Foreign Minister gives assurance on Guyana’s sovereignty, territorial integrity
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to focus on protection of this country’s sovereignty, the preservation of its territorial integrity and the promotion of economic and social development, Minister with the portfolio, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett assured the National Assembly on Tuesday. In her contribution during the closing stages of the debate on the 2012 national budget, she commended Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and his team for preparing it, stating that it is very consistent with previous budgets, in the sense that it offers something for everyone.
“I think congratulations are in order, especially when one considers the erratic financial environment in which many countries in the world have found themselves, so much so that a new category of countries have been coined, the heavily indebted rich countries,” she remarked.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) said it is in this sense that “we must not under-emphasise the achievements by Guyana.”
She also assured that, where necessary, action was taken to ensure that the internationally recognised boundaries of Guyana were respected.
Rodrigues-Birkett reminded the House that, in September last year, Guyana completed its submission for an extended continental shelf, under Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and, by doing so, has taken the necessary action to safeguard its rights and interests beyond the outer limit of the 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
“It will be recalled that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in September 2011 and, indeed, more recently, declared its incongruous position on the action taken by Guyana,” she remembered.
RESPONSIBLE ACTOR
The minister said this government will always ensure that Guyana remains a responsible actor in the international system and, as such, Guyana’s action, pursuant to the submission, was in keeping with the provisions of international law.
She continued: “And I, therefore, wish to assure every Guyanese that Guyana will, resolutely and vigorously, defend both its submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and its rights under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
The minister, who was absent from the Assembly in the earlier part of the debate, said it was due, in part, to her leading a delegation to appear before the CLCS and present their oral submission and also to meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
She noted that the Opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MP and Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Deborah Backer indicated her party’s support for the position taken, thus far, by the government in relation to its submission to the CLCS.
“National interest must always transcend partisan party politics and I think that this is a great example and I hope it’s going to be contagious and would have the same effect in the budget as a whole,” Rodrigues-Birkett stated.
Noting that Backer spoke about the need to consult on issues of national importance, especially as it relates to foreign policy, the minister said the PPP/C government has always done so and will continue in this trend.
AN INVITATION
Rodrigues-Birkett announced that the Leaders of the Opposition parties in Parliament and Speaker of the House Raphael Trotman will receive an invitation from President Donald Ramotar to meet with him and be fully updated on the developments at the UN.
She said that, being a responsible actor in the international system does not only involve a commitment to dialogue but also a commitment to cooperation, both in a broad sense and in that of taking advantage of common interests, goals and positions.
As such, the minister alluded to the country’s relations with Suriname and Venezuela, acknowledging that the differences in views of Guyana and both those states are well known. However, as important as they are to Guyana and its foreign policy, that must not be allowed to preclude cooperation for mutual benefit, once such cooperation does not compromise Guyana’s legal rights and entitlements.
In those circumstances, Rodrigues-Birkett said Guyana has worked hard to deepen cooperation with both neighbouring countries.
About Brazil, she said its cooperation programme continues apace in several areas, such as in agriculture,the military and the police.
Referring to some regional integration institutions, she said this country’s commitment to CARICOM remains strong and Guyana is well aware of the importance of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), which Guyana had an opportunity to chair in 2011.
The minister recalled that, last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs established a Diaspora Unit and has embarked on several initiatives, including collaborating with the International Office for Migration on a project aimed at creating a database of skills overseas, which, it is hoped, would start in a few months.
She also reminded that the Foreign Service Institute remains critical to the ministry’s response to train its human resources.
The minister also disclosed that the ministry is also gearing to be involved in the major transformative change in the way government services are delivered through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
On foreign trade, she said, despite the serious economic challenges and pressures that persisted in the international trading system in 2011, Guyana has maintained an open and liberalised trade policy environment.
She also revealed that the establishing of a mission in South Africa, was discussed last January and it has been agreed that they should work towards that and the government of that country has offered to provide CARICOM some assistance in hosting a mission there for joint representation.
Touching on the concerns that ambassadors have been too long in one place, she said there have been several changes, including in Venezuela, Brazil, Suriname, Cuba, Canada and also at the Consulate in Toronto.