IT WAS timely and appropriate that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, should have reaffirmed the core principles of Guyana’s foreign policy as this nation prepares to observe on Tuesday its 40th anniversary as a constitutional republic.
Whatever remains the political and other differences between the long period of governance of Guyana since independence by the People’s  National Congress (PNC) and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) from 1992, one very fundamental principle that has informed their foreign policy objectives has been the preservation of this nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Minister Rodrigues’ emphasis on the government’s firm commitment to do all that’s necessary to ensure Guyana’s sovereignty as an independent nation, and protect its territorial integrity came during her intervention in last week’s debate in Parliament on the 2010 national budget.
It may be coincidental that just a few days earlier, the Foreign Minister had issued a statement on behalf of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s administration, urging the Surinamese administration of President Runaldo Venetiaan to “clarify” its own official position in relation to emotional “talk” by political elements in Suriname about an “invasion plan” against Guyana.
As of yesterday, there were no reports about a response from Suriname’s Foreign Ministry to the public concern expressed by Minister Rodrigues.
The wild talk about ‘invasion’ of Guyana’s sovereign territory — a feature of party politics in Suriname under various administrations in the past — has resurfaced as that neighbouring State prepares for new general election.
It is to be hoped that political maturity and sheer commonsense would help to put an end to such politically insane utterances about an ‘invasion’ design against Guyana.
For a start, it runs completely counter to the very good relations that Presidents Venetiaan and Jagdeo have been prudently cultivating in the best interest of the peoples of both border States.
Those in Suriname who seem to have difficulties in curbing their ‘war’ talk — for that’s what ‘invasion’ talk is really all about — need to demonstrate some modicum of intelligence about the harsh realities of the foreign policy objectives among the 14-member Caribbean Community, to which both Guyana and Suriname are committed.
Further, that to engage in silly, unproductive, emotional political talk about an ‘invasion’ of Guyanese territory –even after the historic ruling of September 2007 by a UN Law of the Sea Tribunal on access to an off-shore basin potentially rich in oil and natural gas deposits, is also inconsistent with the spirit and reality of the guiding principles of the Union of South American Nations (UNASAR), of which both Guyana and Suriname are participating members.
Foreign Minister Rodrigues-Birkett has eloquently explained the positive factors in support of good neighbourly relations between Guyana and Suriname as Caribbean States struggle to cope in this second decade of the 21st Century with serious social and economic problems inherited at independence from their respective colonial masters.
This commitment by Guyana is consistent with its firm policy to promote and sustain good and productive relations with ALL of its border neighbours — Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela — WITHOUT ANY diminution in its firm commitment to maintenance of political sovereignty and TERRITORIAL integrity.
Let those who have ears to hear, hear — in the best interest of the Guyanese and Surinamese people!