The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana notes with great concern, the report that the Delegation of Guyana to the UN General Assembly, headed by Mrs. Caroline Rodrigues-Birkett, the Chair of the Group of 77 and China, is recorded as having voted against Draft Resolution II.
This resolution reads: “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”, adopted by the General Assembly at the 48th Plenary Meeting of the United Nations on December 31st, 2020.
The voting record obtained from the United Nation’s digital library is as follows: Yes: 106 | No: 14 | Abstentions: 44 | Non-Voting: 29 | Total voting membership: 193.
Guyana was counted among the 14 “ No” votes, along with countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France and Israel.
The full details of the vote can be obtained at: https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3896183?ln=en
This matter is one of national concern, in this the International Decade for People of African Descent, given Guyana’s historical trials and unresolved issues of racial discrimination which have necessitated the funding of an entity such asthe Ethnic Relations Commission to promote racial harmony and good relations among the various ethnic groups within Guyana.
IDPADA-G notes the release by Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, on 10th April 2021, indicating that Guyana voted in support of the resolution when it was adopted in the General Assembly on December 31, 2020.
Rodrigues-Birkett also posited that Guyana, as the proponent of the Resolution, would not have voted against its own resolution.
However, at the time of writing this Press Release, Guyana’s recorded “No” vote remained unchanged. IDPADA-G, therefore, urges the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Representative, Mrs.Rodrigues-Birkett, to amend this vote to reflect what has subsequently been articulated to be Guyana’s position-in favour of the resolution and to update the citizens of Guyana on the UN status of the matter.
On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination commemorated on 21March 2021, IDPADA-G took the opportunity to call for a recommitment to the elimination of racial discrimination and racism in Guyana.
