Christopher and Nevis Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines and Guyana.
On October 6th, President Ali received a visit from leaders of the RSS who were in Guyana for their annual meeting.
During the engagement at State House, the Head of State emphasised the need for a regional approach to security in response to conflicts and disasters. There was no mention of the then brewing Venezuelan crisis.
The visiting delegation was led by Executive Director RSS, Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, Errington Ricardo Shurland and also included Heads of the Defence Forces and Police Forces from St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Guyana (Chief of Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan and Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken).
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn and National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia were also at the meeting.
Under Article Four of the RSS Treaty, member states agree that an armed attack against one is an armed attack against them all.
According to Article 4(5): “The Member States agree that an armed attack against one of them by a third State or from any other source is an armed attack against them all, and consequently agree that in the event of such an attack, each of them, in the exercise of the inherent right of individual or collective self defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will determine the measures to be taken to assist the State so attacked by taking forthwith, individually or collectively, any necessary action, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the peace and security of the Member State”.
Article 4(6) adds “Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council of the United Nations. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to secure and maintain peace in the Member State”.
Under Article 4(4) the Member States shall consult whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the democratic institutions, territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of them is threatened.
Article 4(1) says that the purposes and functions of the RSS are to promote co-operation among the Member States in the “prevention and interdiction of traffic in illegal narcotic drugs, in national emergencies, search and rescue, immigration control, fisheries protection, customs and excise control maritime policing duties, natural and other disasters, pollution control, combating threats to national security, the prevention of smuggling, and in the protection of off-shore installations and exclusive economic zones”.
In March last year, member countries of the RSS agreed to sign a protocol for Guyana’s accession, according to the Office of the President.
