SIR Ronald Sanders, the Guyana-born international consultant, writer and a former Caribbean diplomat, has been invited by former US President, Jimmy Carter, to join the group of ‘Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter’ located in the Secretariat of the Carter Centre. The two other Caribbean citizens to have previously joined the distinguished group, currently comprising 36 members are former Prime Ministers of Trinidad and Tobago (ANR Robinson) and Barbados (Sir Erskine Sandiford).
These ‘Friends’, among them President Carter himself, include former Presidents, Prime Ministers, cabinet ministers and senior officials of North and Latin American and the Caribbean region.
They seek to increase “the viability and understanding” of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and to “more effectively prevent democratic tensions from erupting into crises”, according to the Secretariat of the Carter Centre.
In his letter of invitation to Sir Ronald, President Carter explained that the group of ‘friends’ engage in a “variety of activities, including public education about the Inter-American Democratic Charter; private assessment visits to countries experiencing difficulties with democratic governance and also publication of joint declarations to draw attention to the potential contributions of the Democratic Charter…”
In July last year, Sir Ronald was appointed as one of ten members of an ‘Eminent Persons Group’ requested by Heads of Government of the Commonwealth to recommend options for reform “that will sharpen the impact” of the 53-nation Commonwealth; strengthen its networks and raise its profile”. He served as the Group’s Rapporteur.
The report of the Eminent Persons Group is to be discussed at the coming Commonwealth Summit in Australia next month. (RS)