It is now urgent, more than ever before, that concerted global action be taken to tackle global issues, such as COVID-19, global warming and food security, says Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.
According to a Ministry of Finance release issued on Tuesday, Singh made the observation in his address to the 48th Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
“First is the question of full and lasting recovery from COVID-19. All our countries felt the pandemic’s impact, both humanitarian and economic. Effective responses necessitated international collaboration. Likewise, sustainable recovery needs joint action. Resurgence [of COVID-19] in any country anywhere, threatens the recovery in all countries everywhere,” Dr Singh urged. He added that OIC Member States need to stay focussed on addressing the issues that are critical for safeguarding and sustaining the recovery. These, he said, include further strengthening healthcare systems, and improving access to vaccines and other medical supplies, even as respective economies reopen.
The Senior Minister also addressed the issue of climate change, which he opined “must be confronted more urgently on a global scale,” noting that Guyana is amongst the most vulnerable, and that the climate crisis threatens not only its development prospects but the nation’s very existence. “Guyana has outlined a Low Carbon Development Strategy which places our economy on a path to accelerated sustainable development. Shared commitment and joint action are critical for limiting global warming and we urge adherence to the global agenda for combating this crisis.” He also noted that as a heavily forested country, there is need for more meaningful global recognition of the contribution being made by standing forests in the fight against climate change.
Singh also touched on the matter of food security being a global imperative, pointing out that more than 800 million people worldwide still go hungry daily, and almost 700 million persons worldwide are malnourished.
He told the gathering, “Within the Caribbean, Guyana is leading efforts to scale up food production and productivity rapidly, and to strengthen food systems with the aim of improving food security in our region as part of the global effort to tackle this problem,” adding, ‘additional investment in agriculture by both the public and private sectors, and dismantling of the barriers to trade in agricultural produce, are urgently needed globally.”
The minister reminded that one specific concern of the Government of Guyana and that of all OIC Member States is any form of discrimination against individuals on the basis of their religion which is a violation of their human rights and contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Guyana was therefore pleased to support the OIC initiative to pursue the designation of 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, which the United Nations General Assembly agreed to do by consensus. The designation of this day is an important step towards addressing this scourge. It also presents the opportunity to raise awareness on religious intolerance more broadly with a view to promoting understanding and advancing a culture of peace.”
And alluding to the current Russia/Ukraine conflict, he mentioned Guyana’s culture of peace, pointing out that Guyana’s final observation is a reflection of the importance of working to promote peace and stability in the regions to which OIC Member States belong as well as the rest of the world.
“On this latter note, the Government of Guyana deplores the threat or use of force in international relations and the violation of territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, wherever it may occur. We therefore remain gravely concerned over recent military intervention in violation of territorial integrity and sovereignty and we reiterate our call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to diplomacy. Aggression by any one state against another is a threat to the surrounding region and to countries everywhere.”
He concluded his remarks by stating that while examining the various resolutions at the forum, Guyana’s delegation took note of the number of conflicts that are still ongoing, and how these conflicts are impeding the advancement of human rights and hindering development. As such, he expressed Guyana’s stance on the need for political will and concrete actions to resolve these issues while taking the opportunity to express Guyana’s “unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in their just struggle to live in peace and dignity.”
Finance Minister also informed the forum that Guyana, led by President Irfaan Ali, has embraced a philosophy of oneness in the concept of ‘One Guyana’ aimed at reinforcing the strength Guyanese derive from diversity and promoting the unity and prosperity of all of its people. He reaffirmed Guyana’s steadfast commitment to the values of the OIC and to contributing to the furtherance of the organization’s objectives and commended the government and people of Pakistan on behalf of the President and Government of Guyana on the occasion of Pakistan’s 75th Independence Anniversary.
Also in attendance at the forum as part of Guyana’s delegation was Guyana’s Ambassador to Qatar, Safraaz Shadood, the release added.
