Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Amanza Walton-Desir on Tuesday questioned the lack of sustained effort by the government to keep Venezuela’s illegal claim to Essequibo in the forefront of all international interactions and suggested the establishment of a Foreign Relations Council.
She was speaking in Parliament during the debate on the 2024 budget.
“The maintenance and preservation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is the foremost national interest and must be the number one objective of our foreign policy. I am not convinced that the Government is persuaded of this fact… because if they were Mr. Speaker, from 2020, and concurrently with the ICJ (International Court of Justice) proceedings, there would have been a sustained effort to keep the matter of Venezuela’s spurious claim in the forefront of all of our interactions, it would have pervaded the speeches and statements made by Guyana at every international forum at which we were given the opportunity to speak and we would be actively building alliances with groupings and States that could lend support in the international legal order. Instead, what we have seen is a `just in time’, `for the moment attitude’ that has come to characterise our foreign policy interactions. This must end!” the Member of Parliament (MP) declared.
Walton-Desir’s criticism of the government came as she presented on “identifying and effectively articulating Guyana’s foreign policy”, one of five priorities that she listed as needing to be urgently addressed. On this note, she stated that Guyana’s foreign relations have become increasingly important due to the nation’s emerging status as a Petro-state and the threat to its territorial integrity. She further emphasized the need for a sober, steady, and studied approach to foreign policy and urged the government to adhere to bedrock principles while navigating the complexities of the global order.
Among the other priorities that Walton-Desir listed as needing to be addressed are reshaping and enhancing its relationship with Caricom countries, employing astute diplomacy, education and training of its Diplomatic Corps, and monitoring international migration to Guyana.
The MP raised the subject of the infamous photograph of St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves – who she did not name – standing behind a map of Venezuela that included Guyana’s Essequibo.
“This matter caused serious outrage and understandably so. What is even more worrisome Mr. Speaker is that this photograph along with an accompanying article written by one Enio Malean was published on the website of the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December, 21, 2022,” she noted, leading to the following questions:
“Who is monitoring the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on our behalf?
“Did they not see this photograph?
“If they did, did they bring it to the attention of Takuba Lodge?
“And if Takuba Lodge was made aware why wasn’t there a diplomatic protest to the particular Caricom Leader?
“And if Takuba Lodge was aware, why did they not consider this sufficient cause for pause in agreeing to the said Caricom leader being an interlocutor in the Guyana Venezuela controversy?”
Walton-Desir also stressed the need for education, training and development of Guyana’s Diplomatic Corps and monitoring international migration, particularly from Venezuela. Moreover, she criticized the government for not appointing an ambassador to Brazil and not having missions in Africa except South Africa and urged the government to examine its approach to international economic cooperation.
BRICS
“We need to urgently examine our representation at foreign capitals. It is inconceivable that four years into the new government we have yet to appoint an Ambassador to Brazil. Brazil – our strongest continental ally and member of BRICS!! The sloth in this regard, is unacceptable Mr. Speaker and must be remedied forthwith. It is also unacceptable that we have no missions in Africa, save and except South Africa and which is but a consulate. Meanwhile, Venezuela continues to court African States individually and collectively,” she pointed out.
Furthermore, the MP highlighted the need for reshaping and enhancing the relationship with Caricom countries and establishing envoys actively working in their capitals. She encouraged the re-establishment of a high commission in Trinidad and Tobago and the signing of the Samoa Partnership Agreement.
“Our not signing on to the agreement means that we will be severely limited in the area and scope for cooperation with the EU. It also robs us of an important forum for us to canvas support against Venezuela’s illegal claim. Mr. Speaker astute diplomacy demands that we seize every opportunity to maximize our membership of these international arrangements to further the interests of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” she stated.
Walton-Desir also pointed out the deficiencies in the government’s execution capacity and highlighted the lack of a migration policy, resulting in the country’s worsening food insecurity and the underpayment of public servants. She emphasized the need for a needs-based food voucher programme and transportation for low-income and no-income Guyanese and spoke in favour of free education from nursery to university.
“Guyana does have the ability to lead the way in this regard and can truly become the breadbasket of the Caribbean… but I want to submit that Guyana must first be the breadbasket for Guyanese…. At the moment it is not!” the MP thundered.
Walton-Desir also expressed her dissatisfaction with the budget and urged the government to consider implementing policies that are best for the working people of Guyana, rather than focusing on “cement, steel and stone”.
Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd in his presentation a day earlier emphasized the importance of linking the government’s domestic work to foreign policy objectives, specifically the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
Todd reflected on the government’s core objective of being people-focused and centred on the needs of the population. He mentioned his previous experience in office, explaining how the People’s Progressive Party’s government helped to transform the economy from poor to middle-income until they left office in 2015.
Todd also outlined major spending figures in education, healthcare, social welfare and infrastructure. Furthermore, he highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship.
The MP further described how his party has worked to strengthen and stabilize its political system, emphasizing the government’s inclusivity and engagement with international partners. Todd’s presentation ended with a call to remain focused on the mission to bring wealth and prosperity to the people.
