– says Cabinet Secretary
GUYANA’S successful hosting of the IV Regular Summit of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) has boosted the country’s international image. This is the view of Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon. Dr. Luncheon noted that the summit’s hosting and execution “has provided many more opportunities for the development of national pride in our collective accomplishments,” adding that the Prime Minister-led preparatory team was lauded for their exemplary work.
Additionally, the Cabinet Secretary said Guyana’s Chairmanship of the bloc has led to Prime Minister Samuel Hinds’ representation of Guyana in Argentina for discussions on the selection of a new Secretary-General of UNASUR to replace the late Nestor Kirchner, who died in October of this year.
Also coming on the heels of the summit is Guyana’s participation in the recently concluded Organisation of American States Ministers Meeting that examined the South America/Nicaragua/Costa Rica Border dispute, Dr. Luncheon said.
Guyana’s representative at this forum was Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and according to the Cabinet Secretary, though the issues were not resolved, there was a call for efforts to reduce tensions in Central America whilst the parties await the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Other than the tangible economic benefits derived from the large contingents of people descending on the summit for various reasons, Dr. Luncheon noted that Guyana’s ascension to the pro tempore presidency of the body shows that Guyana has impressed upon the leadership of the South American countries that it has an important role to play in the destiny of the continent and the region as a whole.
On November 26, Guyana hosted 12 Heads of State and Delegations of the 12 member states of UNASUR for the IV Regular Summit at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, where the chairmanship of the union was handed over from Ecuadorian President Raphael Correa to President Jagdeo.
Leaders attending the summit, including outgoing Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez all expressed confidence in President Jagdeo’s leadership.