The Organisation of American States says it is prepared to support the Government of Guyana in its bid to maintain peace and strengthen human rights in the aftermath of the Linden unrest which claimed three lives, according to a statement today from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.
The statement also revealed that Guyana’s Ambassador to the OAS Bayney Karran had told the OAS Permanent Council on Wednesday that the Government of Guyana was concerned at the “precarious political situation in the country which has arisen since the November 2011 elections and stated that it warrants close attention by OAS member states”.
The November 28 general elections produced an opposition majority in the Parliament which has seen novel developments such as swingeing cuts in the budget, something vehemently opposed by the government.
Addressing the situation in Linden, Karran also denounced what he said were messages of hate and ethnic conflict being spread through social media networks, according to the statement from the ministry.
The ministry statement follows:
“Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, Mr. Jose Miguel Insulza, has pledged the OAS’ full support to the Government of Guyana for the country’s requirements in order to maintain peace and security and strengthen human rights and democracy following the recent unrest in Linden. The Secretary–General stated it was important not to rush to judgment, to allow local authorities to resolve the problems which had arisen and he expressed his confidence in the ability of the Government of Guyana to correct the situation. He welcomed the agreements which had been reached among the Government, the Opposition and the Regional authorities and expressed the hope that the Commission of Inquiry which has been established would be able to clarify the events which had occurred.
Mr. Insulza’s remarks summed up the sentiments of the OAS Permanent Council following a presentation to that body by Ambassador Bayney Karran, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to that Organization last Wednesday, which was followed by interventions from representatives of Brazil, Belize, Dominica, Grenada and Venezuela who gave assurances of their support to resolve the difficulties which had arisen.
Ambassador Karran informed the Council about the background to the electricity rate increases, the results of the protests on the affected communities and the efforts by the Government to resolve the crises following the eruption of protests on July 18th resulting in three fatalities, injuries and loss of property. After informing the OAS about the agreements which had been arrived at, the Guyanese envoy decried the promotion of ethnic hatred and conflict through social media networks and the peddling of misinformation. He conveyed the Government of Guyana’s concern about the precarious political situation in the country which has arisen since the November 2011 elections and stated that it warrants close attention by OAS member states.
The Chairman of the OAS Permanent Council, Ambassador Stephen Vasciannie of Jamaica, assured Ambassador Karran that the Council has taken note of the information presented and urged him to keep the Council abreast of further developments.
In an unrelated development, Ambassador Bayney Karran was elected unopposed as Chairman of the OAS’ Committee for Hemispheric Security.
