President Bharrat Jagdeo, Pro Tempore Chairman of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), has called on its newly installed Secretary- General Maria Emma Mejia Velez to push for a continental economic model that would focus on lifting people out of poverty and not just on creating wealth. He was speaking on Monday at Velez’s installation as Secretary-General, whose ascension fills the vacancy created with the passing of the last Secretary-General, former Argentinean President Nestor Kirchner, in October 2010. The installation took place at State House in Georgetown. “We need our own economic model, one that allows plurality, private sector and the state developing economic activities. One thing most of our countries agreed on is that the neo-liberal model of the past did not work for South America, and almost every leader agreed on that,” said President Bharrat Jagdeo, who became Chairman of UNASUR at the body’s Fourth Regular Meeting, held in Guyana in November, 2010.
“With [the neo-liberal model] comes a whole range of instability and a lot of the progress we made on the poverty front were reversed because of the imported global crises on our economy because of [its] openness. So without departing from principles which allow plurality of views, we must forge a South American economic model that focuses not just on generating wealth, but lifting people out of poverty,” he said.
“Madame Secretary-General, your efforts would be crucial in leading us to that point,” the UNASUR Chairman said.
President Jagdeo also urged the grouping to pay attention to the issue of climate change and its link to poverty in developing countries.
“We have seen the varying effects of the global financial crisis on our economies. Recovery is proving to be slower and more problematic for some than others. Efforts to combat climate change will continue as another top priority on our agenda. We all know that climate change affects everything, from the health of the world’s economy to the health of our citizens. It also has a disproportionate impact on small states,” he said.
According to Jagdeo, there has been some progress since the UNFCCC CoP 16 meeting in Cancun Mexico in December 2010, such as the establishment of two governance bodies. “While I acknowledge the commitment from some of the developed countries to provide additional funding for climate change, advocacy for early access by developing countries for available resources should be a priority for UNASUR’s political agenda,” he said.
“I believe that the Union of South American Nations and the Caribbean can find common areas in which they can collaborate, and we should encourage this. Beyond that, however, is the real prospect for Guyana and Suriname to use their physical links with the continent of South America to provide access to markets to both the Caribbean and South America. We have for years espoused this idea and it is time for us to put it to the test,” the President said.
“Many times I am asked if this isn’t just another regional organisation and we have so many already. Is there any value added in creating a new organisation? Will it benefit the region? Often these questions come not from people who live in the region, but [from outside],” he said.
“But I say to them that to understand, you had to be there at the beginning and to see the progress that has been made over the many years through the efforts of many wonderful leaders in our region,” he said.
He noted that the member states of UNASUR have made valuable contributions to the reconstruction efforts in Haiti, and “I am pleased that the Head of the technical mission in Haiti is with us today.”
The President said that UNASUR’s agenda will change as issues arise.
“But certain global trends will continue to shape our shared efforts to achieve sustained development and social well-being for our people,” he said.