Guyana marked 60 years of membership in the United Nations on Friday with the unveiling of a commemorative stamp, marking a relationship that began just 117 days after the country gained independence and has endured across six decades.
The stamp was commissioned jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the UN Country Team in Georgetown and the Guyana Post Office Corporation. It features a map of Guyana alongside the official UN emblem and will be available to the public from Monday, September 21.
Guyana was admitted to the United Nations on September 20, 1966, following a Security Council recommendation on June 21 that year. The General Assembly approved Guyana’s admission without a vote at its 1,409th plenary meeting.
A milestone born with independence
Guyana’s entry into the UN came less than four months after independence from Britain on May 26, 1966, during the administration of Forbes Burnham, who became Prime Minister at independence.
Burnham’s People’s National Congress (PNC) had formed a coalition government with the United Force following the December 1964 elections, and that PNC-UF administration guided Guyana through independence and into the international community as a sovereign state.
Guyana’s formal acceptance of the obligations contained in the UN Charter was signed by Prime Minister Burnham on June 4, 1966, shortly after independence.
Six decades of partnership
Speaking at Friday’s unveiling, Foreign Affairs Director General and Guyana’s Ambassador to CARICOM George Talbot said Guyana’s membership reflected its longstanding commitment to multilateralism and the principles of the UN Charter.
Talbot highlighted the senior positions Guyanese representatives have held within the UN system, including President of the General Assembly, President of the Security Council, Chair of the Council for Namibia and Judge of the International Court of Justice.
He also pointed to the UN’s role in supporting Guyana’s development and efforts concerning the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We are therefore pleased to mark this important occasion with a modest symbol of Guyana’s enduring partnership with the United Nations, which the commemorative stamp signifies,”
Talbot said.
Acting UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Katy Thompson described the stamp as a tribute to six decades of cooperation grounded in peace, sustainable development, human rights and international partnership.
“This stamp is a representation of three historically great connectors—the Post Office, the United Nations and Guyana,”
Thompson said.
The stamp’s design brings together a map of Guyana and the official UN emblem, providing a visual representation of the relationship between the country and the international organisation.
The anniversary also comes as Guyana continues to engage actively in multilateral diplomacy, including through the UN system on development, international cooperation and issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The commemorative stamp is expected to serve as a lasting piece of postal history marking a partnership that began during the first months of Guyana’s independence.
The stamp will be available to the general public from Monday, September 21, 2026.
