Preparations ongoing ahead of Guyana taking up UN Security Council seat

…as Security Council Report conducts capacity building with Guyanese team

Guyana is ensuring it is well prepared when it takes up its United Nations Security Council (UNSC) seat next month, with the Security Council Report commencing training with the Guyana team that will be directly involved with the council matters.
It was revealed in a statement that the Security Council Report (SCR), which is a non-profit organisation that assists incoming members of the Security Council in preparing for their role, and building capacity, has started doing just that with the Guyanese team at the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry.
“The training aims to build the capacity of the home-based team ahead of the assumption of Guyana’s non-permanent seat on 1 January 2024, and will focus on procedural and thematic issues of the Security Council.
“Officials from several Government agencies are also participating in the training, with a view to gaining an understanding of the functioning of the Council relative to Guyana’s priorities identified for its tenure,” the Ministry further explained.
Foreign Secretary and High Representative for UNSC Affairs, Robert Persaud was one of those officials present and he thanked the group for helping to prepare Guyana for its critical responsibilities ahead of it being a non-permanent Member of the UN Security Council.
The United Nations Charter establishes six main organs of the organisation, including the Security Council. It is given primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
Its functions and powers are: to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations; to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction; to recommend methods of adjudicating such disputes, or the terms of settlement; to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments; to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression, and to recommend what action should be taken among others.

In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions, or even authorising the use of force, to maintain or restore international peace and security. Temporary members hold their seats on a rotating basis by geographic region. Guyana will serve a two-year term on the Council from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025.
Most recently, the UNSC convened privately to discuss the intensifying border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, as the latter advances efforts to seize the oil-rich Essequibo
From reports, officials were tight-lipped after the meeting concluded.
The closed consultations were called by this month’s Council President, Ecuador, after it was requested by Guyana.
The request letter by Guyana cited Article 35 (1) of the UN Charter, which states that any UN member state “may bring any dispute, or any situation referred to in Article 34 [that is, one that may lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute] to the attention of the Security Council or of the General Assembly”.
The UNSC outlined that as the meeting got underway, “Council members are also likely to urge a peaceful resolution to the territorial dispute and express concern about its possible ramifications on the Region. Many Council members are expected to urge respect for multilateralism and adherence to international law, and express support for the ICJ. While some members—including the US and European members—are likely to regret Venezuela’s actions, others are not expected to specifically denounce Venezuela’s role in the situation.”
Guyana’s request for intervention was issued amid Venezuela’s blatant violation of the International Court of Justice’s order – occurring after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced several measures which his Administration intends to take in enforcing the outcome of the referendum.
On December 5, the Venezuelan President asked the State oil company to issue extraction licences for Venezuelan companies to explore for fossil fuels and minerals in the Essequibo region and proposed that the National Assembly pass a Bill to make the area part of Venezuela.