Govt urged to come clean on UN vote

…despite apparent correction, record still shows that Guyana voted against global call for action against racism 

According to the United Nations’ Digital Library, Guyana was among 14 countries that voted against a resolution calling for concrete action for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of the Durban Declaration Programme of Action.

Draft Resolution II was put to a vote at the 47^th Plenary Meeting of the United Nations’ General Assembly on December 31, 2020, and 106 persons voted in favour, 14 against while 44 abstained.

But Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said not only did the country voted in support of the resolution, it introduced it.

Rejecting the contention that Guyana voted against the resolution as “completely false,” Rodrigues-Birkett said Guyana sponsored the resolution.

“Indeed, as Chair of G77 and China, Guyana was the main sponsor of the resolution and, jointly with South Africa, facilitated the negotiations for this Resolution in the Third Committee. The Resolution was introduced by the representative from Guyana in the Third Committee on November 19th, 2020, who reminded the Committee that 2021 would mark the 20th Anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and, as such, the G77 and China had presented substantive changes to the Resolution aimed at commemorating this important milestone,” the UN Representative said.

Though not indicating that Guyana may have mistakenly voted ‘No,’ Rodrigues-Birkett was keen on pointing out that the “automatic generation of the vote as shown on the screen in the room at the time of voting is not the final official record of the meeting.

But A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (AFC) Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amanza Walton-Desir said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has brought shame upon the country.

In a statement on Monday, the Opposition Member of Parliament said Rodrigues-Birkett’s explanation “only adds to the muddle, and is another clear indication that the installed PPP/C Administration is yet to come to terms with the fact that in this information age, pedaling half-truths and attempts to insult the intelligence of Guyanese will no longer cut it.”

Walton-Desir, an Attorney-at-Law, said while Guyana, on November 19, 2020 introduced the Draft Resolution II during the third Committee of the UN (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), it did not support the resolution on December 31.

“?? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ????????, ?? ??? ???? ??? ?? ???????? ????, at about 10:20 am, Guyana locked in a vote of “Against” in relation to Draft Resolution II.  Delegations were asked to confirm that their votes were accurately reflected and thereafter the voting was completed and voting machines locked. The result of the vote was entered into the Voting Records as follows – 106 “in favour”, 14 “against” and 42 “abstentions”,” Walton-Desir explained.

According to the Opposition MP, it was after the Plenary Meeting concluded its business that the Guyana Representative took to the floor and requested to make a correction to Guyana’s vote, asking that it be changed from “against” to “in favour”.

“The Guyana Representative was advised by the President of the Plenary Meeting, H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, that ?? ??????????? ?? ?????? ???? ? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???????????. As at April 12, 2021 the Voting Record on the matter of Draft Resolution II- A global call for concrete action for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action- shows Guyana as having voted ??,” the Opposition MP said.

MP Walton-Desir said the voting record will remain as is until Guyana takes the necessary steps to have the record corrected. According to her, Rodrigues-Birkett’s statement is therefore misleading.

“The fact is that Guyana voted no and must now take administrative steps to correct this embarrassment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation must advise Guyanese, forthwith on whether this process has been initiated and its state of advancement,” she said.

MP Walton-Desir the PPP/C Government continues to “fail” Guyana in the area of international relations. Earlier this year, both the US and Guyanese Governments had announced plans to establish a Taiwan Office in Guyana, but weeks later, the PPP/C Government renounced and claimed that the Taiwanese had been misinformed on the agreement. The initial agreement had signaled a shift from the One-China Policy.