Dear Editor,

I MUST salute the Government of Guyana for its vote on Thursday in the United Nations on the issue of Jerusalem. I must however express my disappointment that the 14-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) did not vote in unison in favour of this UN resolution. Seven members abstained or did not vote.

Prior to the vote, both U.S. President Trump and the U.S. UN Ambassador Nikki Haley had issued warnings that America would take note of the names that voted for the resolution and that aid to those countries would be negatively affected in the future.

So, was this threat the reason why seven CARICOM member states abstained or did not vote at all? Was it CARICOM’s strategy to have half the member states support the resolution, thereby making it difficult for the Trump administration to “punish” the Region as a whole, should it choose to carry out its threat?

In my view, this split vote provides for the current U.S. administration to “pick off” CARICOM member states individually, thereby making it hard for us in the diaspora to lobby as a collective Caribbean against any possible “punishment” against the seven countries that supported the resolution.

As much as I am disappointed in the way some CARICOM member states voted on this issue, I still maintain an abiding faith in the regional integration process. I suppose our unity in CARICOM does not preclude a plurality of positions on key issues, it pre-supposes it.

Jean Kirkpatrick many years ago while serving as the U.S. ambassador to the UN in the Reagan administration had suggested that U.S. aid to developing countries should be in keeping with their percentage of votes consistent with the U.S. vote in the UN system. Her suggestion was inconsistent with the shared values which form the foundation of the relationship between the member states of CARICOM and the U.S., and so too does the threat from the Trump administration.

I hope that should the U.S. administration attempt to “punish” Guyana in any way because of its principled position as represented through last Thursday’s vote, the Guyanese diaspora in the U.S. will mount a vigorous lobby to avoid any “punishment” that might be contemplated. I am committed to being part of that lobby, should it become necessary.

Sincerely,
Wesley Kirton