Poverty greatest threat to security

President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday called on governments to do more to “reduce poverty and inequality” because they pose “the greatest threat to democracy and security” in the region, and “can only be addressed through hemispheric cooperation”, during an address to the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS).

In a protocolary session of the council at the OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, President Ramotar said, “for Guyana, no priority is greater than to combat poverty, extreme poverty, inequality and social exclusion through policies that promote economic growth, access to education, health care and housing in order to better achieve sustainable development with social justice”.

The Guyanese president noted “the critical importance of development to democracy as well as to multi-dimensional security compels the OAS to maintain and strengthen the role it plays in sustainable development”.

He went on to warn that there cannot be debate on democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean “outside the context of our intolerable levels of poverty, when 57 million people, or 11 per cent of our population live on less than one dollar a day, and 23 per cent exist daily on less than two dollars”.

President Ramotar called on countries of the region to “resolve that poverty eradication be the historic task of our generation”, and noted that “democracy cannot be safeguarded without reducing poverty; neither can poverty be effectively combated without addressing inequality”.

On the harsh effects of environmental change on the region, the Guyanese leader said the international scientific community agrees that “less developed countries and communities in the region are already suffering from the impact of climate change”.

According to a World Bank report he cited, Caricom countries will lose US$ 4 billion in the tourism sector and US$ 5billion for direct damages from natural disasters, floods and storms caused by climate change.

Security, human rights

Turning to the issue of security, human rights and peace, the president noted that they are all critical to the progress of any state. On the issue of crime, the president said for a region that has a homicide rate that is twice the global average; it must be acknowledged that certain aspects of insecurity, such as transnational organised crime are posing serious challenges to nations.

“The end result is that factors such as crime and violence along with the natural disasters, economic shock and climate change are having too serious an impact on the development prospects of many of our countries,” President Ramotar stated.

He charged the international community to provide the resources to strengthen and empower the institutional structure and capacity of countries such as Haiti.

“The multi-dimensional threats to security, some new and old spun a multitude of political, economic, social, health and environmental challenges to our security and stability.” He added the work done by the OAS is commendable, noting that Caricom countries are satisfied that special security concerns of the small island states and low lying coastal states of the region form a structured part of the OAS security agenda.

“These threats should be a matter of serious concern to countries large and small since the stability of the small island states is integral to the security of the hemisphere as a whole. Insecurity arising from climate change is particularly notable.”

The president said too that Guyana is eagerly awaiting the commencement of the 42nd regular session of the OAS General Assembly to be held in Cochabamba in Central Bolivia from June 3 to 5 that will address food security.

Guyana, President Ramotar said has contributed significantly in its partnership with the OAS since it joined in 1991. Lobbying for more support for Haiti following the devastating hurricane that struck the country some two years ago, Ramotar said, “We are continuing to integrate Haiti into our community and to advocate to the international community on her behalf. In this regard, we call on all international community to make good on its pledges to Haiti expeditiously.”

The OAS Legal Affairs Secretary Jean Michel Arrighi welcomed President Ramotar on behalf of Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, and Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin.

Arrighi noted that “Guyana’s commitment to regional integration is shown in many ways”, among them, he said was the fact the country “is a founding member of Caricom and hosts the secretariat”. Arrighi went on to welcome the presence of the Guyanese president, saying, “It is a particular honour that you have chosen to visit the OAS just a few months after being elected on December 3, 2011.”

“This confirms the important priority that Guyana places on hemispheric relations,” he added.

Meanwhile, Permanent Representative of Honduras to the OAS Leonidas Rosa Bautista noted the “long and solid political career” of President Ramotar inside and outside his country, and “the strong relationship between the OAS and the people and government of Guyana”.

President Ramotar travelled to the U. S. with Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett; Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh; Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali; and Foreign Affairs Ministry Director General Elizabeth Harper.

He will also be meeting with representatives of the U. S. State Department and will be looking to strengthen collaboration with the U. S. in several areas, including the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and investment projects.

Following the president’s tour of the U. S., he will be heading to Barbados on Sunday for the Caricom Mexico Summit on political and economic cooperation.