The Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations ended their meeting on Sunday in Malta where they had deliberated and planned a way forward for its constituents, who comprise 33 per cent of the world’s population.This year’s theme “Adding Global Value” accordingly sets out to utilise international political strengths to influence and effect change on important global issues.
These include issues such as youth empowerment, women’s rights, integration, economic development and the plight of low-lying states like Guyana. The pre-eminence of Commonwealth to this country’s protection and development can be traced to the Forbes Burnham PNC Government, under whose leadership Independence was attained on May 26, 1966. At Independence, Guyana joined this institution; working with it as a platform in protecting and advancing our national interest.
The importance of this institution to Guyana’s development saw the then government working assiduously to ensure its then Foreign Affairs Minister Sir Shridath Ramphal was elected as Secretary-General (SG).
Serving from July 1, 1975 to June 30, 1990, Ramphal was the second Secretary- General and thus far holds the distinction as the longest serving. Prior to being Minister of Foreign Minister, he was the nation’s Attorney General; a new nation whose legal infrastructure he helped defined and shaped.
This was the period on the international front when young Guyana was navigating the Cold War conflicts, opting for the path of Non-Alignment, and experiencing aggression at its borders by its neighbours, Suriname and Venezuela. Simultaneously, on the domestic front the country was engaging in efforts to forge a unified society on the aspiration of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”, having come out of serious physical racial conflicts where lives were lost and communities divided.
Even as Guyana sought to make its mark in influencing and shaping global human development, this institution afforded us a fillip in doggedly communicating and advancing the case in various parts of the world on our stance as it relates to the aggression that was taking place on our borders. Our case was communicated not only through Heads of Government meetings but other fora such as the Commonwealth Trades Union Congress forum which yearly brings together trade union leaders during the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Annual Conference.
Representatives of Guyana’s trade unions strengthened the country’s case at this forum by the utilisation of strategies built on the universal principle of solidarity, to lobby and gain the support of other external trade unionists and their organisations, which constituted support of the Commonwealth working class for the protection of Guyana’s sovereignty.
Our presence in the Commonwealth and historical modus operandi has secured Guyana’s pre-eminence, solidarity of member states and the institution against every external aggression. The decision of the David Granger APNU+AFC Government to participate in this year’s conference and its stated position that Guyana will advance its case on the borders issue is continuing the rich tradition, which is commendable.
For the Commonwealth is not only a place for speeches, it is also the forum where world decisions are influenced, shaped and refined, consistent with the goals, dreams and aspirations of its members and their peoples. And where the world has shifted to sustainable development and a number of issues such as human rights, climate change and poverty are important tools in measuring growth, the Commonwealth is another platform for the English speaking Caribbean, including Guyana to pursue its collective agenda for the benefit of its peoples. The charters that guide understanding and approach to these issues ought to be woven into the national policies, programmes and laws which must see rigid respect and implementation in furtherance of the nation’s development.
Aside from Guyana advancing its interest, the election of Baroness Patricia Scotland of Dominican birth as the 6th Secretary-General is advancement for the Commonwealth’s peoples. This is the first time a woman has been elected to the post and marks a positive step for equality which is ensconced in the Commonwealth Charters. Conversely, it is noted that the Caribbean put up more than one candidate, and supported these all the way to the elections, which is a first for the Region.  As the institution moves forward under Baroness Scotland’s leadership, it behoves Guyana to ensure its primacy and agenda are not subsumed by moving to take advantage of the strategic position of this organisation to further its national interest.