OAS must not stand by while Guyana breaks from democratic principles – Brazil’s Ambassador

…Caricom enforcing treaty, not interference – Ambassador

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has insisted that it is not interfering in Guyana’s domestic affairs, as being alleged by certain forces here, but is in fact participating in the Community’s affairs.

This was related to the Organisation of American States (OAS) Permanent Council at Tuesday’s special meeting by St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Permanent Representative, Ambassador Lou-Anne Gaylene Gilchrist.
Speaking on behalf of the other Caricom Members, Ambassador Gilchrist told the Council that in playing a role in Guyana’s protracted electoral process, the regional bloc is merely carrying out the requirements of the Caricom Treaty by which every Member State accepted all the various agreements, including the 1997 Charter of Civil Society.
At Article XI of the Charter, it says “The States shall ensure the existence of a fair and open democratic system through the holding of free elections at reasonable intervals, by secret ballot, underpinned by an electoral system in which all can have confidence and which will ensure the free expression of the will of the people in the choice of their representatives.”
It is against this backdrop that the SVG OAS Representative posited that, “Caricom’s role, therefore, is not interference in the domestic affairs of a foreign country; it is participation in Community affairs, which is the essence of the revised Caricom Treaty and the Charter of Civil Society that preceded it.”

This statement comes in light of criticisms that Caricom is interfering in Guyana’s internal affairs – something which has been dismissed by current Chairman of the regional bloc, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who had pointed out that the Community is also affected by Guyana’s situation.
Only last week, in an opinion piece, Dr Gonsalves condemned vile attacks that have been launched against leaders in the region as well as staff of the Caricom Secretariat located at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
The Caricom Chair had stated that he was deeply disturbed at reports that politically-aligned persons in Georgetown have been threatening, defaming, and verbally abusing leading personalities in the Caricom Secretariat, including Secretary General LaRocque. This, he underscored, is wholly unacceptable.
To this end, Ambassador Gilchrist underscored that Caricom’s concerted efforts and willingness to assist Guyana reside in the Community’s desire for the country to reach peaceful solutions, and not to widen the current divisions.
As such, the SVG OAS Permanent Representative, in lamenting the fact that this impasse has gone on for more than four months, urged the relevant authorities in Guyana and all stakeholders to respect the rule of law and to make progress in finalising the legal processes, including taking account of rulings by Guyana’s apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), in its July 8th decision.
The 15-member regional bloc is expected to meet sometime this week to discuss Guyana’s situation.
Meanwhile, at Tuesday’s OAS special meeting, several of the hemispheric nations also spoke out on the impasse, calling for the protracted electoral process to be brought to an end.
Guyana’s Portuguese-speaking neighbour, Bazil, was among those that made presentations calling Guyana’s situation “worrisome”, and noted that if can affect the stability of the country. Brazil’s Representative to the OAS Permanent Council, Ambassador Fernando Simas Magalhães, said the organisation cannot stand by while there is a break from the democratic principles that Member States have committed to in the Inter-American Charter.
To this end, he said the Brazilian Government endorses the appeals by the OAS and other regional and international bodies to put this electoral process to an end. Ambassador Simas also echoed concerns over the attacks and threats against stakeholders in Guyana.
The Brazilian Ambassador further noted that at such a delicate time, it is important for the will of the popular vote to be upheld to ensure the swift announcement of the new administration in Guyana. He said this needs to happen as soon as possible for Guyana to rejoin those democratic countries in the hemisphere that are committed to the principles of democracy.
Also expressing similar sentiments was Ambassador Alejandro Ordoñez Maldonado – Colombia’s Representative to the OAS Permanent Council. He urged that Guyana finalise the elections that were held more than four months ago, adding that Guyanese have a basic right, when they take part in an election, to know the results in a transparent manner and without delays.
This, Ambassador Maldonado, said will avoid uncertainty and damage to not only Guyana’s democracy, but the region’s as well.
He further noted that while the hemisphere has considerable challenges, which have now worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it can only be remedied if the democratic institutions in the region are solid and respected.
As such, he noted that Member States cannot be indifferent to Guyana’s current situation, and reaffirmed Colombia’s historic position of recognising that democracy, security and human rights are means to bolster development in the region.
Meanwhile, the other OAS member nations that also spoke unanimously at Tuesday’s special meeting include Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Honduras and Nicaragua. (G8)