UNASUR

It is a privilege for Guyana to host the UNASUR summit this year. This privilege was conferred on the country in September, in anticipation of the rotating chairmanship of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) being transferred from Ecuador to Guyana. Aside from hosting the summit, Guyana will preside over the group for the next year, and this is a terrific opportunity for the country to showcase its leadership skills and its ability to undertake a challenge despite its small size.  

Cognisant of the fact that economic development lies in forging more external relationships with other countries, and that some of its present alliances are not working out to its satisfaction, Guyana is treating UNASUR seriously. One of the primary reasons is that an alignment with South American countries will yield greater social and economic development, since some of these countries are powerful emerging economies that can offer more opportunities for local businesses and citizens. Already, despite the group’s relatively short existence, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela have waived visa requirements for tourists from UNASUR countries. This development came faster than CARICOM allowing free movement between member states, which today is still not perfect, as there are immigration issues between countries.

Among its other goals, UNASUR is focused on achieving continental integration, economic cooperation, energy integration, infrastructural development, and environmental protection. Guyana has vast potential and numerous opportunities in many of its sectors. New sectors, such as energy, are yet to be developed; and the country is a leader in matters of climate change.  Regarding all of the union’s aims, Guyana can offer to UNASUR as much knowledge and as many opportunities as UNASUR can offer to Guyana.

The greatest benefit for UNASUR member states will come from the group having a bigger say in global affairs, once it is successful in attaining unification. This will significantly enable greater regional security, and bargaining power which will have such a deep impact on the future of the world economy that it will, in turn, augur well for members. By far, the most important expectation from being in UNASUR is the possibility of free or freer trade within national boundaries, and what that would mean for increased productivity via greater division of labour and from greater economies of scale.

UNASUR is hoping to achieve all of these aims and outcomes by becoming the South American version of the European Union; the latter being a strong political union defined by commonalities in currency, parliament and passport. There is, however, much work to be done before such unification of South American states is achieved, and perhaps there will be some controversies and ideologies that would have to be overcome. Not all South and Latin American countries have the same ideology, and there is some amount of radicalism, radical leftism, and even old tensions, which may become obstacles to unification. Leaders would have to deal with these and similar issues, such as the recent attempted coup in Ecuador. Many South and Latin American countries have had experiences of internal problems and turmoil, so there is that element to worry about, in hope that it does not get in the way of unification. When countries have their own pressing issues to deal with, unification is not always on top of their agendas, unless UNASUR can assure that, under its structure, such conflicts would not occur.

Aside from these issues, there will be more social and economic benefits to be accrued from being a member of UNASUR, once the union overcomes current obstacles.

It is hoped, that having met in Georgetown and having addressed these issues outlined above, these leaders who are some of South America’s most powerful people must now action the plans to ensure delivery of all agreements in a timely fashion.