– UNDP talks up financial support for small states

GUYANA has been recognised for successfully chairing the Group of 77 (G77) and China throughout 2020, and will be officially handing over the chairperson position to the Republic of Guinea on Monday, January 18.

On Friday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, met with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative, Jairo Valverde, ahead of Guyana’s handing over of the position.

According to a press release from the ministry, the UNDP representative extended congratulations to Guyana for its successful chairmanship of the group throughout 2020, and its collaboration with the UNDP during the chairmanship, despite the challenges of COVID-19.

Valverde also lauded the efforts of the staff of the ministry to organise and execute the virtual flagship event on climate change held under the theme “Maintaining a Low Carbon Development Path towards the 2030 Agenda in the Era of COVID-19”.

“We are honoured to have been able to hold the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China (G77 + China)”, Minister Todd was quoted as saying.

He also emphasised the role of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali in leading the charge of that flagship event.

“The outcome of the event speaks directly to his leadership and contribution to the Chairmanship of the G77 + China,” the Foreign Minister said.

According to Minister Todd, the technical support provided through Guyana’s partnership with the local UNDP office proved instrumental in the success of Guyana’s Chairmanship. Minister Todd also commended the commitment and efforts of the Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, her team, and the staff of the ministry.

Beyond the chairmanship of the G77 and China, the Foreign Minister and UNDP representative also discussed financing for small states in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the reclassification of Caribbean economies and other mutual areas of interest.

“The UN continues to be a strong and trusted development partner of Guyana that has aided in the promotion of the implementation of the global development agenda in the country,” the release noted.

Guyana officially took over the chairmanship of the G77 and China from the State of Palestine, which served in that capacity for the year 2019. Guyana’s election to the position followed a decision of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) earlier in 2019 to ensure that a regional candidate assumes chairmanship in 2020 of this largest negotiating group of developing countries in the United Nations.

Guyana received the unequivocal support of CARICOM and the majority of countries in the Group, including from Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

The duties of the chairmanship were discharged with the support of a range of bilateral partners and international organisations. Team members were drawn from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other government ministries and agencies and from the Guyanese diaspora.