Volume IV

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

CASE CONCERNING
ARBITRAL AWARD OF 3 OCTOBER 1899

CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA
v.
BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA

MEMORIAL OF GUYANA

VOLUME IV

19 NOVEMBER 2018

VOLUME IV
ANNEXES
Annex 100
Letter from Chef de Cabinet of the United Nations to the President of
Guyana (12 Nov. 2015)
Annex 101
Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative
Republic of Guyana to the National Assembly (11 Feb. 2016)
Annex 102
Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Proceedings and
Debates of the National Assembly of the First Session (2015-2016) of
the Eleventh Parliament of Guyana under the Co-operative Republic
of Guyana held in the Parliament Chamber, Public Buildings,
Brickdam, Georgetown (11 Feb. 2016)
Annex 103
Letter from the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations (26 Apr. 2016)
Annex 104
Note Verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative
Republic of Guyana to the Ministry of People’s Power for External
Relations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, No. 1075/2016 (1
June 2016)
Annex 105
Letter from the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the Secretary-General of the
United Nations (3 June 2016)
Annex 106
Address of the President of the Republic of Guyana to the U.N. General
Assembly, 71st Session, U.N. Doc A/71/PV.8 (20 Sept. 2016)
Annex 107
Note Verbale from the Ministry of People’s Power for External
Relations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, No. 02013 (8
Nov. 2016)
Annex 108
Note Verbale from the Ministry of People’s Power for External
Relations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, No. 02014 (8
Nov. 2016)
Annex 109
Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic
of Guyana to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (9 Nov.
2016)
Annex 110 Ministry of the People’s Power for External Relations of the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela, Communiqué (12 Nov. 2016)
Annex 111
U.N. Secretary-General, Note to Correspondents: The Controversy
between Guyana and Venezuela (16 Dec. 2016)
Annex 112 Ministry of the People’s Power for External Relations of the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela, Press Release: Venezuela celebrates UN
decision to continue Good Offices to resolve dispute with Guyana over
the Essequibo (16 Dec. 2016)
Annex 113
Government of Guyana, Statement on the Decision by the United
Nations Secretary-General (16 Dec. 2016)
Annex 114
“One hand can’t clap’ to resolve border controversy – Greenidge”, i
News Guyana (20 Dec. 2016)
Annex 115
Letter from the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the
President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (21 Dec. 2016)
Annex 116
Letter from the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations (22 Dec. 2016)
Annex 117
Letter from the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the
President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (23 Feb. 2017)
Annex 118
Letter from the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations (1 Mar. 2017)
Annex 119
Letter from the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations (11 Apr. 2017)
Annex 120
Note Verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative
Republic of Guyana to the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela in Guyana, No. 01021/2017 (30 June 2017)
Annex 121
Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic
of Guyana to Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the
United Nations (29 July 2017)
Annex 122
Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic
of Guyana to the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of
the United Nations (19 Sept. 2017)
Annex 123
Address of the President of the Republic of Guyana to the U.N. General
Assembly, 72nd Session, U.N. Doc A/72/PV.7 (20 Sept. 2017)
Annex 124
Letter from the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the
United Nations to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative
Republic of Guyana (22 Sept. 2017)
Annex 125
Map of Violations of Guyana’s Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity
Annex 126
U.N. Secretary-General, Statement attributable to the Spokesman for
the Secretary-General on the border controversy between Guyana and
Venezuela (30 Jan. 2018)
Annex 127
Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Communiqué:
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela pronounces on the territorial
dispute with the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (31 Jan. 2018)
Annex 128
Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Statement on Guyana (14
Feb. 2018)
Annex 129
Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Press
Release (17 Feb. 2018)
Annex 130
Note Verbale from the Ministry of People’s Power of Foreign Affairs
of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the Embassy of the
Cooperative Republic of Guyana in Venezuela, No. 000322 (28 Feb.
2018)
Annex 131
Note Verbale from the Ministry of People’s Power of Foreign Affairs
of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the Embassy of the
Cooperative Republic of Guyana in Venezuela, No. 000325 (28 Feb.
2018)
Annex 132
Letter from the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to
the President of the International Court of Justice (18 June 2018)
Annex 133
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, National Assembly, Parliamentary
Agreement of Rejection of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana of
Judizializing the Essequibo and Their Reaffirmation of the Venezuelan
Sovereignty on Anacoco Island and the Atlantic Front (19 June 2018)
Annex 134 World Atlas, “The World’s Largest Oil Reserves by Country” (23 Oct.
2018), available at https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-slargest-oil-reserves-by-…
(last
accessed 3
Nov.
2018)
Annex 100
Letter from Chef de Cabinet of the United Nations to the President of Guyana (12 Nov. 2015)
Annex 100
UNITED NATIONS
NATIONS UNIES
POSTAL ADDRESS - ADRESSE POSTALE: UNITED NATIONS, NY 10017
CABLE ADDRESS - ADRESSE TELEGRAPHIQUE: UNATIONS NEWYORK
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
CABINET DU SECRETAIRE GENERAL
REFERENCE:
12 November 2015
Excellency,
As discussed during our meeting of Tuesday 9 November with your
Permanent Representative, I attach herewith, for your Government's
consideration, our proposal for a way forward in the border controversy
between your country and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
This proposal contains the main elements of the proposed involvement
of the United Nations as discussed during my visit to Guyana and Venezuela
last October. It reflects comments and suggestions received from both
Governments as well as the view of the Secretary-General.
As mentioned on Tuesday, I intend to present this proposal to your
Government next week in Georgetown, where we can have an initial
discussion.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of
His Excellency
Mr. David Arthur Granger
President of Guyana
Georgetown
1
Annex 100
Strictly Confidential
The Way Forward
Further to the requests by both the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the
Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Secretary-General aims to exercise his
authority under the 1966 Geneva Agreement to facilitate a practical solution to the controversy
that has arisen as the result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about
the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is null and void.
If a practical solution to the controversy is not found before the end of his tenure, the
Secretary-General intends to initiate the process to obtain a final and binding decision from the
International Court of Justice. Prior to that moment, the Secretary-General will do his utmost to
assist the parties to find a mutually acceptable agreement.
Therefore. the Secretary-General proposes to the parties to proceed as follows:
1. The Governments of Guyana and Venezuela reconfirm that they are determined to exert
utmost effort to settle their controversy in an entirely peaceful and amicable manner, and
that they will refrain from any action whatsoever that might make more difficult or
impede the peaceful and expeditious settlement of the controversy. It is understood that
the foregoing is without prejudice to the rights, claims or positions of the parties.
2. Acting under the authority granted to him by the Geneva Agreement and after having
consulted with the parties as to possible candidates, the Secretary-General will, no later
than December 2015, appoint a mediator to serve as his Personal Representative.
3. The Personal Representative will engage intensively with both parties and offer his or her
active assistance in search of a practical solution. The parties will in good faith provide
their full cooperation to the Secretary-General and his Personal Representative, including
through frequent, regular and substantive meetings at the highest and at working levels.
4. Acting personally or through his Personal Representative, the Secretary-General shall
make any confidential non-binding suggestions to the parties that he deems may assist
them to reach an agreement. The parties invite the Secretary-General, acting personally or
through his Personal Representative, to make confidential non-binding suggestions on
any relevant aspects of their bilateral relationship, including its maritime aspects;
environmental aspects; their practical cooperation; and shared principles of good
neighbourliness. No suggestions shall have any effect whatsoever unless and in so far as
they may be included in a mutually acceptable final written agreement signed by the
Presidents of the respective Governments.
5. The process shall be conducted in full confidentiality. Only the Secretary-General will,
personally or through his Personal Representative, if and when necessary and in
consultation with the parties, make public statements on the state of the process. Unless
2
Annex 100
Strictly Confidential
otherwise agreed with each other and with the Secretary-General or his Personal
Representative, the parties shall refrain from making public comments on the state of the
process.
6. Except as they may be incorporated in any mutually acceptable final written agreement
reached between the parties, all views expressed and statements, admissions and
proposals made by either party or by the Secretary-General or his Personal
Representative shall be, and shall at all times remain, confidential. Neither party shall be
entitled, in a.11y other process or proceedings, to invoke any viev,rs expressed or
statements, admissions or proposals made by the other party or by or on behalf of the
Secretary-General.
7. In March or April 2016 and again during the high-level segment of the General Assembly
in September 2016, there shall be trilateral meetings bringing together the
Secretary-General and the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela. These meetings shall
review progress to date and shall strive to make significant further progress in the
solution of the controversy.
8. The Secretary-General will take stock of progress achieved at the latest in
November 2016. The parties aim to have reached a mutually acceptable agreement by
that time. If the parties have not reached a mutually acceptable agreement by the time of
the stocktaking, the Secretary-General will make his determination as to the choice of
means of settlement under the 1966 Geneva Agreement, as set out above.
9. Upon the concurrence of both Governments to the present proposal, the
Secretary-General will issue a communique setting out the agreed procedure .
ENDS
3
Annex 100
Estrictamente Confidencial
El camino a seguir
A pedido del Gobierno de la Republica Cooperativa de Guyana y del Gobierno de la Republica
Bolivariana de Venezuela, el Secretario General tiene la intenci6n de ejercer su autoridad bajo el
Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966 a fin de facilitar una soluci6n practica a la controversia derivada del
reclamo venezolano de que el laudo arbitral de 1899 sobre la frontera entre la Guayana Britanica
y Venezuela es nulo y carente de efecto.
Si una soluci6n practica a la controversia no fuera encontrada antes de que termine su mandato,
el Secretario General tiene la intenci6n de iniciar los procedimientos encaminados a obtener una
decision final y obligatoria de la Corte Internacional de Justicia. Hasta ese momento, el
Secretario General hara todo lo posible para ayudar a las partes a encontrar un acuerdo
mutuamente aceptable.
Por lo tanto, el Secretario General propone alas partes proceder de la siguiente rnanera:
1. Los Gobiernos de Guyana y Venezuela confirm.an su determinaci6n de realizar los
mayores esfuerzos para encontrar una soluci6n a su controversia en forma enteramente
pacifica y amigable, y que se abstendran de cualquier acci6n que pudiera dificultar o
impedir la soluci6n pacifica y pronta de la controversia. Queda entendido que lo anterior
no perjudica los derechos, reclamos y posiciones de las partes.
2. Actuando bajo la autoridad conferida por el Acuerdo de Ginebra y luego de haber
consultado alas partes sobre posibles candidatos, el Secretario General nombrara, no mas
alla de diciembre de 2015, un mediador que lo asistira como su Representante Personal.
3. El Representante Personal se involucrara intensivamente con ambas partes y les ofrecera
su asistencia activa en la busqueda de una soluci6n practica. Las partes brindaran al
Secretario General y a su Representante Personal, de buena fe, su mayor cooperaci6n,
incluso a traves de reuniones frecuentes, habituales y substantivas a los niveles mas altos
y de trabajo.
4. Actuando personalmente o a traves de su Representante Personal, el Secretario General
hara sugerencias confidenciales y no vinculantes a las partes, que entienda puedan
ayudarlas a llegar a un acuerdo. Las partes invitaran al Secretario General, actuando
personalmente o a traves de su Representante Personal, a hacer sugerencias no
vinculantes sobre cualquier aspecto relevante de su relaci6n bilateral, incluyendo
aspectos maritimos; aspectos ambientales; su cooperaci6n practica; y principios
compartidos de buena vecindad. Dichas sugerencias no tendran absolutamente ningun
efecto al menos y en la medida que sean incluidas en un acuerdo final escrito
mutuamente aceptable y firmado por los Presidentes de ambos Gobiernos.
4
Annex 100
Estrictamente C onfidencial
5. El proceso se llevara a cabo en form.a totalmente confidencial. Solo el Secretario General,
personalmente o a traves de su Representante Personal, hara declaraciones publicas sobre
la marcha del proceso, siempre y cuando fuera necesario y en consulta con las partes.
Salvo acuerdo entre las partes y con el Secretario General o su Representante Personal,
las partes se abstendran de hacer declaraciones publicas sobre la marcha del proceso.
6. Excepto cuando fueran incorporados en cualquier acuerdo final escrito mutuamente
aceptable al que hubieran llegado las partes, todos los puntos de vista expresados y
declaraciones, admisiones y propuestas hechas por cualquiera de las dos partes o por el
Secretario General o su Representante Personal deberan ser confidenciales y se
mantendran asi en todo momento. Ninguna parte tendra el derecho de invocar, en ningun
otro proceso o procedimiento, ningun punto de vista expresado o declaraciones,
admisiones o propuestas hechas por la otra parte o por o en nombre del Secretario
General.
7. En marzo o abril de 2016 y nuevamente durante el segmento de alto nivel de la Asamblea
General en setiembre de 2016, se llevaran a cabo reuniones trilaterales que reunan al
Secretario General y los Presidentes de Guyana y Venezuela. Estas reuniones evaluaran
el progreso alcanzado hasta la fecha y se esforzaran en lograr avances significativos hacia
la soluci6n de la controversia.
8. El Secretario General hara una evaluaci6n del progreso alcanzado a mas tardar en
noviembre de 2016. Las partes tienen como objetivo lograr un acuerdo mutuamente
aceptable para ese entonces. Si las partes no hubieran logrado un acuerdo mutuamente
aceptable al momento en que se haga la evaluaci6n, el Secretario General hara su
determinaci6n sobre la elecci6n de la form.a de arreglo de controversias bajo el Acuerdo
de Ginebra, tal como se detalla precedentemente.
9. Lue go del acuerdo de ambas partes con la presente propuesta, el Secretario General
emitira un comunicado de prensa detallando el procedimiento acordado .
FINAL
5
Annex 101
Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the
National Assembly (11 Feb. 2016)
Annex 101
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NEWS
STATEMENT TO THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY BY HON. CARL GREENIDGE
11
feb
REPUDIATION OF VENEZUELAN ‘ESSEQUIBO’ STATEMENT
1
Annex 101
On June 10, 2015, I made a statement in this House on our
relations with Venezuela. In that statement I asserted our
sovereignty as well as the threats to it and to our territorial
integrity posed by Venezuela. I want to bring this House up
to date on the most recent and crucially important
developments.
On February 4, 2016 the Venezuelan Foreign Minister
made a statement at the United Nations Headquarters in
New York which contained several falsehoods and
innuendoes as these relate to the territory of Guyana.
The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
repudiates in its entirety the Statement issued by the
Venezuelan Foreign Minister. The Statement to which I
refer is titled “Venezuela raties its rights over the
Essequibo at the UN”, and will be circulated to the
Honourable Members of the House.
That statement is yet another example of Venezuela’s
time-worn belief that falsehoods repeated often enough
may eventually lose their basic falsity. They do not.
Venezuela has no ‘rights over the Essequibo’.
Guyana’s rights over the Essequibo were settled by the
Award of 1899 of the international Tribunal of Arbitration
established under the Treaty of Washington of 1897. The
Government of Venezuela undertook that award to be “a
full, perfect and nal settlement of all the questions
referred to the Arbitrators”. And may I remind you,
Venezuela did accept the decision. It did so jointly with the
United Kingdom. Together they demarcated the boundary
on the ground and drawing up a denitive map depicting
the boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela
identifying the Essequibo as being within British Guiana –
in accordance with the 1899 Arbitral Award.
1
But there were always in Venezuela elements who wanted
more, and for whom the birth of an independent Guyana
seemed to threaten their greed and posed a threat to their
2
Annex 101
imperialist crusade, so they tried to prevent it, contending
with Britain that the Arbitral
Award of 1899 was “null and void”. Britain resisted them;
their nal rejection being the
Geneva Agreement of 1966 which acknowledged that
Guyana would be free, and ensured that Venezuela could
not pursue its “nullity” contention against the new state
save in specied ways starting with a Mixed Commission
and empowering the United Nations Secretary General to
bring the contention to nality by judicial settlement,
consonant with the Charter of the United Nations.
From the outset, Venezuela delayed pursuing their nullity
contention; pursuing instead a policy of harassment of the
new state, impeding its development by threatening
investors. It kept Guyana out of the OAS for 25 years.
Contemptuous of international law, it has issued decrees
asserting maritime claims progressively more and more
outrageous. And it remains one of the few countries of the
world to have excluded itself from the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea.
And now in the statement to which I have referred,
Venezuela seeks to move away from its “nullity”
contention and to imply that the Geneva Agreement is
about a ” historical position” and a “territorial controversy”.
Further, that statement seeks to embrace the Agreement,
even as it attempts to rewrite it. Guyana totally rejects
these backhanded attempts to despoil Guyana of her
rights. Guyana accepts the Geneva Agreement for what it
is. It is not surprised that Venezuela on the other hand
accepts that agreement as it would wish it to be.
When on 4th April 1966 the UN Secretary-General (then,
H.E. U Thant) acknowledged receipt of the Geneva
Agreement, he responded:
I have made note of the obligations that eventually can fall
on the Secretary General of the United Nations by virtue of
Paragraph 2 of Article IV of the Agreement and it pleases
3
Annex 101
me to inform you that the functions are of such a nature
that they can be appropriately carried out by the Secretary
General of the United Nations.
2
Last year, Guyana’s President, H.E. David Granger, called on
the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Kimoon,
to
have
Venezuela’s contention that the
Arbitral
Award of 1899 is null and void and settled with nality by
judicial process. By the Geneva Agreement both Guyana
and Venezuela have empowered him to do so.
Venezuela’s behavior towards Guyana is a festering wound
to peace and development in our region and an affront to
the rule of law in the world. It must be healed by the
process of law.
As Honourable Members are aware, the UN Secretary
General has had discussions with both Guyana and
Venezuela and has made proposals for “The Way
Forward”. Guyana has been cooperating with him, and will
continue to do so. Venezuela, however, seems prepared to
derail the process. In this 50th anniversary of the Geneva
Agreement which was signed on February 17, 1966,
Venezuela should be seeking to fulll the objectives of that
Agreement and not frustrate them under a cloak of
righteousness. Guyana will not allow the deceptions being
peddled by Venezuela to persist.
The people of Venezuela are our sisters and brothers and
Guyana has always held out the hand of friendship to
them, and, continues to do so. But there are forces in
Venezuela who made it their life’s mission, abusing in the
process, the hallowed memory of Bolivar, to hold Guyana
hostage to their crusade of greed.
Guyana is a child of decolonization. Its ancestry lies in the
Charter of the United Nations
– its purposes and principles. Guyana’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity are its international heritage. We will
remain faithful to the demands of both; and we look to the
4
Annex 101
international community to stand with us in Venezuela’s
assaults upon them.
It is my hope that the National Assembly will lend its full
support to my Statement as we continue in our collective
endeavor to defend Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity. The Statement will be brought to the attention of
the Secretary General of the United Nations, the members
of the Security Council and the wider membership of the
United Nations.
I thank you.
3
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5
Annex 102
Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Proceedings and Debates of the National
Assembly of the First Session (2015-2016) of the Eleventh Parliament of Guyana under the
Co-operative Republic of Guyana held in the Parliament Chamber, Public Buildings, Brickdam,
Georgetown (11 Feb. 2016)
Annex 102
PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRST
SESSION (2015-2016) OF THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA HELD IN THE
PARLIAMENT CHAMBER, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, BRICKDAM, GEORGETOWN
TH
27
Sitting
th
Thursday, 11
February, 2016
Assembly convened at 1.12 p.m.
Prayers
[Mr. Speaker in the Chair]
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER
Resignation of Dr. Clive Jagan
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, I was informed, by way of letter dated Wednesday, 10
th
February,
2016 from Dr. Clive Ramesh Jagan, that he has resigned his seat as a Member of Parliament with
effect from that date. With Dr. Jagan’s resignation, a seat in the National Assembly has become
vacant. The vacancy is in accordance with Section 99A of the Representation of the People Act,
Chapter 1:03 to be filled by a person whose name is to be extracted from the list of candidates
from which Dr. Jagan’s name was extracted. As Dr. Jagan’s name was extracted from the
People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) list of candidates, I have, in accordance with Section
99A of the said Act, called upon the representative of the said list to further extract from that list
the name of a person who is willing to become a Member of the National Assembly to fill the
vacancy in the Assembly.
Visit by Representatives of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)
Canadian Branch
1

Annex 102
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, we have two sets of guests today. We have, visiting from Canada,
representatives of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Canadian Branch. This
is part of the collaboration and cooperation which occurs among branches of the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association. I have had the pleasure of having discussions with our visitors, the
beginning of what we hope will be very interesting engagements. I would like to say, on behalf
of the Assembly, welcome. I hope that your presence in our deliberations will leave you with
memories and I hope that, as I told you when we spoke, this will only be the first visit. Welcome
again. You will, Hon. Members, want to – and I ask our visitors to allow me to - specially
mention reference to the High Commissioner of Canada, Mr. Pierre Giroux, who is here, and I
believe that he has come to the National Assembly before today. So, an additional welcome to
him.
Visit by Students of President’s College
Mr. Speaker: The second set of visitors, I am told, is a group of 50 strong. Those visitors are
students of President’s College. You will recall that, yesterday, we had a smaller contingent from
President’s College. This is a larger one and I am told that none of the ones who came yesterday
are among those who are here today. Welcome. As I said to your fellow students yesterday, I
hope being with us will leave you with much food for thought. So welcome.
STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS, INCLUDING POLICY STATEMENTS
Venezuelan Statement on Essequibo
Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs [Mr. Greenidge]: Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker. If it pleases you, I would like to deliver a statement in connection with a matter
pertaining to a Venezuelan statement on Essequibo.
th
On Wednesday, 10
June, 2015, I made a statement, in this House, on our relations with
Venezuela in which I asserted our sovereignty and the threats posed by Venezuela to it and our
territorial integrity. I would like to bring Hon. Members up to date on the most recent and
crucially important developments in this regard.
2

Annex 102
th
On Thursday, 4
February, 2016, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister made a statement at the
United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, which contained several falsehoods and
innuendos as these relate to the territory of Guyana.
The Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana repudiates, in its entirety, the
statement issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela. Mr. Speaker and Colleagues,
the statement which I refer to is entitled: “Venezuela ratifies its rights over the Essequibo at the
UN” and it will be circulated to the Hon. Members of this House. That statement is yet another
example of Venezuela’s time-worn belief that falsehoods repeated often enough may eventually
lose their basic falsity. They do not. Venezuela has no rights over the Essequibo.
Guyana’s rights over the Essequibo, on the other hand, were settled by the Award of 1899 of the
International Tribunal of Arbitration established under the Treaty of Washington of 1897, whose
decision the Government of Venezuela undertook to accept, “...as a full, perfect and final
settlement of all the questions referred to the arbitrators.” Venezuela did accept the decision
jointly with the United Kingdom, demarcating the boundary on the ground and drawing up a
definitive map depicting the boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela, identifying
Essequibo as being within British Guiana in accordance with the 1899 Arbitral Award. But there
was always, in Venezuela, elements who wanted more and for whom the birth of an independent
Guyana seemed to end their imperialist crusade, so they tried to prevent it, contending with
Britain that the Arbitral Award of 1899 was null and void. Britain resisted them, their final
rejection being the Geneva Agreement of 1966 which acknowledged that Guyana would be free
and ensured that Venezuela could not pursue its nullity contention against the new State, save in
specified ways, starting with a mixed commission and empowering the United Nations Secretary
General to bring the contention to finality by judicial settlement consonant with the Charter of
the United Nations.
From the outset, Venezuela delayed the pursuing of the annulity contention, pursuing, instead, a
policy of harassment of the new State, impeding its development by threatening investors. It kept
Guyana out of the Organization of American States (OAS) for 25 years. Contemptuous of
international law, it has issued decrees asserting maritime claims progressively more and more
outrageous. It remains one of the few countries of the world to have excluded itself from the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
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Now, in the statement to which I have referred, Venezuela seeks to move away from its nullity
contention and to imply that the Geneva Agreement is about “a historical position” and a
“territorial controversy” and seeks to embrace the agreement even as it attempts to rewrite it.
Guyana totally rejects these backhanded attempts to despoil Guyana of her rights. Guyana
accepts the Geneva agreement for what it is. It is not surprising that Venezuela accepts it as it
would wish it to be.
th
When, on Monday, 4
April, 1966 the United Nations Secretary General, then His Excellency U
Thant, acknowledged receipt of the Geneva Agreement, he responded: “I have made note of the
obligations that eventually can fall on the Secretary General of the United Nations by virtue of
paragraph 2 of Article IV of the Agreement and it pleases me to inform that the functions are of
such a nature that they can be appropriately carried out by the Secretary General of the United
Nations.”
Last year, Guyana’s President, His Excellency David Granger, called on the Secretary General of
the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, to have Venezuela’s contention that the Arbitral Award
of 1899 is null and void and settled with finality by the judicial process. By the Geneva
Agreement, both Guyana and Venezuela have empowered him to do so. Venezuela’s behaviour
towards Guyana is a festering wound to peace and development in our region and an affront to
the rule of law in the world. It must be healed by a process of law.
As Hon. Members are aware, the UN Secretary General has had discussions with both Guyana
and Venezuela and has made proposals for “the way forward”. Guyana has been cooperating
with him and will continue to do so. Venezuela, however, seems prepared to derail the process.
In this 50
th
February,
1966, Venezuela should be seeking to fulfil the objectives of that Agreement and not frustrate
them under a cloak of righteousness. Guyana will not allow the deceptions being peddled by
Venezuela to persist.
anniversary of the Geneva Agreement, which was signed on Thursday, 17
th
1.27 p.m.
The people of Venezuela are our sisters and brothers and Guyana has always held out the hand of
friendship to them and continues to do so, but there are forces in Venezuela, who made it their
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life’s mission, abusing the hallowed memory of Bolívar, to hold Guyana hostage to their crusade
of greed.
Guyana is a child of decolonisation. Its ancestry lies in the Charter of the United Nations, its
purposes and principles. Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are its international
heritage. We will remain faithful to the demands of both and we look to the international
community to stand with us in Venezuela’s assaults upon them.
It is my hope that the National Assembly will lend its full support to my statement, as we
continue in our collective endeavour to defend Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The statement will be brought to the attention of the Secretary General of the United Nations, the
Members of the Security Council and the wider membership of the United Nations.
I thank you. [Applause]
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
The following Bills were introduced and read for the first time:
MOTOR VEHICLES AND ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 2016 – Bill No.
3/2016
A BILL intituled:
“An Act to amend the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act.” [Minister of Finance]
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT (AMENDMENT) BILL 2016 – Bill No.
4/2016
A BILL intituled:
“An Act to amend the Financial Administration and Audit Act.” [Minister of Finance]
CUSTOMS (AMENDMENT) BILL 2016 – Bill No. 5/2016
A BILL intituled:
“An Act to amend the Customs Act.” [Minister of Finance]
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INCOME TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL 2016 – Bill No. 6/2016
A BILL intituled:
“An Act to amend the Income Tax Act.” [Minister of Finance]
MISCELLANEOUS LICENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2016 – Bill No. 7/2016
A BILL intituled:
“An Act to amend the Miscellaneous Licences Act.” [Minister of Finance]
AUCTIONEERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 2016 – Bill No. 8/2016
A BILL intituled:
“An Act to amend the Auctioneers Act.” [Minister of Finance]
HUCKSTERS LICENSING AND CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL 2016 – Bill No.
9/2016
A BILL intituled:
“An Act to amend the Hucksters Licensing and Control Act.” [Minister of Finance]
TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL 2016 – Bill No. 10/2016
A BILL intituled:
“An Act to amend the Tax Act.” [Minister of Finance]
PUBLIC BUSINESS
GOVERNMENT’S BUSINESS
MOTION
BUDGET 2016
MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR 2016
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“WHEREAS the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana requires that Estimates of
the Revenue and Expenditure of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana for any financial year
should be laid before the National Assembly;
AND WHEREAS the Constitution also provides that when the Estimates of Expenditure have
been approved by the Assembly an Appropriation Bill shall be introduced in the Assembly
providing for the issue from the Consolidated Fund of the sums necessary to meet that
expenditure;
AND WHEREAS the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure of the Cooperative Republic of
Guyana for the financial year 2016 have been prepared and laid before the Assembly on 201601-29.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That this National Assembly approves the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2016,
of a total sum of two hundred and twelve billion, nine hundred and sixty three million and one
hundred and thirty two thousand dollars ($212,963,132,000), excluding seventeen billion and
seventy three million, three hundred and ninety four thousand dollars ($17,073,394,000)
which is chargeable by law, as detailed therein and summarised in the undermentioned schedule,
and agree that it is expedient to amend the law and to make further provision in respect of
finance.” [Minister of Finance]
Assembly resumed budget debate.
Mr. Nandlall: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The privilege is mine to make my humble contribution
to the debate in relation to the 2016 Budget. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to
welcome our distinguished guests from Canada and, of course, His Excellency the High
Commissioner. Like you, Sir, I hope that their stay here would be memorable.
I also would like to extend a warm welcome to a full gallery of students, from President’s
College, who are with us today.
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Sir, I would also like to take this opportunity to convey our deepest sympathy to three
Amerindian brothers who, I understand, have just been killed in a horrific accident in the
Rupununi. They have our deepest sympathy.
I wish to begin by offering my congratulations to the Minister of Finance and, of course, his
competent staff for presenting and preparing the 2016 Budget. I have listened to the debates from
both sides of the House. I have listened to the almost utopian outpourings which have emanated
from the Government’s side in relation to the absolute perfection with which this Budget is
blessed and I have listened to the realistic and pragmatic arguments coming from this side of the
House, and I say that I stand proudly with the pragmatists in our today’s debate.
I want to begin by beginning with the very title of the Budget. The Budget is titled: “Stimulating
Growth, Restoring Confidence: The Good Life Beckons”. I thought it curious and indeed
courageous that the Minister would choose growth in his title as part of his speech because, when
I looked at his figures chronicled in his Budget, it is the first year that this coalition Government
has assumed governmental office; it is the first year that it has taken control and management of
the economy of this country and it is the first year that we are recording our lowest economic
growth in 10 successive years - 3.0%. That is the Minister’s figure. [An Hon. Member: A
sign of things to come.] It is a sign, hopefully, not of things to come. I am a patriot; I want
the best for my country. I hope that, in future, the Minister will have a better performance to
report in his next budget. But many persons out there have a difficulty in accepting even the 3%
growth rate for the year 2015 that is reported in the Budget.
While we may use macroeconomic mechanisms, the Bureau of Statistics and the Central Bank to
generate figures which establish growth rate, the real barometer, for me, is the views of the
people out there who live in the economy. Their views are what, to me, are important. I spoke
with a wide cross section of Guyanese: I spoke with the market vendor; I spoke with the
professional; I spoke with the public servant; I spoke with the horse cart man; I spoke with the
taxi driver; I spoke with the lawyer; I spoke with the businessman on Regent Street; and they all
said that, in 2015, they experienced a horrible year. They said that money was not circulating.
They said that their businesses performed badly. They said that they experienced the worst
Christmas in decades. That is their view, so we can, in this air conditioned, very comfortable
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setting, speak about high growth rates, but the people out there have a different reality in which
they are living.
When one looks at the figures and the productive sector, then one sees that the views that the
persons out there have expressed are really borne out because, in the productive sectors, as
reported by the Hon. Minister, there was an increase in rice but we all know the reality that there
is no market for rice. The rice was reaped but it is still in the factories; it is still at the wharf; it is
still in the storage bond and it is rotting there. So, the rice farmers are in financial chaos.
The sugar workers increased production but they were not paid their Annual Performance
Incentive (API) because the world market price was low.
The construction sector is suffering from inertia because the Government has basically torpedoed
the previous Government’s housing drive. So, one of three ready-mix concrete companies now is
up for sale; construction is on the decline. Gold prices remain stagnant in the world market and
there is no increase in production here. The Government’s efforts to grant concessions to the
miners have been stymied because of a requirement that the Government put into the concession
that the miners must get tax compliance. Of course, the miners find that a nightmare so none of
the concessions which they were granted are being enjoyed by them. So, in all the major
productive sectors in the economy, they are not performing. That is why the man in the street is
questioning the Minister’s growth figure.
To rub salt in the injury, the Hon. Minister, in a contracting economy, in a depressing economy,
reports to this House and to the people out there that there are no reported job losses - an
astonishing statement. Persons stop me in the streets and ask me if we cannot do something
about statements being made in the National Assembly that are completely out of sync with
reality. Persons who have been dismissed are hearing that there are no reported job losses. They
want to know if they have become phantoms. They are not recorded anymore in this country;
1,972 Amerindians, hundreds of employees in the public sector and the private sector have been
dismissed. I have filed, in the High Court, several actions for dismissal, whether the dismissals
are wrongful or not is a matter for the Court, but the dismissals have taken place and the Minister
is saying that there are no reported job losses. So, people out there are questioning the Minister’s
figures and that is not a healthy thing.
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What the people out there find very unnerving is another statistical data disclosed by the Minister
and that is the exchange rate. The Minister reported, in his Budget, that the United States (US)
dollar is changing at $206.50 to the US dollar.
1.42 p.m.
That the people find as a total outrage, because when the man from the Rupununi goes to the
cambio he has to pay $210 and $212; when the comrade from D’Urban Street goes to the cambio
on King Street he pays $210 and $212; when the comrade from Black Bush Polder goes to the
cambio in Rose Hall he pays $210 and $212. The distinguished and Hon. Minister is telling the
House that the United States dollar is changing at $206. The people out there want to know
where these figures are coming from because they are living a different reality.
I wanted to know where the boost in revenue came from because the Minister reported that there
has been an increase in revenue. When I carefully checked the budget I saw the transfers coming
from the extra budgetary funds, from the statutory agencies, a total of $9 billion taken from these
agencies which were claimed to be illegal. That is where the surplus came from. It did not come
from economic activities, officially. It came from moneys that were put there under this
Government. What is more fundamental is, the press would recall, the people out there would
recall, and Your Honour would recall, that there was a long and dedicated campaign by the Hon.
Members of that side when they were on this side to remove these moneys and place them in the
Consolidated Fund. All manner of arguments were advanced. They said that it was unlawful;
they said that it was unconstitutional; they said that it was being kept in those funds for corrupt
purposes. They brought a motion to this House; they brought a motion in the High Court
challenging the legality of these moneys. Now they are in Government and nine months after
they are refusing to transfer these moneys. We call upon them to transfer every single cent of the
extra budgetary funds into the Consolidated Fund. The Lotto Fund has over $28 billion but they
have only transferred $1 million. Are they keeping $27 billion for corrupt purposes? Let them
transfer it now. That is what they said. Let them deliver.
We were told that growth comes from consumers’ spending, comes from investment, from
Government’s spending and from net export. I looked at the factors in the budget to see what
would stimulate this growth the Minister spoke about. Of course, there is going to be
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Government’s spending, because we are told that there is the highest Government injection in to
the economy in any given financial year, thus far. Yes, we know there is going to be
Government’s spending but we also know - the Minister will know much more than I do - that
Government’s spending alone cannot propel the economy forward, cannot bring the desired
growth that he aspires to achieve. I am looking for the measures in the budget that will inspire
the growth the Minister is speaking of. What I find is that the opposite is contained in the budget.
There is an over reliance on taxation in the budget. Everyone here would have witnessed the
Minister is bringing a slew of legislation to the House just now. All of those legislations are
designed to impose additional taxes on the people of this country. From 2008 to 2014, our last
budget - as the Hon. Member Gail Teixeira reminded us yesterday – there were no additional
taxes by our Government. In fact, every year we designed different measures to reduce the tax
burden. Here there is a slew of measures which are designed to increase the taxation burden and
then widen it. The net is so wide, it captures from man to mule. No one is exempted. That is not
the type of model that would achieve the stimulated growth that the Minister aspires to achieve.
When there is increased taxation and salaries are not raised to a proportionate level, then it is
taking away from the consumer the disposable earnings. How are we going to get the growth,
Mr. Minister?
I ask that the Minister reviews the taxation burden he is imposing on the backs of the people of
this country. This budget has no new salary announced, but a dozen and a half, or more, of
taxation impositions. There is not a single budgetary salary increase. We are told that we have to
wait on collective bargaining but the tax measures are coming immediately.
Another important omission of this budget, if it wants to advance growth, is the lack of a regime
of tax concessions that will attract investments and encourage consumers’ spending. What the
Minister has done, and he does it very grudgingly, is to assess the volume of concessions granted
and has placed a value on it, and essentially he advances the theoretical argument that our
economy cannot afford these concessions. Well, to the distinguished Minister, I say with the
greatest of respect that that is a very myopic view to take of concessions. You have to look at
the concession, but not in isolation, Sir. You have to look at the concessions then measure it
against the investment it will ease; you have to be measure it against the jobs it will create; you
have to measure it against the spending it will generate and then you will get the true picture of
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what the investment is, what the concessions are. The ideology expressed in this budget is that
concession is a bad thing, so it must be reduced. That will not foster, it will not induce and it will
not engender the economic growth the Minister spoke about.
The Minister said – it is a good intentioned – that he will incorporate a new set of procedures
which are intended to make business easier to remove red tapes to overcome bureaucratic hurdles
and to reduce corruption and advance efficiency, very high idealistic principles. I wish him all
the best. The problem is that in the very same budget he announced a peculiar budgetary
measure. He said that before one can get a public licence in this country the applicant must
satisfy the agency to which he is applying that all his tax returns are in order, that he has paid all
his taxes, or that he has an arrangement to pay off all his taxes. That will lead to a bureaucratic
nightmare and that will be a breeding ground for corruption.
First of all, the Minister when he imposes that new measure - it is being imposed - he does not
speak about the institutional building of the capacity of Guyana Revenue Authority to deal with
the traffic of applications it will receive when the new measure is imposed. The Guyana Revenue
Authority is the same organisation with nothing to improve it, human resources otherwise.
[An Hon. Member: The first duty is to pay your taxes.] Yes, the first duty is to pay your
taxes, but at the same time you also have to increase the state’s ability to collect the taxes. That is
what I am saying. When the first wave of applicants go, when the mule cart driver goes there for
his licence, the minibus driver goes for his licence, the grocer goes for his licence, the
shopkeeper goes for his licence, they are all told that they have to get their tax return in order.
They have to pay off their back taxes. Can you imagine the confusion that would take place?
Significantly, there are some legal implications as well with these licences. There is something
fundamentally and conceptually wrong with using one set of legislation as an enforcement
mechanism, to enforce obligations on another set of legislation.
[Mr. Ramjattan: There is
absolutely nothing wrong with that.]
I will deal with that just now. There is something
fundamental wrong with it. If there are violations of the Tax Act, if there are violations of the
Income Tax Act, if there are violations of the Corporate Tax Act, then these pieces of legislation
have their enforcement mechanisms. Use them and go after the defaulters. Do not burden another
set of legislation with the responsibility and duty of enforcing this set of legislation. It is not that
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we are without precedent on this matter. In 2003, we amended our Constitution and made, as
fundamental right, the right to work. Article 149A of our Constitution now reads:
“No person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her right to work, that is to say,
the right to free choice of employment.”
No person shall be hindered in his right to work. There is no condition attached to it. When the
minibus driver goes to renew his licence, and that is his work, and then he is told that he has to
satisfy another set of conditions, Sir, you may be in a collision course with the Constitution of
the country. As I said, we are not without precedent. I implore my honourable friend Mr.
Ramjattan to listen to me.
A few years ago we implemented a similar measure here in relation to professionals. We
amended the Tax Act to say that professionals, before they get their Tax Practice Certificate,
must file updated tax returns. Not that they must pay their taxes; not that they must enter into an
arrangement to pay, but they must at least file their tax record. Hon. Member Mr. Ramjattan
went into the witness box in the court. Legal proceedings were filed by the doctor, the
accountant, the lawyer, and the engineer through their respective associations. After 14 years that
matter is still ongoing. Mr. Ramjattan went into the witness box. [Interruption]
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, let us not allow ourselves to be carried away.
Mr. Nandlall: It is because he is speaking. The Hon. Member, himself, went into the witness
box to depose how unlawful it was. Integrity in public office is important, Sir. I move on.
1.57 p.m.
Vice-President and Minister of Public Security [Mr. Ramjattan]: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a
Point of Order, Standing Order 41 (2). Could I please correct what…because it would appear? It
is misleading this House as to two matters. The matter is sub judice and he is raising it here to
begin with. Secondly, he is misleading the House. The taxes were increased from $10,000 as we
know to $250,000 and the constitutional motion, which I brought, was that it was oppressive, the
Tax Practice Certificate. Please let him get it right.
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Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member Mr. Nandlall, you are aware that we ought not, in this House, to
raise as issue matters which are before the court. I would suggest….
Mr. Nandlall: Sir, if I may? It is not…
Mr. Speaker: You may not, but you will listen to me now. You are aware that the Standing
Orders do not allow us to make mention of matters which are before the court. You are also
aware that this matter is still before the court. I would suggest that you do what you know that
you should do in this matter.
Mr. Nandlall: Sir, the Standing Orders do not state that you cannot mention a matter that is in
court. The Standing Order states that you cannot mention the matter in such a way as to prejudice
the proceedings. That is what the Standing Order states.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, I shall read the Standing Orders to you.
Mr. Nandlall: Do I sit or do I stand, Sir?
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you may sit. It would be helpful to all other Hon. Members.
Standing Order 41 (2):
“Reference shall not be made to any matter which is sub judice, in such a way as
might,…”
I would emphasise the words following.
“…in the opinion of the Chair, prejudice the interest of parties thereto”.
I would think that a reference, which includes gratuitous expression such as “integrity in office”,
in the same breath as you were making the point, should not form part of your presentation here
today. I will invite you to withdraw it and start again. You are fully capable of doing all the
things you want to do and saying all that you want to say without gratuitously importing matter
which you know you ought not to do.
Mr. Nandlall: Is it that integrity is important to public office. That is a statement of fact.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, are you withdrawing the reference?
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Mr. Nandlall: Which reference, Sir?
Mr. Speaker: It is the reference to the case before the court at this time; the reference to the
discussion as to who went into the box; the reference as to who argued the motion in relation to
the income tax…
Mr. Nandlall: I maintain, Sir, that there is a challenge in the court against…
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, the Speaker has asked you a question. I recommend that you
withdraw it and start again.
Mr. Nandlall: I want to reference to a case that is pending in the court and I wish to assure Your
Honour that I will not say anything to prejudice the outcome of those proceedings.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, I give you that but give the Chairman what is provided, and that is,
to determine whether in his opinion it is likely to do that.
Mr. Nandlall: Could I make the statement then, Sir, and then you will judge?
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, I await your response to my request.
Mr. Nandlall: I would like to say, Sir, that there are proceedings pending which challenges the
legality of a provision in the Tax Act which requires persons who are to obtain a Tax Practice
Certificate to first file their returns. There is such a proceedings pending in the court.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, am I to take it that you withdraw the references to a particular
Hon. Member in here?
Mr. Nandlall: Yes.
Mr. Speaker: Then you should tell us.
Mr. Nandlall: I wanted to know what you want me to withdraw, Sir.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, I am waiting for the withdrawal then you may proceed.
Mr. Nandlall: I withdraw the statement in which I mentioned the Hon. Member Mr. Ramjattan
name.
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Mr. Speaker: I accept that, Hon. Member. You may proceed.
Mr. Nandlall: Yes. Sir, I am humbly and respectfully cautioning the Hon. Minister of Finance to
expect a slew of litigation in relation to some of these measures which impose burdens on the
taxpayer in relation to one set of legislation to enforce another set of legislation. That is an
eventuality that the Hon. Member would have to confront with soon.
The other issue is with growth, because that is the title of the budget “Stimulating Growth…”
Now we cannot put the words “stimulating growth” on the title of a budget and that by itself will
cause growth. We have to ensure that there are policies and programmes that can achieve the
growth that we speak about in glossy print. That is what I want to speak to quickly, some of the
measures.
Firstly, I implore this Government to demonstrate to the people of our country that they respect
and that they will protect private property because there were a series of incidents in which
persons, who have been issued with transports and certificates of title and are living in their
homes, were being ejected from their homes with notices being erected by the Central Housing
and Planning Authority (CH&PA) stating that it is in the property of Central Housing and
Planning Authority and persons’ titles and transports are being revoked.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs [Mr. Williams]: If it pleases you, Mr.
Speaker, on a Point of Order, Standing Order 40 (a). Again, the Hon. Member is referring to a
matter that is before the courts of Guyana. The matter before the court was actually initiated by
him and we are asking him, Sir, to desist.
Mr. Speaker: I thank the Hon. Member for his intervention.
Mr. Nandlall: I am representing the interest of dozens of people with whose property is being
taken away by the state. That is the contention that they are advancing, whether it is in court or
not, it will never be a gag against me speaking on it. An injustice remains an injustice whether it
is litigated or not. Litigation is to bring justice, not to perpetuate injustice.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, your words will still remain the same. Do not expend so much
energy. Please proceed.
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Mr. Nandlall: Injustice has that effect on me, Sir. When we speak about growth, growth comes
from investment, it comes from spending. People will not invest in an economy; they will not
spend in an economy and they will not be growth in an economy where private property is not
protected. That is the fundamental point here.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, even with pause you have five minutes remaining.
Ms. Teixeira: Mr. Speaker, the Points of Order are usually not included in the calculation of
time for speakers because there is a pause. Otherwise, this could be a measure, Sir, that every
time we speak on this side, Points of Order are raised and it takes away time from us.
Secondly, Sir, in relation to the Hon. Member time, excluding the Points of Order, he, therefore,
has a total of 35 minutes and I am seeking the five minutes extension within that 35 minutes.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, I thank you for your intervention. Hon. Member, you will speak
for a total of 35 minutes. There is one point to be clarified. The Speaker has observed the
practice, which he observed yesterday, and that he has observed in every debate here, when
matters are prolonged the timer goes on hold. It begins again when the Hon. Member, again,
returns to his statement. There ought not to be any further comments on this, Hon. Members,
unless you feel that your timing should be preferred to mine.
Question put, and agreed to.
Mr. Nandlall: Sir, I spoke about the importance of respecting private property.
Another important issue that needs to be reviewed by the Hon. Minister of Finance, another
policy, is the use of Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). The reports, which have received,
are that SOCU is violating the rights of people. It is inimical the way that it is conducting its
business; it is inimical to the economic interest of this country. People’s moneys are being seized
in whimsical manner. Their jewelleries are being taken from them at the airport. That cannot be
stimulating to growth. We are asking for a review of SOCU. It was set up also for a completely
different purpose which is to examine and investigate genuine cases of money laundering and
terrorism, not to be unleashed on the people of this country.
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I want to call on the Government, that if it wants to restore confidence in the economy then it
must observe the procurement laws of this country. It cannot hand-pick contractors and give
them millions and millions of dollars of contract without any transparent process, and in
disregard of the procurement process.
We demand also the consumers must enjoy the reduction that is taking place with fuel prices,
that is, the real reduction. We want the electricity tariffs to drop.
2.12 p.m.
We also want gas at the pump to reduce because that is important to simulate growth. We also
want the ban to be reviewed on vehicles. A lot has been spoken about in relation to cars and the
auto dealers have spoken. Do not bother with us. The auto dealers have issued a statement. They
have said that the cars will go up by nearly $2 million beyond the reach…
[An Hon.
Member: Who dealer?] It is the Auto Dealers Association, the umbrella body. It will go
beyond the reach of the ordinary consumer, but that is not who I am worried about. The budget
speaks about growth. I am worried about the productive sector - the agricultural equipment, the
construction equipment. I have here a list of prices of trucks and motor lorries and capital
equipment that are now being imported that are 15 years old. I want to give the likely price that it
will be if the new ban is imposed and the importers are forced to bring in vehicles that are eight
years and under.
A Bedford single axle truck, now, is $6 million; it will become $18 million. A double axel truck
is $9 million; it will be $27 million. A hauler, that is, the truck that pulls the container, double
axel, is now $7 million; it will be $20 million. A Caterpillar excavator 312 is now $12 million; it
will be $24 million. A 320 excavator is $15 million; it will be $36 million. A grader is now $28
million; it will be $68 million. I have a whole list. Construction will stagnate in this country.
Only special interests are going to benefit, not the ordinary contractors out there. The special
ones, such as the “bs”, are going to benefit.
I want to move quickly to the legal sector. My learned friend, the Hon. Attorney General, who is
scheduled to speak after me, will have to report on a number of things. He will speak about the
opening of the Land Registry and Commercial Registry on Avenue of the Republic. I hope that
he will say that that is a People’s Progressive Party (PPP)’s Government project. He will speak
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about the construction going on in the compound at Georgetown High Court where a building is
being erected to house two judges of the Land Court and Registry. I hope he will say that that is
PPP project. Construction will soon begin at Sparendaam to erect an edifice that will house two
magistrate’s courts and chambers for the magistrates. I hope he that he will say that that is a PPP
project. He will open, this year, the Family Court. I hope that he will recognise that that is a PPP
project. He will also open the Lethem Magistrate’s Court later this month. I hope that he will say
that that is a PPP project. He will announce the establishment of a new office of the Director of
Public Prosecutions in Berbice. I hope that he will say that that is a PPP project. Other than that,
he has nothing else to say. I have read the budget and there is nothing there from the legal sector.
As I wrap up, Sir, I looked at the entire Estimates and I was wondering where the growth will
come from and then I stumbled on the list of the expenditures on the item dietary. I found in
2014 the Government spent $3.6 billion in dietary. In 2016, we are budgeting $4.8 billion in
dietary, an increase of $1.2 billion on dietary. We will have growth, but it will not be economic
growth.
I thank you very much Sir. [Applause]
Minister of Social Cohesion [Ms. Ally]: It is with a great sense of pride that I rise before this
august body to, firstly, commend my colleague, Hon. Minister of Finance, for creating history in
our country, by presenting two national budgets within eight months. Sir, you have demonstrated
the brilliance required of a Minister of Finance, and I have to say that we on this side of the
House are proud of you. This is the calibre of leadership Guyana needs to philip our country to
the next level.
Secondly, I unreservedly offer my support to Budget 2016, under the theme Stimulating Growth,
Restoring Confidence: The Good Life Beckons. The theme speaks volumes and underscores the
Government's pro-poor philosophy. Our quest is to engender social and economic growth,
rekindle confidence, locally as well as in the diaspora and ultimately offers every Guyanese the
“good life."
This budget is geared to include all Guyanese. It sets out to create scope for Guyanese to be
included in the development of our beloved country. Beyond inclusion, there are opportunities
for participation in the growth and development of our country. The budget goes beyond
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consideration for the richness of our economy. Rather it focuses on the richness of human lives.
This is about development with a human face. This is the development Guyana needs. Let us
look, for instance, at where the greatest emphasis is, it is on education, but I would leave my
honourable colleague, the Minister of Education, to address that.
There is a striking nexus between this budget and the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals. I will get there, do not worry, Ms. Teixeira.
Goal 1 speaks to the ending of poverty in all its forms. This budget is tailored to reduce poverty.
Mr. Speaker, irrespective of what is being touted to the contrary, this budget, Sir, is friendly to
the poor as it includes:
• Increase in rebates granted by Guyana Power and Light Inc.
• Reduction in the price of fuel.
• Increase in Income Tax threshold from $600,000 to $660,000, which would benefit a
minimum of 65,000 workers. In our country, people would have more disposable income.
• The removal of excise tax on vehicles under four years old and below 1500 cc.
• Removal of Income Tax from income earned by artistes during festivities, once it is
certified by the Minister responsible for tourism.
This budget is truly friendly to the poor and is designed to offer every Guyanese the “good life”,
as envisioned by the President.
As I reflect on Goal 16 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which is:
“Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provision of
access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all
levels”
We are speaking directly here to the role of the Ministry of Social Cohesion, in fostering a
peaceful and inclusive society. On that note, only a visionary would consider the need for a
Ministry of Social Cohesion, but one, whose thinking is warped, would rename it the Ministry of
Social Bribery. It is my task, as Minister, to lead a national process that is geared to address the
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issues of exclusion and marginalisation in our society. I am required to ensure that there is an
environment where people feel a sense of belonging. I have to ensure that through our
programmes and projects, scope is created for citizens to be included in these processes, that they
participate in initiatives at the local and national levels. Our interventions would be geared so
that as a nation we are reprogrammed to respect and value the contribution of each other,
regardless of our diversities, whether these are based on culture, race, religion, ethnicity, gender,
age or geographic location, as none of these things should be used as justifications for
marginalising us. [Mr. Dharamlall: What about the gays?] We are going to take care
of you, Sir.
On that score, let me caution my dear friend, Hon. Member Mr. Cornel Damon, that if we are to
progress as a nation, let us see ourselves as Guyanese, even though we may belong to different
race groups. We have to move together as one. It will be nice if we, as Members of this National
Assembly, lead by example, by being the agents of this change. Members of this honourable
House, it was Christian Larsen, who spoke of social cohesion “as a belief held by citizens of a
given nation-state, that they share a moral community which enables them to trust each other”.
Ladies and gentlemen, our diversities as well as experiences of our colonial past have caused
some fractures in relations and mistrust among us.
2.27 p.m.
We cannot dispute this, however, we cannot continue in disunity, disharmony and division. We
will work towards cohesion. My Ministry would complement the work of other ministries, civil
society, Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs),
Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), the differently-abled, the business community
workers and employers and bodies working toward the achievement of social cohesion.
The work of this Ministry will be hard and long, despite the opinion expressed by the Hon.
Member Mrs. Chandarpal that social cohesion would not come out of the Ministry, but through
Commissions. Let me say to you Hon. Member that, we need everyone to be involved, to make
social cohesion work. Let me also say that this Minister, this Ministry and this Government will
not go down the road of vengeance. We believe in law and order. Let me say, at this point in
time, if we commit a crime, then we will have to do the time.
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With the allocations for the Ministry of Social Cohesion, I will now turn to the programme of the
Ministry of Social Cohesion. This Budget would support the initiatives of the Ministry of Social
Cohesion to develop policies, programmatic and operational frameworks, as well as to initiate
strategic actions. These actions include, capacity building and development of strategic
partnerships for pursuing a social cohesion agenda in 2016.
Our budgetary allocations would allow us to work with communities across the regions of
Guyana, giving opportunities for citizens to cooperate with each other in order to survive and
prosper. That willingness to cooperate means that they freely choose from partnerships and have
a reasonable chance of achieving goals. This willingness to cooperate and share the fruits of their
endeavours equitably is the paradigm shift that the Ministry would work to create.
Therefore, the passage of the Budget would allow the Ministry to continue laying the foundation
for building and sustaining the momentum that would foster longer-term social programming.
As such, it would allow us to:
- Undertake further meetings and consultations with communities in all 10 administrative
regions; convening national sensitisation and networking meetings with strategic stakeholder
groups;
- Information sharing and coordinating meetings with key State and governance stakeholders,
such as, ministries, the regional administrations, municipalities and other related entities.
Let me take a moment Sir, to congratulate the Private Sector Commission (PSC) for the
optimistic approach taken by that body on this Budget, as well as express gratitude for its
implicit confidence in this Government
My Ministry would undertake training and capacity building for social cohesion programming
and management — training of trainers’ initiatives; training of core of Government officials in
key ministries; training of staff in regional administrations, municipalities and selected
Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs); and mediation, conflict resolution and peace
building initiatives would be undertaken in our communities
Allocation from this Budget to my Ministry would assist to achieve the objective of formulating
and implementing a strategic framework for more effective advocacy, strategic communications
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and outreach programmes on social cohesion. It would allow us to prepare and disseminate
advocacy and strategic communication products, such as, brochures, posters, factsheets and
information on social cohesion and related issues. It would allow my Ministry to establish
working and inter-sectoral relations with counterparts in several other Ministries.
The outcome would be that the work and outputs of the Ministry of Social Cohesion would be
more effectively communicated to national stakeholders. The general public would be better
acquainted with social cohesion programmes and actions, and understand their roles in the
process of fostering enough and enabling cohesion in Guyana. That would dispel the myths
propagated by the sceptics about the focus of the Ministry and assist stakeholders to understand
our mandate and their own roles in contributing to the furtherance of social cohesion in this our
native land.
It would be remiss of me, if I do not chronicle the Ministry's journey and accomplishments over
the past eight months.
The eight-month journey of the Ministry of Social Cohesion has been very promising. To date,
there are outstanding achievements and we have only just begun. This Budget will assist us to
consolidate the gains already made and expand our programmes and projects.
International bodies such as the United Nations (UN) and the British High Commission (BHC)
have reached out to the Ministry in support of our thrust to foster social cohesion. They have
provided financial and technical support to the Ministry, particularly as it related to the holding
of the Social Cohesion Round Table, held last September. We have drawn from the Round
Table, key inputs for the development of the Ministry's Strategic Plan. The development of that
document has commenced.
Others have indicated their interest and have begun partnering with the Ministry, and this
includes, the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST). They are partnering with the
Ministry in assisting to foster social cohesion and expanding micro-enterprise initiatives in the
regions of Guyana and is emerging as one of our good practices. With support from IAST, the
soap making project in North Rupununi, Region 9, has been gaining momentum.
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We have also assisted the community to expand their multiple uses of peanuts in Aranaputa and
Parishara, and this will continue to expand. At Parishara, we have been able to refurbish the mill
and the entire building of that peanut factory
The Ministry has been in the forefront in providing support for every child to be able to attend
school regularly and punctually. We believe in the development of Guyana's human resource
capital. I submit that there is a correlation between one's level of education, their inclusion and
participation in development processes, and their opportunities for upward mobility.
The argument therefore is that, if the Ministry of Social Cohesion can contribute to enabling a
child to attend school regularly and punctually, it is potentially making a significant contribution
and investment in his/her personal development, the development of his/her community, and
national development. By extension we would be making a contribution to sustainable
development.
Regardless of what has been said, the truth is that the Ministry of Social Cohesion has partnered
with Guyana's business community and to date, over 300 bicycles have been distributed in
Regions 1, 3,4,6,7 and 9, to children who live long distances away from school.
With respect to boats - six have been distributed in Region 2, in the Upper and Lower Pomeroon;
Maraikobai in Region 5; Barakara in the Canje River; and in the Berbice and Demerara Rivers.
The boats are outfitted in green and yellow.
Regarding buses - the Ministry and the business community partnership has led to the acquisition
of six buses to date and these have been earmarked to service Regions 4, 5, 6 and 7.
2.42 p.m.
Let me say to the Hon. Member, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, on the question of distribution of the
boats, buses, and bicycles, that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change
(APNU/AFC) will not be daunted by your accusations of our distribution centres. If you really
knew where those items were distributed then you will be put to shame. Sorry if your supporters
are gravitating to us. On the question of vengeance, all I will say, like I said a little earlier, Hon.
Member, Ms. Teixeira, if you do the crime you will have to pay the time.
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Secondly, last night, the Hon. Member, Bishop Edghill, referred to our contributors as political
investors. I want to assure the Hon. Member that these contributors are good corporate citizens
who have confidence in this APNU/AFC Government. Sorry if you did not have it in your time,
but I am sure it is only that they did not have confidence in you.
Mr. Speaker, you would observe that, from these interventions with the inputs from the business
community, we have made inputs with the 3B’s Programme in most of the regions. I assure you
that, as time unfolds the Ministry of Social Cohesion and this APNU/AFC Government will give
the Guyanese people the ‘good life’ they are looking for. We have done all of this…
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have three minutes remaining.
First Vice-President and Prime Minister [Mr. Nagamootoo]: Mr. Speaker, may I kindly
request that the Hon. Member be given an addition five minutes, in accordance with the
schedule.
Question put and agreed to.
Ms. Ally: We have done all of this in a mere eight months. Let me say that this is just a tip of the
iceberg. We will continue these partnerships and give children opportunities to attend school.
In concluding, it was Mahatma Gandhi who said that:
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
That will is what drives this side of the House. It is the will to unite; to live in harmony; to offer
each Guyanese an upward mobility; and the ‘good life’. I urge those on the other side of the
House to lay the differences aside…
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, let us use the correct references to the Hon. Members opposite.
Please proceed.
Ms. Ally: My apologies, Mr. Speaker. I urge those Hon. Members on the other side of the House
to lay their differences aside, let us put our hands to the plough, and according to Valarie
Rodway's song:
“Pledge every effort, cherish this earth, and make here a paradise, land of our birth.”
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Let me finally conclude by endorsing Budget 2016, and call on all Guyanese, including the
Opposition, to work with the Ministry of Social Cohesion and let us give ourselves and all of
Guyana what we deserve, a ‘good life’.
I thank you. [Applause]
Bishop Edghill: On a Point of Order. I rise under Standing Order 40 (b) and I wish to indicate
that at no time did I refer to the donors as political investors. I am referring to the statement made
by the Hon. Member. I asked a question: How many of the donors are contractors engaged with
the State? And, are they also political investors?
Mr. Speaker: I thank the Hon. Member for that explanation.
Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai: As I stand to contribute to the 2016 Budget debate, I want to
acknowledge the effort by the Minister of Finance and his team from the Ministry of Finance for
presenting to this House the 2016 Budget. The budget document on page 18, paragraph 10 states:
“Substantial financial provision has been made to promote the preservation of indigenous
culture, identity, social integration, economic prosperity, physical infrastructure, green
energy, sustainable development, and the protection of indigenous lands.”
These broad categories outlined in the 2016 Budget Speech, simply reword the People’s
Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) legacy of success in the areas of lands rights for Amerindians,
the economic transformation of the village economies, the challenging social issues faced by
hinterland and Amerindian residents, the successes in the expanding of physical and productive
infrastructure in the villages, and a successful cultural environment with expanding and
increasing recognition of the rich diversity and culture of the Indigenous peoples.
I took some time to examine the Budget to see what financial resources were available to the
Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and I discovered that, for the current budget,
$776,533,000 was allocated. Then, I looked at the capital budget - the capital budget is what
offers direct intervention and directly affects people’s lives. I noted that for the capital
expenditure a mere $1,407,000,000 was allocated. What does this amount to? This amounts to a
mere 0.05% of a budget of $230 billion.
[Members of the Opposition: Shame.]
It is a
shame because the Budget Speech also recognised and, in the words that I want to put it, it
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boasted of the hinterland being home to our Indigenous peoples spread across the three quarters
of our national land mask and recognising the inequity that exist. Yet the Budget allocates the
least to the most challenged segment of our population.
This is unfair. It is unfair to the extent that the capital budget merely offers support to three areas
that will actually have some impact on the lives of Indigenous people. I want to deal with these
three areas of impact.
I would like say that for the first one, just close to $1 billion is going to be spent on a youth
project. This project is a replacement project to what obtained before 10
May, 2015; a project
which supported Indigenous youths; a project under the name of the Youth Entrepreneurial and
Apprenticeship Project, which engaged 1,972 young Amerindians. The engagement of these
youths was in activities that provided support to community development, while attaining
experience in various fields like education, health, village administration, regional
administration, and to a lesser extent, to engagement with the sectors of forestry, mining, and of
course the maintenance of village assets.
th
It is appalling to know that, as soon as the coalition Government obtained or got into office, and
of course under questionable circumstances, they dismantled this innovative project geared
towards supporting Indigenous youths. I would like to quote from a statement made in this
House by the Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, the Hon. Sydney
Allicock:
September, 2015, YEAP will be replaced by the
Hinterland Employment and Youth Services. All former CSO will be eligible to be
enlisted for training to receive relevant skills, so as to enable them to earn an income in
the pursuit of suitable livelihood and a means to enjoying the good life. Under the new
initiative we hope to train thousands of young people while paying them a stipend.”
“Towards this end, with effect from 1
st
2.57 p.m.
This project, which was declared to be implemented on 1
st
September, 2015, has resulted, not in
Amerindian youths enjoying a ‘good life’; it has resulted in Amerindian youths being less, in
terms of what they obtain. They lost interest in community development and they are no longer
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meaningfully engaged at the community level. If one was to calculate the loss of income, and I
am only calculating from May 2015 to January of this year, they have lost $473,280,000.
[Ms. Ally: Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai, you had stopped paying the people since April, 2015. What
are you coming with now?] I am speaking of May to January. For the information of this
House, a Supplemental was brought to this House to pay the CSOs, which we supported.
I wish to say, the loss of meaningful engagements of the youths from Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9 did
not only directly affected 1,972 individuals, it affected approximately 12,000 family members. It
also contributed to the collapse of the very growing entrepreneurial spirit in those villages. It
caused the collapse of businesses in those villages because, annually, that project contributed to
almost $1 billion circulating in Indigenous communities across the hinterland.
As I listen to the Hon. Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, on Tuesday,
when the Hon. Member was presenting her presentation on the Budget, the Hon. Minister noted
that these 1,972 young people were not genuine youths. She said that they were PPP politicians.
This is grave insult to young Amerindian youths. Why is it a grave insults to Amerindians
youths? Because her comment infringed on the rights of Indigenous youths to make a free
political choice, just in the event that, indeed, they were PPP politicians.
Secondly, disbanding the YEAP Project and the sloth with which they have moved, not to
replace it is also infringing on the economic rights and opportunities of young Indigenous
people. This is a classic example of paid back time for the Amerindian electorate. Because in the
11
th
May, 2015 Elections, the Amerindians voted overwhelmingly for the People Progressive
Party/Civic Government, and to pay them back with the denial of engagement in their
community and taking away their income, does not allow them to enjoy the ‘good life’. In fact, it
is a discrimination not to support young Amerindians, when they are engaged meaningfully in
activities that could enhance their skills and capacities. It is discrimination against the Indigenous
youths to deny them income for service to their community. It is discrimination and
discriminatory to punish young Amerindians and their families on the assumption that they are
politically aligned. This goes against all international norms and laws as it relates to Indigenous
people.
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I want to say that it is criminal and an infringement of Indigenous peoples’ economic right. I
wish to underscore that and I would wish that the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs would
tell this House, today when he speaks, why is it that from 1
January,
2016, he has not been able to roll out the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) Project
to benefit Amerindians. What is keeping him back? He is in his seat; he has great power and
authority to stand up and represent his people; the authority is in his hands.
st
September, 2015 to 31
st
It is in his hands to ensure that, as a Ministry with the portfolio responsible for assisting young
people, and in fact, I am reminded that he is Vice-President of this nation, he must track; he must
be able to monitor; and he must be to ensure that his portfolio and the responsibility matches the
salary that he takes home.
Taking $1 billion away from the Indigenous community matches the increase that the coalition
Government provided with the increase salaries for themselves. [Interruption]
The Budget also spoke about support for Indigenous education, and they afforded the words and
it is recorded in the Budget Speech that, in this year, they would provide moneys to design a
facility to support Indigenous youths to access higher learning.
[Mr. Patterson: What is
wrong with that?] Nothing is wrong with that, but I want to ensure that the Indigenous
people and the nation understand that this project is also one which is coming late. It is late
because, in 2015, just before the prorogation of this Parliament, the Cabinet approved for the
design and the construction of this facility to assist Indigenous youth with cheap, adequate and
affordable accommodation.
The Government brought Budget 2015 and it boasts of two budgets in less than a year, but in the
first Budget they fail to include that very critical project to support the Indigenous youth
development. In the 2016 Budget, I wish for the Minister to explain to this House, why is it that
he sat back and allowed only an allocation for the design of the building. One year to design a
facility, is that how you measure your performance?
When we built the Liliendaal Student Dorm, we dealt with design and construction in a single
year. Delaying the construction of this critical facility will only delay the opportunities of young
Indigenous people to access higher learning opportunities. Parents of current students who are
going to the University of Guyana and other technical institutions in Georgetown are always
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concerned. I was told that on some trips into the interior these matters were raised. I want to ask
the Minister, what propelled him to finally bring this project in 2016, and what did he not see
right in also asking the Ministry of Finance to provide funding for construction? Answer that.
The delay that the Hon. Minister continues to have in his Ministry is not impacting positively on
the well-being for a ‘good life’ for Indigenous people.
The Budget also makes mention of how this coalition Government is going to support 450
scholarship students. I want to remind this House and the nation that this project was established
in the late and early 1960s by the People Progressive Party/Civic. I am happy that this
programme still continues up to today, providing support to Indigenous students. But, what I am
not happy about is the fact that parents have been asking last year for an increase for the
students’ stipends. They made representation and I am representing them here in this Parliament.
They need an increase. Since the Government, when they got into office, disbanded the “We
Care Project” and denied the $10,000 per child per year, it also affected the Indigenous students
who are on regional and national scholarships. I am asking the Minister to seek an audience with
the Minister of Finance and ask the Minister of Finance whether it is not too late to increase the
$4,000 to $10,000 per month.
Why should Indigenous people always have to be fighting and challenging the Comrades,
Ministers and the Hon. Leaders on the opposite side? This had been the trend of what occurred
when the People’s Nation Congress (PNC) was there.
3.12 p.m.
It is now creeping in again when they have to beg, when they have to come and ask and when the
fishing… The other side promised them that they are very visionary and will make their lives
easy. They said that there is a good life ahead so vote for them. You need to get up and act on
behalf of your people.
School uniform for children is another support which the PPP/C Government, when it was in
office, afforded the Hinterland students. Later on, it became a national support. School uniforms
have arrived a couple of weeks ago in Region 9, not in September; it should have been bought in
July or before September and distributed by December. The Budget came late; I agree. But now,
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in February, Regions 1, 7 and 8 are still awaiting uniforms. Two academic terms have passed and
children have not yet received benefits from your Government.
A comment was made yesterday, during a presentation, that we have the same Community
Support Officers (CSOs). Then this Government should make them work the way they worked
before. I understand that they do not listen to technical people anymore; they do not listen to
those who work in the fields, and the barrage of highly acclaimed unqualified experts that they
have around them are misleading them. There are legal advisors. There are advisors on sports
and culture. There are advisors on everything and yet they cannot do the job.
I now turn to land titling.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have five minutes remaining.
Ms. Teixeira: Mr. Speaker, I ask for an extension of the Hon. Member’s time to include the five
minutes to bring her time to a total of 35 minutes. Thank you, Sir.
Question put and agreed to.
Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai: Since the coalition Government and its politicians were in Opposition,
they continued to mumble and continued to champion, as they said, land rights for Amerindians.
Even in the Budget, it states that moneys are in the Budget and that land protection for
Indigenous peoples will be dealt with.
I want to let this House know that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government,
between the years of 2012 and 2013, secured adequate funding to deal with this matter. The Hon.
Vice-President, Sydney Allicock, sat on the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee (MSSC) and
he had every single detail and information relating to this matter. What obtained since he got in,
since they are so efficient more than the PPP/C Government? I will tell you what happened.
To date, they have not yet titled any village since they have been there. They have not dealt with
the extension applications that were applied for by Indigenous peoples. They have not produced
any new demarcation for Amerindian lands. It is nine months into their term. Yesterday, I saw a
copy of the Manifesto of the coalition Government, and, in that Manifesto, there are seven
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paragraphs expounding international bonds and rights about land and protecting Amerindians.
Today, they have not yet done anything as it relates to land.
I call on the Minister to prioritise projects that will bring greater benefits to Amerindians and
desist from sitting for long hours and months to deal with systems. Approve the title for
Kangaruma; approve the title for Tasserine; approve the title for Sawaraowai; approve the title
for Eclipse Falls and approve the title for Parabarawau. I ask the Minister to do these things in
the one year that he has. It seems as though the Hon. Minister and his company have abandoned
the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) Project and the partnership we have with the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) on these matters. They have totally abandoned ship.
I also wish to ask the Minister, if it is not too complicated for him, to cooperate with the Guyana
Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to deal with the Kangaruma and Tasserine mining
claims that were approved after 2013. The Minister should sit and negotiate because the
Indigenous peoples noted, in the report, that these matters were critical and key to their
ownership. The title of Kangaruma and Tasserine should be provided to them this year. The
investigation is over; the review was done and there is nothing keeping them back with the
exception of claims that were approved after 2013. In fact, let me tell this House that, in 2012,
titles were prepared for those communities and the wickedness that occurred in the mining sector
disallowed Tasserine and Kangaruma from owning land now. I call upon you; you are sitting
there; do not allow the title issue to go unanswered.
I also call on the Government to provide titles to Rockstone. The matter of Rockstone has had
extensive discussions, so much so that so many compromises were made. Finally, the
Amerindians, who are not greedy people, have agreed that, within a one square mile on the main
road, anyone with legal and formal leases to their lands will be excised out. The Amerindian Act
allows for that and yet the Rockstone title is being delayed. Give the lands to the Amerindians.
Work was done on extension application. I want to expend my time talking about extension.
Please give Mainstay, Mashabo, Bethany, Capoey, Wakapau, Akawini, Saint Monica, Sand
Creek, Potarinau and Mokomoko their extensions. Investigation reports are on your desk and you
are entrusted in ensuring that they get their lands.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have four minutes remaining.
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Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai: I will go off land because these matters are public and it is important
for the nation to know. But, I want to say that the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF)…the
PPP/C Government secured more than US$6.4 million to generate economic activities to
stimulate village economy and to transform the way of production in those villages. Up to now,
not a cent was spent from this money since they assumed office. I can read, in last year, the first
quarter, how many villages accessed funds from the ADF for their micro projects.
Today, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs was able to accomplish only two things: a
meeting with the North Rupununi Development Board to control the funding for 16 Amerindian
communities in that location…that comes from ADF. They do not want the communities to
manage singly by themselves…
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have two minutes remaining.
Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai: They want the North Rupununi Development Board to be the
implementer of these projects for the 16 communities. Every time anyone from the coalition
talks about the Interior, one hears about Annai, Surama, North Rupununi Board and Bina Hill.
The Indigenous community is expansive; it goes beyond that area. It goes into Region 7, Region
9 and Region 1. The bigger things for everyone must be focussed on and not for one selected
area because the Hon. Vice-President, Sydney Allicock, comes from there. The Government
needs to stop focussing on the small things like the Bs. There has been no new initiative to
compliment these big ticket projects left by the PPP/C Government - shame. There is no big
ticket project to complement the foundation that the Vice-President inherited. Do you know what
this Government’s big ticket project is? It is 300 bicycles, some expandable slippers and boots.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, your time is up.
Mr. Williams: If it pleases you, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 2016 Budget and to
congratulate the Hon. Minister of Finance, Mr. Winston Da Costa Jordan, and his team for the
preparation and presentation of a well drafted Budget, a budget so transformative that it will
engender a new ethos, indeed a renaissance. I congratulate him.
It is unprecedented, in the annals of our Parliament, that a budget was presented within five
months of the previous Budget and also in the month of January.
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3.27 p.m.
This is a clear indication of this Government’s commitment to stimulating growth and
strengthening the confidence of the Guyanese people as a good life beckons.
Before I delve into my remit, I must observe that no Member on the other side, surely not the
lawyers who have all spoken, have seen it fit to raise any substantial or meaningful issue that
concerns me. I do not know if I should be disappointed that they have not engaged me or if I
should be pleased that they have recognised how successfully I have done what I was required to
do in the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General. All the lawyers have
spoken, as I have said. The Hon. Mr. Bulkan would determine who else would want to speak on
the law on that side.
I have listened to the protestations, on the other side, by my Hon. Friends and they have been
bizarre - most of them - but I just want to disabuse the mind of the Hon. Member, Pauline
Campbell-Sukhai. The Amerindian Youth Programme had, in fact, come to an end before we
took office in May, after the glorious victory on Monday, 11
May, 2015. It meant that we
inherited over 2,000 unemployed youths in Amerindian communities. Even when they were
employed under the last Government, they deployed them to do political work for them in the
Hinterland community. Fortunately for the Indigenous youths, this Government, the APNU/AFC
Government, has taken them in under the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training Programme and
we have them in training so that they could develop skills that they could deploy in making
themselves useful citizens of this country.
th
The Hon. Member also spoke about title and she asked why we did not, in eight months, give the
Amerindian communities titles to their lands. So the question must be asked: why did the last
Government, in 23 years, not give it to them? The Amerindian peoples must ask them that.
My Hon. Friends, on the other side, have even blamed us for recording the lowest economic
growth in 2015, in a decade. I do not know if their memories fail them. We were in office for a
couple of months in 2015 because they kept out of this honourable House for well over 11
months in 2015 and it is to our credit that we have a country that is still viable and up and
running. They believe people’s memories are short, but people’s memories are not short. That is
why they are seated on that side of the House.
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The Hon. Member from the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA), Mr. Seeraj, accused us
of making promises to brainwash and bamboozle the Guyanese people to get power and that we
were unconcerned about how unrealistic the promises are. I wish to address that, Mr. Speaker.
The development of bringing two Budgets within a short space of time has this challenge.
[Mr. Nandlall: Is that a development? That is a coincidence of [inaudible]] [Laughter] I
know this would have happened and so, in ruminating on what should be my approach, I
decided that I would enquire of you, Sir, in terms of dealing with the noise levels on the other
side, whether I should seek your protection or whether I should employ self-help. I will be
guided by you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying, this development brings this challenge: the
promises made in the first Budget by this Government, in 2015, had only a five-month window
to be delivered upon and not the normal 12 months that one would expect.
Nonetheless, this Government, our Government, strove manfully to execute its mandates and, in
the case of the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Legal Affairs (AGMLA), we
were able to deliver on the promises that we made in the last Budget presentation in this House:
Housing the Commercial and Land Registries in new premises; and appointments of Registrar
and Deputy Registrar to head the Commercial Registry. We are, nonetheless, labouring under
this weight that those premises were acquired for over $550 million. We are labouring under that
and we are going to take action on that. Continuing, we are working on: reducing the backlog in
the Land Registry; widening the class of persons who can be coroners by passage of the
Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2015 into law to facilitate inquests and inquiries into hundreds of
unsolved and unnatural deaths under the watch of the last Government. Another promise that we
delivered on is that we passed the law to create a permanent Law Reform Commission.
Also, we honoured the financial independent status of the constitutional bodies by passing, in
this House, budgets initiated by those newly freed entities. Further, we created a draft Bill on
cybercrime, which has been sent to stakeholders for consideration and feedback before passage
through this honourable House. Importantly, we began payments on the judgment sum to Rudisa,
which was left unpaid by the last Government. That is only one because the last Government, if
they gifted us anything, were some hefty judgments under their watch. We also have another $5
billion debt to deal with that was accumulated under the watch of the last Government and the
last Attorney General of this country. That is what we have to do. Those are the promises that
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they have burdened us with. On the passage of this Budget, the final payment to Rudisa will be
made. The sums are so hefty that, as a poor nation – they left us with a poor country - we are
unable to pay these fantastic judgments in one walk. We have to try and see if we could spread it
over time. That case was done by the Hon. Member, Mr. Anil Nandlall.
I do not know what type of Chambers the last Government had as an Attorney General’s
Chambers, but they always seemed to be losing cases that attracted some hefty judgements. Only
last week, the Minister of Finance lamented to me that he also was served with a judgment for
$400 million from Dipcon Engineering Services Ltd., so it is just to show that we have to
examine the conduct of the Hon. Members on the other side that could have led to these
outrageous sums being awarded against the Guyanese people in this country.
According to the English Philosopher, Thomas Hobbs:
“Law is the formal glue that holds fundamentally disorganised societies together.”
Legal Scholar and Author Glanville Williams described the law as:
“…the cement of society and also an essential medium of change.”
Jurist Joseph P. Bradley opined:
“Society cannot exist without law. Law is the bond of society: that which makes it, that
which preserves it and keeps it together. It is, in fact, the essence of civil society.”
This APNU/AFC Government will reassert the rule of law in this country of Guyana.
[Ms. Teixeira: [inaudible] a few minutes ago.] I am not in a position to deal with any
grazing at this time. I will ask Mr. Bulkan to assist me.
In keeping with the aforementioned precept, the Drafting Division of the Attorney General’s
Chambers is a great division. We need to pay the members of the Attorney General’s Chambers
better wages and salaries. They have prepared a number of legislation, including the Anti-Money
Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2015 - Bill No.
15 of 2015 and the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill 2015 - Bill. No.16 of
2015 which criminalises terrorism in its various forms and provides for the detection, prevention,
prosecution and punishment of persons involved in terrorist activities in and outside of Guyana.
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The Division has prepared legislation to give effect to the legislative agenda of the Government
for 2016 to provide for greater benefits for the welfare and upliftment of our people; in other
words, it is for the good life.
The AGMLA will continue to be proactive and include the relevant stakeholders in the creation
of legislation before passage through this House. In the exceptional case of complex legislation,
we will seek recourse to the device of the Special Select Committee.
The Attorney General’s Chambers has also implemented a system of publishing draft Bills on its
website, inviting stakeholders to send in their comments and views to the Chambers. These Bills
include the Cybercrime Bill, the Protective Disclosure (Whistle Blower) Bill, the Witness
Protection Bill and the Insurance Bill.
The Office of the Attorney General is the arm of the Government responsible for providing legal
services to the Government and its various agencies. The Attorney General acts as guardian of
the public interest to ensure that the rights of all Guyanese are protected and to represent the
State in civil proceedings in the name of the Attorney General. To this end, the Government of
Guyana is collaborating with the Canadian Government - and it is apposite that we have visitors
from the Canadian Parliament with us, the High Commissioner also, who is well known to us.
3.42 p.m.
We are collaborating with the Canadian Government to strengthen the criminal justice system in
Guyana. The Canadian Government has allocated the sum of $110 million, of which the sum of
$75 million will be utilised in 2016. The Justice Education Society (JES) of British Columbia is
the executing agency of the grant and has conducted the following training programmes with the
various state agencies.
Two-day roundtable with the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) senior management in October,
2015: The Commissioner of Police and all the senior ranking officers participated in
presentations and discussions on how major case management could improve the investigations
of serious criminal cases.
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Twenty-two investigators from the GPF completed a seven-day course in Major Case
Management and Investigation. The course involved lectures, demonstrations and practical
exercises in a variety of investigation techniques used in serious criminal matters in Canada.
Six analysts completed a ten-day intensive training course in Forensic Video Analysis. This is
very important for Guyana. The training and equipment provide solutions for collection,
processing and managing of all forms of multimedia evidence, including video, still images and
audio from private and Government’s Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.
Five-day crime scene management training for crime scene technicians and for investigators:
This training focused on best practices in crime scene management, how to prepare for court and
practical exercises for processing major crimes and preparing forensic experts for court.
A two-day training for police officers who have been selected to become trainers in the JES
activities was also conducted in January, 2016.
th
January, 2016, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and
prosecutors from the Guyana Police Force were trained in trial advocacy skills. JES trained in
major case management and provided on-the-job coaching. JES also trained them in crime scene
investigation and provided on-the-job coaching. JES trained the analysts from the GPF and will
provide on-the-job coaching on cases and JES will also organise a diagnostic on the backlog in
criminal cases in the Magistrate’s Court. This collaboration will continue in June, 2016, with the
training involving magistrates and judges.
During the period 4
th
to 15
Supreme Court of Judicature
Mr. Speaker, in relation to the Supreme Court of Judicature, as you might know, the Family
Court infrastructure was something that had bedevilled the last Government and it had
practically been promising, over two Parliaments, to establish the Family Court. The Family
Court Rules have been comprehensively revised and have been submitted to the National
Assembly. The infrastructure is complete. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has
provided assistance with the furnishing and the training of judges, lawyers and support staff for
the Family Court. So, under the APNU/AFC Government, the Family Court will be realised in
Guyana.
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The final revision of the Rules of the High Court has been undertaken by a consultant retained by
the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) under the Canadian funded Jurist Project. This revision
should be finalised by March, 2016 and implementation will, thereafter, follow.
Work has commenced on the extension of the High Court, which will provide accommodation
for the Land Court, additional courtrooms and a case management centre and additional library
space.
I take personal pride in getting these projects off the ground because, when we came into office,
all these projects were supposed to have been effected by protest bids for well over two years
and, upon inquiry, investigation and the application of some turpentine, one sees mud is very
high in the compound of the Supreme Court and the Magistrate’s Court in Sparendaam has
already started… In Sparendaam, two courtrooms will be constructed and a brand new court
building. The Lethem Magistrate’s Court was declared open in 2015 and is now functional.
Land Registry
The Land Registry is now located centrally and has made tremendous strides in removing years
of debilitating slothfulness under the last Government. The new Registrar and her team are to be
commended because, in August 2015, when she assumed governance of that Land Registry,
there was a national outcry, not only by lawyers, but by the citizenry, as to the state of that Land
Registry. When this Government’s team got into that place, this is what they met: a backlog in
private transfers, both in Berbice and Georgetown, of well over 3,500 cases; Ministry of Housing
transfers - well over 5,000; mutilated and lost titles - over 335; mortgages - well over 650.
What is the present situation? The present situation is that the backlog in private transfers has
been reduced by 2,500; the Ministry of Housing’s transfers by 1,600; mutilated lost titles by 275
and mortgages by 640. I think that that Registrar and her team deserve a very great round of
applause.
In 2016, the Land Registry will embark on capacity building aimed at ensuring that all staff are
equipped to discharge their duties efficiently; the Land Registry’s service in Essequibo will
resume and the records of land holding in land registration areas will be restored and preserved.
Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)
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This Government continues to show political commitment to removing this country from the
clutches of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism censoring
regime process that the last Government placed it in. This fact is confirmed by the latest
“Progress Report” of the Americas Regional Review Group (ARRG) which is to be presented to
the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Plenary in Paris, France, 16
February, 2016. At
page 81 of its Report, the ARRG has detailed all the work that this new Government has done
since taking office:
th
th
to 19
“The main development in Guyana is the enactment of the AML/CFT (Amendment) Act
2015 which became enforceable on 10
July, 2015. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
has also issued guidance on targeted financial sanctions and a money laundering typology
report on the gold jewellery trade in August, 2015. The AML/CFT regulations 2015 were
laid in the National Assembly on 17
th
August, 2015 subject to negative resolution and are
enforceable. The AML/CFT (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2015 was enacted on 17
th
th
December, 2015 and became enforceable on 6
January, 2016. The AML/CFT
(Amendment) Regulation No.7 of 2015 was laid in the National Assembly on 17
th
th
December, 2015 subject to negative resolution and is enforceable. The FIU issued
guidelines on targeted financial sanctions on 21
st
December, 2015.”
In its conclusion, the Americas Regional Review Group stated this:
“The enactment of the AML/CFT (Amendment) Act 2015 and the AML/CFT
(Amendment) (No.2) Act 2015 has implemented a substantial number of action items.
Guyana continues to demonstrate its commitment to comply with the action plan and is to
be commended for having met most of the deadlines.”
Nothing was done from 2000 until 11
May, 2015. The employment of the contract of the
former head of the Financial Intelligence Unit recently expired, thereby occasioning a temporary
vacancy in that position. That vacancy is in the process of being filled, pursuant to the new
provisions of the AML/CFT (Amendment) Act 2015, by the Committee on Appointments of the
Parliament.
th
Commercial Registry
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The Commercial Registry, having moved into its new premises, is confidently seeking to build
its capacity to give speedy and efficient service to the Guyanese people. The Registry is 80%
digitised. The digitisation of companies, businesses and trademarks was completed in 2009.
The Auditor General’s Report shows that only 38% of trademark certificates are issued annually.
This backlog has persisted in excess of 20 years…
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have four minutes more.
Minister of Natural Resources [Mr. Trotman]: Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask that the Hon.
Member be given five extra minutes to conclude his speech, as has been agreed.
Question put and agreed to.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This backlog has persisted in excess of 20 years. A
trademark is issued four years after application. Presently, the Intellectual Property Automation
System JAVA is being used to reduce this backlog by enabling searches, examination and the
generation of certificates for trademarks. By June, 2016, trademark certificates will be issued
three months after application once all statutory requirements are met by the agents. I must
congratulate the Commercial Registry for this.
Patents filed since 2003 are now being advertised in the Official Gazette and, subsequently,
certificates issued. Companies’ certificates of incorporation and business registrations are now
being issued within four days of application. Again, congratulations to the Commercial Registry.
The Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs Action Plan for 2016
Through the leadership of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, a Hague Conference will be held in
Guyana in partnership with UNICEF Guyana and the Hague Conference on Private International
Law. The theme of the Conference is: International Family Law, Legal Cooperation and
Commerce, Promoting Human Rights and Cross-Border Trade in Guyana through the Hague
Convention.
The sum of $16 million has been allocated for the hosting of the Conference in July this year and
UNICEF has already made a substantial contribution to this.
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The new Justice Sector Programme, which is designed to consolidate improvements in the justice
sector, is a collaboration between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the
Government of Guyana. The following funds are allocated in relation to the respective
components.
Setting up a law revision office and undertaking a revision of our laws to update them to 2015:
The sum of US$182,000,260 has been allocated for that.
Setting up a permanent law reform commission with a secretariat for the purpose of continuously
examining our laws and making recommendations on areas of reform: US$504,000,150 has been
earmarked for this.
Training for judges, magistrates and prosecutors, including writing of decisions, sentencing, et
cetera: US$42,150.
Disposal of backlog cases by measures, including the appointment of part-time judges to deal
with the civil backlog within a specified time frame: US$49,020.
The introduction of voice recognition systems for recording evidence in the criminal sections in
the High Courts of Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo and Magistrate’s Courts hearing serious
offences to enhance and speed up trials: US$327,000.
The introduction of cybercrime legislation and a regime to train investigators, prosecutors,
magistrates and judges to understand the nature of these emerging crimes: US$58,200.
Provision of funding has also been made for the acquisition of Caribbean Law (CARILAW) and
LexisNexis legal research database programmes. The country will hear more about LexisNexis
and purchasing of books for the Attorney General’s Chambers at a later date.
3.57 p.m.
In light of these premises, the majority of the Guyanese people will, like the Phoenix, rise again
from the ashes of their own despair as A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change
(APNU/AFC) Government stimulates growth, strengthens their confidence, as “the good life
beckons.”
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I thank you Mr. Speaker. [Applause]
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, I think this is a good time to take the suspension. I wish to remind
Members of the Business Sub-Committee of the Committee of Supply that we should meet. I
invite you to join me in my chambers to treat with matters. Members we will meet immediately
after we rise.
Sitting suspended at 3.59 p.m.
Sitting resumed at 5.12 p.m.
Ms. Manickchand: We are here for Budget 2016. Before I begin I wish to congratulate warmly
the Hon. Minister of Finance and his staff, and the staff of all the Ministries, who would have
had to work a bit harder to get us two budgets in six months. I wish to offer them warm
congratulations. I am aware that many of them will leave this room disappointed, because they
did not get what they wanted, and astounded because of what they see in the budget.
Nevertheless, we are grateful for their tireless efforts, over and over again.
This is about nine months since the new Government is in place. It is enough time, I believe,
being on the jobs daily - certainly they believe so, given that they have paid themselves
handsomely - to understand fully what is happening in the country. It is enough time to be able to
garner where we are, where we were, where we want to go and how to get us there. This is the
budget that could characterise this particular new Government.
I think it is my duty to note, for this honourable House, what many of us in here already know.
This period has been characterised by disappointment and sadness, by heavy heartedness, by
dissolution, and by lost opportunities - the lost opportunity to fulfil promises so passionately
made just nine months ago; lost opportunity to treat teachers the way you told them that they
should be treated, giving them massive increases; lost opportunity to fulfil promises such as
massive increases in the old age pensions; lost opportunity to really show how a country could
go forward using the best talent, irrespective of how people voted; lost opportunity to show
youths that they matter in decision making. We only have to look across from us to understand
how very distrusted the young people of this country are. We read in the budget that young
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people are not prepared for leadership. This has caused great disappointment in this land and that
is unfortunate.
Dr. Henry Jeffrey, commenting in the Stabroek News, a former Member of this House, now
lecturer and commentator in the Stabroek News, said that he would bet the bottom dollars that a
substantial number of those who wanted to see the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) out
of government and supported the coalition are now extremely disappointed with the performance
of the latter. As can be expected, the popular refrain would be, “Is not we own; all yuh sen he
home”, without listening. Another characteristic of the nine months is, “Is we time; we seh suh, it
will be suh; we don’t have to listen to anyone.”
I wish to read the words of a young prolific writer, Sara Bharrat. She titled her piece It Is Time. It
is something that was associated with the green and yellow campaign of the APNU/AFC. Nine
months ago she was a champion of change. I have to say, in fairness to her, I got the impression
that she was the champion of change of the culture of our politics, where we were. I cannot read
the whole piece but I invite everyone to read it. This is what she said:
“Our country is small and our people are inescapably connected. I believe that last May we
began the fight to take Guyana back, to give her the sort of grooming she deserved these past 50
years.”
Then she writes of her disappointment and disillusion. It is our time that is destroying our
country. She concludes like this:
“They told us that it is time and they were right. It is time to see them for what they really are, to
see that they were never sincere and they cannot forgive. It is time to see that hate and bitterness
drive them in a power struggle that robs us, robs us of our lives and our time, things that can
never be returned.”
Your champion of change is reflecting the feelings of disappointment of so many in our land.
You could have changed this.
Outside of that, I was looking at the budget to see what the policy framework is within which
this Government is going to function. One would think that at least the manifesto promises, and
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the promises made on the campaign trail, would inform what that policy would be. I have not
seen anything written. I have not seen what framework is there.
When we were elected into office in 1992 we said very clearly what we wanted to do. We
wanted to reduce poverty; we wanted to make democratic norms and practices the order of the
day rather than something to long for; we wanted to make sure that all our people could benefit
from the goods of our land. I could go through all our policies on education, making access to
education expanded, housing the population, providing better health services. Everything that
was built up over the years can be marked by the indicator of the World Bank.
In 1991 the World Bank did a study on poverty here and reported that in or around 61% of our
people were living in poverty. That was out of every 100 persons.
[Mr. Williams: Which
year?]
It was in 1991 under the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government, the party
that makes up most of the APNU/AFC Government. It did a study on us again in 2008 and
reported that Guyana had reduced poverty to 35%, had cut poverty in half. We saw there was a
policy focus, a framework, all our programmes were done within this framework and here is the
indicator. It was almost ten years ago. I am absolutely sure this new Government took over a
better reduction in the poverty levels.
In the absence of something clear, about what policy this Government is pursuing, we are left
with the measures in this budget. What are some of them? It is a ban on the importation of cars
older than eight years old which will cause at least 80% of the people who bought cars last year
not to be able to afford cars this year; bans on the importation of tyres that would quadruple the
cost of tyres. The category of persons who bought cars last year would not be able to buy cars
this year. That means that the mothers and fathers within a particular economic bracket, 80% of
who bought cars last year, had they postponed their purchase to this year, would be without
transportation, and probably relying on the bikes and buses. Charging less on rum; assertions that
homes would be repossessed; assertions that rice is not Government’s business and is a private
sector enterprise undeserving of Government assistance; $1,200 for pensioners; $800 for poor
people who are receiving public assistance; million dollar salaries for their Ministers; new fees
for licences; removal of the Women of a Worth (WOW) programme; removal of the Because We
Care Cash Grant programme.
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From what is said in the budget, and what is not said in the budget, I think we can garner what is
the framework, what is the intent of this Government. It is for the Members to make themselves
comfortable, to live life large, while they neglect the persons who depend on them for service. I
think we can get a good summation of what the budget is. It came from no lesser a person than
the Hon. Member of the Government Mr. Audwin Rutherford when he said that this is not a poor
people budget. He said that. If we were confused then, we heard from the other side, from almost
every speaker in the back bench, this inane repetition of nothing happen under the previous
Government and that this budget was a “fresh approach”. I understand why Hon. Member Mr.
Jaipaul Sharma was confused. How could it be a “fresh approach”? How could nothing have
happened if there were so many programmes?
Let us take education sector. Everything here was a repetition of what we had two years ago.
That is not fresh. We announced in this House, two years ago, that we negotiated the money for
many of the programmes that you are now calling fresh. How could it be that there was nothing
in the budget? Having taken almost, wholesale from the last budget, from the PPP/C’s
programmes, all that is now in education, the budget for education is easy to support. Of course,
we have complaints about the things that were left out. What we have a quarrel with is that the
PPP/C programmes were not taken holistically. There will always be problems when a piece is
plagiarised and a piece is left out.
5.23 p.m.
At school you are cautioned not to copy because you could copy wrong. There are the nice fancy
schools that I will talk about just now. There are the nice fancy schools for our children and there
is the training of teachers and there is the improvement of our literacy and numeracy standards.
We are giving our children what the PPP/C wanted to give them as far as education is concerned,
but by some of these measures we have removed from their parents the ability to look after those
children.
You took out education programme and you are going to build a school, but you took away from
the parents, of all those 1,700 children, from the Wales Sugar Estate, the ability to put breakfast
on the table before they go to school. You are taking away from the single parents, who were
relying on WOW,...What is WOW? WOW is a loan that was being given to single parents at a
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low interest rate without the requirement for collateral. We were recognised by the British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for this programme. You are taking away… I am hearing the
moronic refrain…
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you did not say that. You will withdraw it right away.
Ms. Manickchand: Sir, did you hear anything?
Mr. Speaker: I heard you say the word “moronic”. It is not a word to be used in this chamber.
The first one was “inane”, I let it pass but please we cannot keep doing this. Would you
withdraw that and then proceed?
Ms. Manickchand: Your Honour, it was a heckle. I do not think we were paying attention to
heckles, but there is an attempt to…
Mr. Trotman: I rise on a Point of Order, Sir, to say that last evening the Hon. Member and
Minister of Social Protection said that the WOW programme has been restored. For a Member to
stand here and say that it has been taken away, having heard that last night, would not be correct.
That is a Point of Order, that it is palpably wrong to make a statement like that, having heard
Minister last night.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, I thank you. I await the withdrawal of the term that you ought not
to have use, Hon. Member.
Ms. Manickchand: I withdraw the term, Sir.
Mr. Speaker: I will ask all other Hon. Members not to indulge, however much the temptation is
great, to use epithets.
Ms. Manickchand: It is such as the word “hoodwinked”, Sir.
Mr. Speaker: I beg your pardon, Madam.
Ms. Manickchand: I was wondering if you do not want us to use words such as “hoodwinked”.
I could refrain from using the word “hoodwinked”, Sir.
Mr. Speaker: Please proceed.
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Ms. Manickchand: We heard something mumbled as heckling in this National Assembly about
how many of the loans were bagged. You do not squash a programme because you cannot
manage the programme. You fix it and you manage it. The programme was always at risk
because of the nature of the programme, offering collateral free loans to anyone, carries with it a
risk that there will be low repayment if there is no serious monitoring. We are talking about
single parent women who are trying to look after their children. Let us not get distracted from
what I was saying. I was saying that you put the fact that you are going to build a school, in here,
but you have taken away from parents their ability to send their children to school.
Mr. Speaker, you are saying to our rice farmers and their children that you are not going to invest
in rice, rice is not Government’s business and that the rice is going to be treated as a private
sector enterprise. The people in this National Assembly, who are Hon. Ministers of the
Government, were able to pay themselves more than twice what the other Government’s people
were using based on the contributions of rice farmers over the years. That is how you got the
money to pay yourself. That is how we were able to take our country to this point. When there is
a sector in trouble, whether for rice price, for markets, or so, the responsible thing to do is to step
in and help the people of the sector. They are not asking for a million dollars a month or $1.7
million a month, but they are asking for some relief in diesel, some relief fertilisers, some
guidance and they would like to see the Minister of Agriculture. A small thing such as that, they
never saw him and people are wondering if the Hon. Member was ever in a rice field. These are
some of the real issues that people want to talk about.
In the education sector’s budget we heard that there is going to be the big ticket items for the
SEIP programme, that is the Secondary Education Improvement Programme. I wish to bring to
the attention of the National Assembly that in the budget debates of 2014, at paragraph 4.74, this
is what Dr. Ashni Singh said:
“Moreover we will commence implementation of a $10 million universal secondary
education initiative which will facilitate the construction of new schools and provision of
materials for improved teaching techniques and technology assisted learning in
mathematics. Our teacher training college will continue to offer…”
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In 2014 we announced this programme in the Budget 2014 and by 2016, had we been, in office
we would have been coming with new things. In 2016, two years later, you come and bring as a
fresh idea, and as the Minister of Finance said “a new initiative”, a programme that we began in
2014. It is a stagnation budget. The items for 2014 are being brought up in 2016. What was in
that programme to take us to a closer place where we could have universal secondary education?
There were programmes built-in. For example, there are to be four new secondary schools, most
of them with a thousand-person capacity with state-of-the-art science labs and all the works. One
was supposed to be at Good Hope on the East Coast. I hope that we have not changed this in the
new philosophy of paying off political investors. There was supposed to be one at Good Hope,
La Parfaite Harmonie and on the highway. Those schools would have been schools that allow us
to get closer to universal secondary education.
This is the good programme that the Minister boasted about, in which teachers would be trained
further to deal with Mathematics, English and the Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematic (STEM) subjects. This is the programme where Grade Eight students will get, more
than 800 students, the tablets that the Minister spoke about. This is the programme that would
allow for us to have better improved grades in Mathematics and English. This is what the Hon.
Minister spoke about. This is our programme from 2014 and we support it fully because it is a
good programme, but what we are asking you to do is to be innovating and come up with ideas
and good plans for Guyana. Do not be lazy and copy what we did, but come up with things that
will complement what we have already done.
The next big ticket item in the budget that is being touted as new is the Early Childhood
Education programme. The Early Childhood Education programme where we are looking to
put…They call it a new approach shamelessly.
I turn the House’s attention to 2014, a publication by a national newspaper the Guyana Times
and this is what was stated:
“Education Minister Priya Manickchand with Global Partnership for Education Board
Chairman Julia Gillard….”
There was a photograph.
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Annex 102
“The Education Ministry has announced that at the last meeting of the Board of Directors
on which Education Minister Priya Manickchand sits as a Director, representing Latin
America and the Caribbean, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), approved a
US$1.7 million education grant for Guyana”.
I am hearing the comments about who wrote the article, but here, it is what Julia Gillard said. It
is the former Prime Minister of Australia who is now the Chairperson of the board for Global
Partnership for Education.
“This is critical funding at a time when 58 million children of primary school age are still
not in school…”
Guyana has earned this because it was to be an addition to all the good works we were doing.
Guyana, presently, we left the APNU/AFC Government with an 85% enrolment in nursery
education which is the highest in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Coming back and telling us that
there is an Early Childhood Education programme and shamelessly calling it a “fresh approach”
in the new Government is a stagnant move. What I would have liked to hear from the Minister of
Finance is, given that the donor funding for education has been reduced by 10 % or more by
now, from 2010, how are we going to make sure our education funding, which used to be 5%
under the PNC, that has been move to between 16%, 14% and 17 % under the PPP, that is
continued under this Government…? How are we going to sustain the growth that we have made
and even go further? That is what I would like to hear. It is not to repackage what we had and
come here and tell me it is a “fresh approach”. This is stagnant; it is doing what we did two years
ago.
The other item, uniform for children, was done by the PPP Government. In fact, it was done far
more effectively than is being done now. The last year budget, which was mentioned by the
previous speaker on my side, has still not been implemented. Their children, all over the
hinterland regions, who have seen the faces of Ministers who went there to shake hands and
distribute colours, have not been given their uniforms. They have been given boots and slippers,
the “bs” programme, but they cannot go to school without their school uniform. They have not
been given that.
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The School Feeding Programme which, again, is repeated in the budget as though it is a fresh
intervention is something that was started by the PPP/C Government. The extension of the 7,000
new children, who are going on the programme, is in the strategic plan that was left at the
Ministry of Education. It was bringing the children who were off the programme on to the
programme and what is frightening is that this programme was copied without people
understanding the philosophy of the programme. What we had was not only a programme that
kept our children filled on nutritious meals, but there was a programme that provided
employment for people in the village, either by the making of the peanut butter or the making of
the cassava bread.
What we have now is a bringing over from Brazil, for many of the schools, an importation from
Georgetown, that biscuit with cream in the middle. Absolutely, there is no nutrition. It would be
interested to learn who they are buying some of that from. Are they repaying the political
investment, who we heard about, because they have totally failed to grasp the import of the
programme for the village economy? I may say, Sir, that this is a programme that was recognised
globally as a model for how Governments and developing countries can do several things with
the same funding - feed children, develop skills in a community and provide employment. When
this copying is being done, we are available to come and explain to you why we came up with
something and why it is important that it stays the same way.
5.38 p.m.
Again, it is same APNU/AFC Government which said, on the campaign trail, that the education
system is in tatters, everything is…
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have five minutes more.
Ms. Teixeira: Mr. Speaker, I move, at the same time, to ask that the Hon. Member has her five
minutes, plus her five minutes extension, as agreed.
Question put, and agreed to.
Ms. Manickchand: We heard that everything was in tatters and these things were bad. If
everything was in tatters, this adoption wholesale of our programme really makes a lie out of that
claim because the Government is doing the exact same thing that we did. Outside of that Sir, we
51

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heard that there was going to be a Commission of Inquiry. It is now nine months, none has been
appointed, no work has been done, and as a result of that we have major things stalled up. For
example, the policy, the strategic plan that we left in place, is waiting on this elusive
Commission of Inquiry before they finalise it. That plan did not come about by magic, it was
consulted on, all across this country, by stakeholders and it identifies what is wrong in the sector
and what is needed in the short and medium term to fix it. That is what the commission, I
understand, is going to do. If the commission is so important, then get cracking with it. Stop this
delay. We have seen audits, where they think it is important. Is education not important? Is that
why we have not had the commission, as yet? I call on the Government to lay the Education Bill.
The Education Act in this country was not amended for over 100 years. Let us lay the Education
Bill. It is to bring it up to a place where it can meet the needs of the Guyanese children. This
constant refrains of why you did not do that… It was tabled in this House. I believe that it was
sent to a Special Select Committee but it does not matter, even if we did not bring it. The day
before we brought the Sex Offences Act, we did not have a Sex Offences Act. The day before we
started the School Feeding Programme, we did not have a School Feeding Programme. In other
words, governing is not about collecting for yourself; it is about progressing for the country.
The teachers’ salaries: The teachers’ five-year agreement is at an end as of 31
December.
Teachers were promised a significant increase. They have got none. If the Government cannot
give the teachers their increases, then, at least, give them the duty-free concessions that they
earned under the previous Government. We left 30 agreed upon duty-free concessions for 30
teachers and those have been held up. I understand that after we left office, after the APNU/AFC
came into office, that there were 46 more approved, and none have been given. Give the teachers
their duty-free concessions.
st
There is urgent need for there to be some sort of collaboration between the public education
system and the private education system, as an enterprise. Those children in the private schools
are our Guyanese children. The professionals in the Ministry of Education will tell you, Mr.
Minister, that if they were to come back into our public school system, it will flood us. The
problems, which they are having, are that they do not have access to any of the texts. Letters
have been written by a particular school, letters have been written to the Ministry, asking you,
Sir, for access to the textbooks that are the property of the Ministry, and there has been no…
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Annex 102
Mr. Speaker: The Speaker is reminding you that he is at this end of the hall and not across.
Ms. Manickchand: Thirty seconds more for me, Sir.
These are the issues that need to be addressed. I wish to raise very quickly, before I move on, to
some issues in Region 5. Last night, in an attempt to paint the former Government as corrupt, the
Hon. Member Mrs. Catherine Hughes raised the issue of the building of the Kato Secondary
School. The Kato Secondary School is being built presently. It was to bring us closer to universal
secondary education and take off the overcrowding at Paramakatoi Secondary School, to bring
Region 8 up to a place where all of the children can access secondary school. That was publicly
tendered and someone won. If, in fact, the contractor is not doing what he is supposed to do or
the consultants, who are supposed to be supervising him, are not doing what they are supposed to
do, then let the new Government take it up with them – take them to court and do what it has to
do. As you know, why I am worried about that, Sir, it is because we had also, this country, built a
school at Sand Creek and within a very short period after building that building the beams were
cracking. We were attempting – the Hon. Attorney General would have those files - to take that
contractor to court. To my surprise, upon the assumption of office, he was given a national
award. I do not think he will be going to any court. When he comes here, and I am calling on the
Minister of Education, the honourable gentleman, it is that he is to lay those matters in this
House. I do not have the records, but there was nothing corrupt being done by the Ministry of
Education with regard to that project. We are not there to finish it.
Your Honour, I want to raise some issues with you about Region 5. Region 5, you have heard
about, Sir, from many speakers in this House, has had some serious human rights breaches over
the last nine months. It has asked repeatedly for us to address these issues. The issue about the
light, Sir, and I will give you a specific example. There is the issue with the light. One Milton
Ramu did not ask the Government for the light. He bought a light and he put it there and he said
it was there to keep his community safe. The officers from Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL)
mounted that light for him, then they came and took it off and they went away. They stole the
light. They deprived him permanently of a light that was his. We were told by the Hon. Minister
of Public Infrastructure that the lights at Bath Settlement and the lights at Bush Lot had to come
down because the Government could not afford it.
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We heard from the Hon. Member Jennifer Wade that the lights had to come down because
Seafield did not have on the road. Seafield does not have lights on the roads. Give Seafield the
lights. Do not take the lights from Bath Settlement and Bush Lot because somebody else does
not have. The surprise came, Sir, when this Government, which was saying that it could not
afford lights, found lights to give Pouderoyen and found lights to give Linden. It had to buy the
lights and it is paying for the light bills for these places. We are happy that these places are
getting the light bills. On what grounds did you remove the people’s lights? Is it because you
have found that you cannot even to field the candidate for the local government election in the
Bath Settlement community? Is that why you removed the people’s lights? It is discrimination,
Sir.
The bus, which used to bring the children from Mahaicony River to the high school - there is no
high school in there, and they cannot catch anything else - has been broken down and it has not
been fixed. We are calling on the Government to fix it, and fix it now. The gas for the generator
that Hon. Member Michael Carrington spoke about, what happened there, Sir, we bought a
generator for the people of Maraikobai and that is the kind of help that is needed. If the Member
does not understand, it is that he is in the wrong place. We had to assist, every now and then,
with fuel. We are asking, again, that the Government assist the people with fuel in Maraikobai.
I want to end with one story. We heard from the Minister of Finance, and several persons over
here, that there were no job losses. I want to tell the story of someone named, perhaps, Farida.
She was a secretary, and has been a secretary for many years, 20-something years. She has two
children. They both went to two top schools in this country because she looked at the person she
was working with and wanted her children to have that kind of comfortable life. Her husband
was a driver. This was finished at the time of the elections. Farida was fired. It could not have
been for any other reason, but it was because of her perceived affiliation, and or the way she
looked. Farida’s daughter, who was studying law, had to drop out and she is now a young
teacher, untrained, just trying to hold on to something until she can try to get into school again. Is
Farida’s child not entitled to the same life of your children, of our children? That is Farida. Do
you want me to give you some more names? There is Haniff from the Ministry of Education;
there is Roy and there are such a large number of persons. I am not speaking of the Chief
Executive Officers (CEOs) who were knocked off. I am speaking of secretaries and drivers, the
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people who have mortgages; people who have children, deserving of all that your children are
deserving of. We call on you to stop the human rights abuses that are going quietly by every day.
I thank you Sir. [Applause]
Mr. Greenidge: I am inclined to take the advice of my distinguished colleague on the other side
of the divide, concerning the desirability of sticking to foreign affairs matters. Let me take the
opportunity…, notwithstanding the wisdom of that advice, because of what I have listened to is,
for me, cynicism and reflective of selective amnesia. Mr. Speaker, just permit me, please, to
make mention that when colleagues spoke of discrimination, the firings from public
employment, and so forth, that I am speaking from the point of view of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. If I say that, I do not believe it should be necessary for me to elaborate because, as
regards to discrimination, random firings, and the like, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the
institution that bore the brunt of that despicable period, a practice of the PPP. Do not let us go
there. We hear crocodile tears. I see the colleague, who would know, on the other side of these
benches, smiling very broadly. I am not going to say anymore because he at least, knows what I
am talking about. [An Hon. Member: Is it Mr. Rohee?]
I throw meh corn I ain’t call no
fowl.
When we come to deal with the problem of selective amnesia, we hear, for example, former
Government Members of Parliament speaking as though as when they came into office they
never used or benefited from anything that went before. Another Government comes into office
and everything that went before they have inherited. It reflects a certain immaturity, so let me
leave those issues.
I am called upon to stand to support the budget delivered by the APNU/AFC Minister of Finance
so eloquently and so widely commended for the measures it contains, and also recognised as
delivering the growth target set. I suddenly discovered that we have all sorts of economists on
the other side, one of whom can tell us that putting taxes or restrictions on the imports of cars
will lead to second-hand cars costing more than brand new cars. That is the sort of economics we
are coming up with on the other side. [An Hon. Member (Opposition): Who said that?]
Who else would say it? Who else would you say would say it? Look on your left hand side.
5.53 p.m.
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Annex 102
Let us turn to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I am happy to report that, in the eight months since
I have acceded to the Office of Minister of Foreign Affairs, and notwithstanding the obvious
challenges that any new Administration would face and one has to admit that, that is what we
seem to be failing to acknowledge on the other side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pursued
its mandate with due diligence and alacrity, whilst seeking to shape more robust and relevant
foreign policies in circumstances that have been changing and that are very difficult. I think that
both sides acknowledge that.
In this regard, I have the pleasure, and indeed the ardent duty - I have been given that task - of
providing guidance to His Excellency, the President, and the Cabinet, as regards the execution
and implementation of Guyana’s Foreign Policy.
Let me therefore start from the outset, with the most pressing problem, which I made reference to
earlier. I am hastened to confess that, in 2015, our diplomatic energies had been focussed
primarily in the direction of territorial integrity. It is no secret that the controversy arising out of
Venezuela’s unfounded claims to our territory has been our most ominous challenge. It has been
continuously engaging the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For this reason, I believe
that it would be remiss of me not to update this House on developments in that area, other than
those that I have mentioned earlier.
During 2015, in response to the heightened threats to our territorial integrity and sovereignty, the
Ministry sought to secure Guyana’s borders through advocacy and diplomatic preaches, at the
regional, bilateral and international levels. Significant, amongst these was the engagement with
the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General for an early settlement of the controversy which
arose as a result of Venezuela’s contention, that the 1899 Award was null and void. Part of it the
process with the Secretary-General entailed the hiring of an international legal team to guide
Guyana in its attempts to pursue a juridical settlement, should the UN Secretary-General choose
that option, an option that we have been pressing upon him. These actions on our part, ensued
after the President of Venezuela issued two Decrees, which impacted negatively on the relations
between Guyana and Venezuela.
The Decree 1787, now repealed, was enacted by President Nicolas Maduro and signed by him
and the full complement of Venezuela’s Council of Ministers. It was published in the Annual
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Official Gazette, 40669, dated 27
May, 2015. That Decree created and activated the Maritime
and Insular Operational Zone of Integral Defence and an Insular Strategic Region of Integral
Defence. The jurisdiction of this purported Atlantic Zoning, which is also referred to as the
Atlantic Facade Venezuela, had at its northern most points, the boundary with the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago and at the southern most points, having started in the middle of the mouth
of Essequibo. It also attempted to usurp most of the maritime territories that formed the total
Coastal Projection of our Republic. It also encompasses parts of the frontages of Barbados and
the Republic of Suriname, and includes airspace within all of those areas.
th
I make mention of this because it is often forgotten how extensive the implications of these
Venezuelans Decree are. This, in our view, is the most aggressive act by Venezuela to date. The
Decree is intrinsically late to its view that the 1899 Arbitral Award is null and void and the
attendance spurious claim to Guyana’s Essequibo.
A technical mission from the UN, headed by Ms. Martha Doggett, Chief of the Americas
Division of the Department of Political Affairs, visited Guyana during the period 29
August to
2
th
nd
September to discuss the options under the Geneva Agreement for a resolution of
Venezuela’s contention.
It is the view of Guyana that the Secretary-General of the United Nations has the authority, and I
stress this Mr. Speaker, because, whilst we thought we had persuaded the UN of this, at times
they seem not to be sure. It is the view of Guyana that the Secretary-General of the United
Nations has the authority and the mandate to bring this matter to a definitive end. The issue of
the concurrence of either parties or the lack thereof should not arise, if the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) was requested to provide an advisory opinion.
Guyana reiterated its preference for a juridical settlement via the International Court of Justice to
address that contention by Venezuela. In relation to our eastern neighbour, Suriname, that
country’s new Government has recently stated that its claim over Guyana’s New River Triangle
is back on Suriname’s agenda.
It is anticipated that this issue will be addressed under the auspices of the National Border
Commissions of Guyana and Suriname. Naturally, there can and will be dialogue at the highest
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political levels between the two countries, namely, at the level of the Presidency and the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs, to take this particular issue forward.
Due to intense regional international lobbying, Guyana received the support of several
international organisations, including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the
Commonwealth that expressed their full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of
Guyana, including the right to peacefully exploit off-shore resources. The UN Secretary-General
continues to actively engage the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela with a view to
definitively resolving the controversy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commenced a sensitisation programme to keep the
Guyanese public abreast on matters relating to these borders. A Booklet entitled: What you need
to know about the definitive nature of the Guyana/Venezuela Boundary was published in an
effort to further sensitise the population. We have raised the issue in a number of fora, and in
those fora there have been similar Booklets.
In the meantime, Guyana’s relations with Brazil remain excellent. The Ministry intends to
continue to pursue a number of key initiatives that will further cement these relations. During a
visit by His Excellency, the President, and his team to Brasilia in July, 2015, for the
MERCUSOR, a bilateral meeting was held between the President of Guyana and the President of
Brazil. The President of Brazil gave Guyana the assurance of Brazil’s full backing in relation to
efforts for a peaceful resolution of the controversy. The Government of Brazil is in the process of
putting in place preliminary arrangements for major infrastructural projects with Guyana. My
Ministry is now well poised to engage our Brazilian partners to start to bring these to fruition in
2016.
I am pleased to announce to the House that, as part of that effort, Guyana and Brazil are in the
final stages of arranging for the visit on 1
March, 2016 by Chancellor Maura Vieira, my
Brazilian counterpart.
st
In the area of economic diplomacy, we have also engaged in reshaping our foreign policy to give
greater emphasis to economic diplomacy, which we believe is a major pillar on which the
accelerator to the development of Guyana lies. In this regard, we have begun the strategic
reorganising of the various departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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The economic diplomacy thrust includes encouraging and facilitating Guyanese in our diaspora
to contribute to Guyana’s national development through doing business, investments, trade,
philanthropy and the transfer of skills and knowledge. In this regard, the overseas missions are
currently mandated to pursue every opportunity that arises. Concomitantly, our overseas
missions have been working assiduously to ensure that there are no hindrances to the efforts of
tens of thousands of Guyanese who are planning to come home this year to celebrate our
country’s 50
th
Anniversary as an independent nation.
Our greater emphasis on diplomacy also means that the missions are expected to more
aggressively pursue trade opportunities and foreign-directed investments, in consonance with the
development emphasise of the Government. For whilst we need investment, we seek investments
that are feasible, sound and from the outset, bring opportunities for Guyanese people as a whole.
In the pursuit of engaging our diaspora, we have also recognised that there was an absence of a
structured mechanism for engagement in this regard. We have been working on crafting a
Diaspora Engagement Strategy, which includes inputs from the relevant stakeholders and the
diaspora. The Strategy, when completed, is expected to assist in establishing a structure that will
help us to better respond to and channel the contributions of the diaspora to achieving maximum
benefits aimed at achieving development. It should be noted that a number of other sister
agencies have also begun to engage the diaspora and ours will remain the role of seeking to
coordinate that exercise.
On the front of CARICOM, we continue to work on the expanded market access for our goods in
the CARICOM markets. The Government has supported the deepening of the Regional
Integration process in terms of Inter-Regional Trade, CARICOM’S External Trade Negotiations
and multilateral developments in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), et cetera.
The question in CARICOM has been the renewed focus on the bilateral trade agreements which
CARICOM has with Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
In October, 2015, Guyana met on the occasion of the 9
Meeting of CARICOM/CUBA Joint
Commission and exchanged proposals to enhance the preferential access to each other’s markets
th
for an expanded list of products, under the CARICOM/CUBA Trade Agreement. The two sides
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will continue negotiations, during the course of this year, with a view to reaching an early
agreement on key proposals.
As regards the World Trade Organisation, for small developing countries like Guyana, the WTO
carries out a Trade Policy Review every six years. In 2015, my Ministry also coordinated the
completion of Guyana’s Third Trade Policy Review, under the WTO.
The Final Reports on the Review are presented at a special session of the WTO’s General
Council at the Secretariat in Geneva in September. At that meeting, the Members applauded the
Government of Guyana’s recent actions to initiate various public sector reforms, including a
comprehensive tax review aimed at improving transparency and efficiency, as well as providing
a levelled playing field for all businesses.
Significantly, I am exceedingly delighted to report that the WTO members also commended
Guyana for rectifying the application of the Environmental Tax and the zero-rated Value-Added
Tax (VAT) to both locally produced and imported products, and the enactment of the modified
Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill.
In relation to the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM), I would just like to add that Guyana’s
Chairmanship of the Regional Trade Bloc, which commenced in July, 2014, ended in June, 2015.
Guyana also carried out the functions of CARICOM’S High Representative, under the Caribbean
Forum/European Union/Economic Partnership Agreement (CARIFORUM/EU/EPA), until
December of last year.
As CARICOM’S High Representative, Guyana hosted the Third Meeting of the Ministerial Joint
Council, under the CARIFORUM/EU/EPA in Georgetown, 16
July. I had the distinct honour
and privilege to lead the Delegation to that meeting.
th
The main focus of the Joint Council was the mandated review of the EPA and the results of that
review will guide the work of EPA Trade and Development Committee in 2015.
In 2015, the Ministry also provided collaborative support and guidance to Guyana Sugar
Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), concerning the
development of geographical indicators for Demerara Sugar and Demerara Rum. Just in case the
term geographical indicators do not mean much to Colleagues, this is the regime under which
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France has exclusive rights to produce something called “champagne” with certain
characteristics. In relation to other products, it has been agreed those other countries that can
distinguish the characteristics of their products, either as a result of a process or as a result of
some distinctive characteristics, can also have that distinction. It is in pursuit of that, that I made
reference to GuySuCo and DDL.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Embassy in Brazil has sought and received
technical assistance under the African/Caribbean/Pacific (ACP) Trade Capacity Programme to
support the geographical indications initiatives of the two companies and that initiative will, we
hope, come to fruition after completion of the study during the course of 2016.
6.08 p.m.
As regard the Caribbean bilateral, it is the view of the Government of Guyana that strong bilateral
relations
are
at
the
heart
of
the
Economic
Integration
Process,
and
have
the
proven
ability

to
meet
down
to
the
benefit
of
the
people
of
the
countries
of
the
region.
And
so,
we
have sought
to strengthen relations between many of these partners.
We welcome as Members may recall the Hon. Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister of Barbados, who
attended the Inauguration of the President Granger in the course of last year. I want to say that
the opportunity was taken by the Barbadian Prime Minister to hold high level talks with senior
Government functionaries in Guyana. Critical talks were also held between the two heads within
the margins of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government.
In June 2015, I met with the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados,
Senator Maxine McLean, in Georgetown to discuss the strengthening of bilateral ties. The
occasion of the holding the Third Meeting of the Guyana-Barbados Joint Commission in
Barbados, in October 2015, also provided the opportunity to hold such discussions. I want to say
that, coming out of the Guyana-Barbados collaboration, a number specific initiatives was
identified and Guyana, as well as Barbados, contributed to initiatives which would help
strengthen the respective countries. I want to indicate that it is not simply a one-sided process.
Assistance in the area of utilising skills in transport, civil aviation, culture, maritime and the like,
were contributed.
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The Ministry also arranged for the visit of the President and a team to Trinidad and Tobago.
Arising from that visit, we did agree to set up a framework within which the cooperation
between the two countries could be enhanced, and amongst the areas in which cooperation will
be developed, especially with a view to capitalising on skills. For example, in Trinidad and
Tobago, it was in the area of energy services, even as Guyana is carrying out on its shelf work
that can utilise the skills that Trinidad and Tobago has already developed to quite a high degree.
That is a very positive development on the regional integration side.
In the 2015, as regard Latin America, Guyana’s interest, especially as they relates to the
preservation to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, were pursued. There was an attempt to
expand mutually beneficial partnerships and to promote peace and stability. High level
exchanges were held with the Presidents of Chilli, Columbia, Ecuador, and Ministers of Foreign
Affairs of a number of these countries, including Mexico and Panama. Guyana’s relation with
Chilli, if I might isolate that for the moment, moved very positively. There was a number of
cooperation programmes pursued as well as South-South Programmes.
On the political side, with Chilli in particular, there seem to have a high coincidence of interest
and they pertain both to bilateral and are on the global agendas. We will be pursuing those during
the course of 2016.
For South America as a whole, Guyana relations with the subcontinent, other than Brazil,
continue apace. We recently, for example, in the case of Ecuador, discussed the establishment of
an Ecuadoran Embassy in Georgetown. Ecuador has indicated there interest there. We have also
begun the process of reengaging the Columbians with a view to collaborating in the area of trade
and technical cooperation under the aegis of the Joint Commission.
On Cuba, there is similarly an extensive range of activities taking place and relations with
Mexico have advanced quiet extensively, not only at the bilateral level, but in the framework at
the Mexico-Caribbean Cooperation Programme.
On the United States of America (USA) front, since assuming in May 2015, Colleagues would
remember that Guyana has seen a marked improvement in its relation with the United States of
America. I do not want to hark back to some of the more unfortunate incidents that took place
towards the end of the last Administration, but I would like to say that, for the first time in our
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history, the USA, through its mission in Georgetown, publicly stated its support for Guyana’s
position on the controversy with Venezuela. Talks have intensified in this area and Members are
aware that this, in fact, it is a seminal event, given the USA’s role in the origin of the Arbitral
Tribunal and the way in which both the USA and Venezuela benefited from the award.
Cooperation between the two countries was also maintained at a high level, especially in relation
to capacity building in the area of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. In May 2014, the
Government of Guyana and the United States (US) signed modified agreements and three of the
letters of agreement on the Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement, on 8
April, 2011,
beginning 2011, between the Government of Guyana and the Government of the United States
have fructified and have led to some of the agreements that I have mentioned.
th
The relationship with Canada, which of course is the home of a very large Guyanese diaspora,
traditional and more recent, Canada also remains one of the largest investors in the minerals and
gold mining industries, in particular. Whilst most of our technical cooperation programmes are
pursued within the framework of Canada-CARICOM Regional Corporation Programme, there
are opportunities for more active bilateral cooperation, and we are in the process of pursuing
these in the course of 2016.
One area in which, we have in recent times, perhaps allowed our energy to lapse, is the area
pertaining to Asia, Africa, Pacific and Europe. These are areas that the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs has started to work on recently, on a variety of fronts, including dealing with the
questions of the threats to the border. We have worked within that grouping, which would
include China and the Republic of India. I would like to make special mention to some of the
new initiatives that were taken place in relation to the African Caribbean and Pacific Group
(ACP) in particular, and in relation to India, which of course has a long standing relationship.
The very solid economic and social cooperation programmes with China over years have
generated very high levels of investment. China, in its relation with the region, has also allocated
something like US$3 billion of concession in the financing of eight Caribbean nations. It has
pledge US$250 billion in investments for the countries of the Community of Latin American and
Caribbean States (CELAC). Guyana stands to benefit from that fund and our relations will also
be guided by the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and common positions at the
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multilateral level, with a view to pursuing the small states’ agenda, which is a very important
dimension.
As I mentioned, relations with India are quit dynamic and we will soon conclude a memorandum
of understanding, which I believe was mentioned by the Minister in his Budget Speech. I refer
here and underscore for emphasis…
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have three minutes more.
Ms. Ally: Mr. Speaker, I move that the Member be give five minutes as an extension to his
original time.
Question put and agreed to. ,
Mr. Greenidge: I would just like to finish that section on the discussion of India on the high
level exchanges between President Granger and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in 2015. We
have a number of things to follow up, as it regards those particular set of exchanges.
On the issue of MERCOSUR, I am not going to go through in any detail, but to say, having
reviewed what has been done in the period since we have been in office, there were some
challenges. I would like to touch on those challenges before turning very briefly to 2016.
Notwithstanding, the efforts that I have described, we had a number of challenges, particularly
on the human resources side, which I know Colleagues would have a special interest in. We have
had to critically examine what was extant, as regards human resources, and we have begun to
make the necessary adjustments. The exercise obviously involves the streamlining of personnel,
including our representatives abroad. It also meant that we have had to identify and recruit
suitably qualified and competent persons to head our key overseas missions with a view to
maximising the potential of Government’s foreign policy paradigm shift.
It would have been foolhardy for us to take steps to strengthen our representation abroad without
buttressing the capacity at Takuba Lodge, our Headquarters. It is therefore in this context that a
number of senior diplomats have also been recalled to Head Office, some more will be returning
in 2016. As I had said publicly before, having the right mix of experience and young officers
functioning at the Ministry, is important, not only for our efficient functioning, but also for
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proper succession planning and seamless continuity of the effective pursuit of Guyana’s foreign
policy goals and objectives.
During the course of 2015, the implementation of the Ministry’s Work Programme, in the
execution of this policy, was carried out through the Political Trade, International Cooperation,
Consul and Administrative Departments at Headquarters, and through the diplomatic and
consular missions abroad. In 2016, that structure is to be modified.
As the Ministry seeks to conclude the accreditation of its diplomats in the various capitals in
which we have sought agremos, we are at the same time engaging in a comprehensive
organisational restructuring in order to make the Ministry’s various departments and units more
amendable to the foreign policy direction of our Government. Many of these new configurations
will be headed by our senior diplomats who have been recalled to serve at Head Office.
Concomitantly, at the level of Head Office the Foreign Service Institute…
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member you have five minutes more.
Mr. Greenidge: The Foreign Service Institute has been put on a sound footing with the aim of
providing relevant training to the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the wider public
service, where necessary. One of the main purposes of this exercise is to staff the Ministry with
professionals pursuing specialised diplomatic careers, who would provide the institutional
memory and capacity that are so vitally important to our future and the protection of our interest.
In 2016, the Ministry intends to focus more attention on helping to build capacity and
opportunities in the services sector of Guyana’s economy. We are cognisant of the importance of
this sector to economic growth and development. The trading environment in which Guyana
operates has already signal key changes in the post-2015 global environment. Guyana’s only
option, therefore, is to concentrate on improving its competitive posture and diversifying its
economic base. This reality will require a robust approach to the services and investments
sectors, for which we have some responsibility.
In Guyana, the production of services is in excess of 60% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but
accounts for less than 12% of exports. The potential, therefore, for the development of the
services sector and the expansion of services trade is immense. But for this to happen, the
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capacity of the services sector and providers and their access to international markets would have
to be further developed through foreign investment and trade support. Thus, in 2016, we will
work closely with the private sector and, of course, the sister agencies to develop that strategy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also intends to take a more robust approach in our public
diplomacy efforts. Our plans involve going beyond merely keeping our foreign policy in the
public domain.
As was mentioned before, it extends to reaching out in a sustain manner to reaching out to our
nation youths to further educate them in key aspects of Guyana’s foreign policy and capturing
their own energies and initiatives to enhance our foreign policy formulation.
6.23 p.m.
As was mentioned before, we have many important bilateral partners in the Caribbean, Latin
America, North America, Europe and so forth. Our efforts would be to accelerate, strengthen and
deepen these respective relations. We intend to continue with our partners in Asia, Africa and the
Pacific. As a founding member of the Caribbean Community, Guyana has also been in the fore
front of regionalism and we intend to continue, and to further lift our efforts in that regard. We
will continue to meet our treaty and other international obligations, as we seek to fortify our
presence and expand our role into the discussions and the actions that permeate international
organisations.
We believed that this space afforded by the various international fora should be maximised as a
space where small developing states like Guyana, have a voice for matters affecting them, as
well as a platform from which we could contribute to the decisions affecting the international
systems. I thank you very much Mr. Speaker and Colleagues for the attention. [Applause]
Vice–President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs [Mr. Allicock]: Thank you very
much Mr. Speaker. Before I get into the business of the debate, I would like to take this
opportunity to say to the people of Annai that we are with them at this time of their mourning.
We know how sad it could be.
I stand to make my contribution to this 2016 National Budget Debate, a Budget that is a coalition
Budget; a Budget that is based on togetherness and unity. I take this opportunity to apologise to
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Hon. Members Mr. Gill, Mrs. Pearson-Fredricks and Ms. Campbell-Sukhai. I am truly sorry that,
as a Government, we were unable, in our eight months in office, to fix all the damage created by
the PPP/C over last 23 years.
I would like to allow the Indigenous peoples of this country to know that we are working to fix
this. It is a situation that they know that communities are divided. Communities are highly
politicised, and for us to move forward, we have to bring the people back together. That is what
the coalition is about. It is about the entire Guyana; it is not about one party; it is about every
single Guyanese, including the Indigenous peoples.
I note well, the presence of some born-again Indigenous members on the other side. These Hon.
Members may have had their Damascus Moment at the end of their journey to the Opposition
benches. I wondered where these Hon. Members were when Sir John in Aishalton was slapped;
when the members of Upper Mazaruni were challenged and up to today they are in court for their
land rights. I heard the Hon. Member, Mr. Dharamlall, on the conflict of interest regarding
Amerindian lands. I thought he would have spoken about accountability, the intimidation tape to
the CSOs, and Carifesta X instead. The Hon. Member, Mrs. Pearson-Fredricks, spoke of being
offended by someone from the Government benches having mining blocks on Indigenous
peoples’ lands. The Hon. Member would know that she is being conservative with the truth. The
Hon. Member, Mr. Charlie, specifically referred to Tasserine and asked how soon they would
receive their titles. Hon. Member, Ms. Campbell-Sukhai, made a lot of comments and asked a lot
of questions, but this Minister is a failed Minister.
The issue of mining blocks being awarded in lands traditionally occupied/utilised and applied for
as village lands by Guyana Indigenous Peoples, as in the case of Tasserine, are still unresolved
issues that were inherited. These are things that were there. I recall that the Hon. Member, Mr.
Dharamlall, was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs at that time. I
recall also that the Hon. Member, Mrs. Pearson-Frederick, served as advisor to the Hon.
Minister, Ms. Campbell-Sukhai at that time. If not, all these blocks would have been awarded.
These awards were made after the residents of Kangaruma and Tasserine, for example, had
applied for these lands to become their village lands. These Hon. Members of the Opposition
were part of the team which participated in handing over worthless pieces of papers to the
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residents of Kangaruma and Tasserine, suggesting to the leaders of these communities that they
were being handed land titles. I have the evidence here. I did not want to describe the statements
of these Hon. Members in this House as hypocritical since that might be unparliamentarily. I
would therefore refrain from attempting to describe those statements. I am, however, thankful
that these Hon. Members are now the new and enlightened representatives of the Indigenous
peoples. It would now be very useful for them to present their thoughts regarding how we can,
together, undo the damage which they did. We have a country to build and we have the
Indigenous peoples to look after, it is time to come together to attack the issues rather than
personalities.
Having addressed those issues, I now turn my attention to Budget 2016. Budget 2016 is a
people’s budget. Budget 2016 is about improving the quality of life of Guyanese across
Guyana’s 10 administrative regions. It is about fixing wharfs, hinterland airstrips and ocean
going vessels which serves our hinterland population, improving education delivery and health
care services, boosting agriculture and creating a healthy economy. Budget 2016 will create jobs,
provide training for our young people and give our senior citizens additional disposal income.
[Interruption]
It is continuously said over the other side to fix it. It means that they are guilty of breaking it and
having this country like this. Budget 2016 will enable us to enjoy a green city and a green
economy. One can already see and smell the change in our capital city.
We have removed the tentacles of central Government from the affairs of Indigenous peoples’
villages and communities. Villages are now free of political interference from the Government
side. I now invite Members of the Opposition to join with us so that the villages can breathe free
of political pressure again.
Guyana’s first Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Resources Conference was a success. The
Conference was exclusively managed and facilitated by the National Toshaos Council (NTC).
Indigenous peoples Non-Governmental Organisations participated fully and freely in the
deliberations of the National Toshaos Council Conference and the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
and Resources Conference. That never happened before. Members are guilty on the other side of
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keeping them out of previous conferences. How could you claim that you care for the Indigenous
peoples?
For the hinterland youth, employment was launched. Budget 2016 will make possible, the
massive explosion of the programme across Guyana’s hinterland. My Colleague, the Hon. Mrs.
Garrido-Lowe, has already addressed this. The Hon. Member, Ms. Campbell-Sukhai should talk
more with the Hon. Minister, who is now in full control of ensuring that proper education is
given to our young people.
Real training is taking place in our villages. This not being red and dread like my Colleague said.
That was what it used to be, like red cashews and the red feyres in those communities,
intimidated by the Hon. Permanent Secretary at that time. They had to do or leave. Our young
people are no longer a part of a young political brigade. They are being prepared to face the
challenges of the world and to make successful men and women of themselves, not to be
beggars. Not to say at the end of two or three years of spending good money, “We do not know
what to do.” They must be able to say “Thank you for training me. I am now moving on, I have a
job”.
The Amerindian Land Titling Project is back on track. The shortcomings of the period, which
proceeded 11
th
May, 2015, are being address.
6.38 p.m.
The Ministry is addressing the Indigenous peoples land issues. To this end, work has started on
the establishment of the Hinterland and Indigenous Peoples’ Lands Commission. The situation is
that the communities are aware that there is a process known as free, prior and informed consent
(FPIC) and this will take time. We have to consult and do so properly. That is what has
happened. There are 212 communities with over 75,000 Indigenous peoples to take care off.
Protection for Hinterland Development
Budget 2016 provides for the following interventions which are geared to improve the lives of
Guyana’s Indigenous peoples in the education sector.
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Commencement of work and design for a new dormitory to house the tertiary level students from
the Hinterland: $10 million is allocated for that.
Expansion of the Hinterland employment and youth services - $997,410,000.
Support via subvention to the Bina Hill Institute of Learning - $35 million: this institution is
helping those young people who are leaving school to go to the next phase where they would be
properly rounded as young adults to take care of their businesses within their communities.
The establishment of resource and document centre for Indigenous peoples - $6 million: this is a
need to have our records, our information and our history properly stored.
Acquisition of boats, outboard engines and minibuses to get children to and from school - $25
million: I am not sure that the colour matters.
Schools in Port Kaituma, Santa Rosa, Baramita, Matthews Ridge, Powakaru and Barasirwau will
benefit from improvement and the addition of living quarters while a new secondary school will
be constructed at Waramuri; Akawini will get a new Nursery School; Karawab and Bethany
Primary Schools will be improved; Yarashima will be extended and Warapoka Secondary School
will also be extended. Mashabo and Bethany Primary Schools will be provided with living
quarters for staff. These are all part of a package to the sum of $196,352,000. Paramakatoi
School and Micobie Nursery School will benefit from significant improvement as part of works
valued at $36,610,000; schools will be constructed at Tabatinga, Pai Pang and Baishaidran.
Living quarters will be built at Sand Creek and major improvements are planned for Surama,
Aishalton and Woweta Nursery Schools and Kwatata Primary School at a cost of $94,605,000.
The electricity system at Saint Ignatius Secondary School will be upgraded - $9,561,000; Kairuni
Nursery School, St. Cuthbert’s Primary School, Arau and Philippi Primary Schools will benefit
from solar systems where $4.4 million is allocated for this.
Infrastructural Development
We are rebuilding the Umana Yana. It is the pride of Guyana. Its place in the history of Guyana
is precious. Guyana will have the Umana Yana in time for the 50
th
Independence anniversary
celebrations. I wish to say to the Wai Wai brothers, who are presently reconstructing what was
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destroyed, that I am proud of them and I am happy that they were able to make it. We are going
to show that, given a chance, we could help to build Guyana.
The electricity system of Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma, St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Siparuta,
Orealla, Maraikobai, Mocomoco, Wauna and Sugar Hill will be improved at a cost of in excess
of $120 million.
Roads will be rehabilitated at Port Kaituma and Matthews Ridge after two decades of
abandonment. More roads will be rehabilitated at Baramita, Bartica, Puruni, Itaballi, Mabura,
Kurupukari to Tabatinga, Ituni to Kwakwani and Mahdia. Bridges will be built and fixed at
Cassandra Crossing and Sand Creek, Aishalton, Baishaidran, Paruima, Hosororo, Papaya and
Arokoro. These works will be done at a cost of more than $1.7 billion. More roads will be
constructed at Mabaruma and Moruka to the tune of $31 million. Bartica Stelling and the goods
wharf at Kingston, which serves the Northwest District, will be rehabilitated. Mahdia airstrip will
be completed. The following Hinterland airstrips will be rehabilitated – Eteringbang, Annai,
Paramakatoi, Kurupung, Kato, Kopinang and Monkey Mountain. This project is worth $241
million.
The development projects listed represent a sample of the interventions which are geared to take
Guyana’s Hinterland and the Indigenous residents closer to a good life. These interventions will
create jobs. One just has to use his or her common sense and look around and use the opportunity
that is given through these projects. It will restore hope and improve village economies. We, in
the Ministry, are aware of the Government’s situation. It is about togetherness. Instead of
doubling up or duplicating, we work within Ministries to give that support and this is what is
shown here. The benefits come from all of these Ministries to the Indigenous peoples and the
people who live in the Interior.
From my interactions and working with my fellow citizens across Guyana’s 10 Administrative
Regions, I conclude that there are only 32 persons who feel that Budget 2016 is not a good
budget. Nevertheless, they have been included for the good life.
The Hon. Member, Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai, is on record in the Guyana Times dated Friday, 8
th
February, 2016 saying that the Budget did not adequately provide for Guyana’s Indigenous
peoples. But you heard, not too long ago, about the benefits that will be shared to these peoples.
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The Hon. Member clearly did not examine the Budget. The Hon. Member also played the stuck
record of 2,000 CSOs becoming jobless. Again, in the newspapers, it is stated that it is 1,972. I
have a Cabinet document that goes to the amount of 1,952 CSOs. They say that the CSOs that
are being talked about are young people. Anyone can go investigate this to see how many are not
young people. Probably they are full grown youths. This was to the tune of $234,240,000. The
programme ended in April, 2015.
Further, there is a cancelled cheque that was supposed to be used to pay the very CSOs that the
Opposition claims this Government knocked off. This cheque was cancelled on the 10
May,
2015. The world knows that CSOs were not employees and that the programme ended before
General Elections in 2015.
th
We have moved forward. The Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) is a training
programme and the Hon. Member, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, explained, in details, that it replaces a
young political brigade. It is geared to help with the development of the Indigenous youths.
Simultaneously with HEYS, we are working towards the development of the more than 75,000
Indigenous citizens. I invite the Hon. Pauline Campbell-Sukhai to be Indigenous.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have four minutes remaining.
Ms. Ally: Mr. Speaker, I ask that the Hon. Member be given five minutes added to his original
time. I thank you.
Question put and agreed to.
Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai: Mr. Speaker, I crave your indulgence on a Point of Elucidation,
Standing Order No. 40 (b). I believe the comment and the statement made by the Hon. VicePresident
and
Minister
of
Indigenous
Peoples’
Affairs is a racist one and I… [Interruption]
[Mr. Speaker hit the gavel.]
Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai: …demand an apology.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member…
Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai: For any Vice-President…
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Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member…
Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai: …to refer to me, as a Member of Parliament, to be Indigenous is racist.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, it is customary that, when the Speaker attracts your attention and
begins to address you, you cease what you are doing and reclaim your seat.
Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai: My apologies, Mr. Speaker.
6.53 p.m.
Mr. Speaker: I am bound to say that Hon. Members must know that, if they speak loudly
enough, they will disturb the speaker on the floor and this Speaker too. I have been very
indulgent with Hon. Members and I do not want to muzzle them. It is a very familiar term,
perhaps, but I must say that we have to exercise restraint. We cannot do it if we have bedlam.
Hon. Member, when you rise on a Point of Order, you tell me, the Speaker, what that Point of
Order is based on, then you make your statement and then you leave it to the Speaker. That is the
procedure and I will ask Hon. Members to follow it. If a Member rises and proceeds to make a
speech and then draws a conclusion, there is nothing for the Speaker to do but to thank the
Member and move on. So, I am asking Members to remember that.
I did hear your point. I thank you.
Hon. Member, Mr. Allicock, I do believe that you can express yourself differently and not in the
manner in which you referred to the Hon. Pauline Sukhai. [Interruption]
[Mr. Speaker hit the gavel.]
Hon. Members must allow the Speaker to do what he must do. Mr. Dharamlall, you are fast
becoming the most noticeable heckler in the Chamber. It is not to your credit, sir. Now, Hon.
Member, Mr. Sydney Allicock, please…
Mr. Allicock: I thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker: Would you withdraw the term or the manner in which you addressed the Hon.
Member just now?
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Mr. Allicock: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I withdraw. I apologise.
Mr. Speaker: Please proceed, Hon. Member.
Mr. Allicock: The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs is in consultation with the National
Toshaos Council (NTC) and the villages with regards to the Amerindian Act. The protection of
the rights of the Indigenous peoples is at the core of these conversations. We agree that the Act
needs to be amended in some respect to assure that appropriate safeguards are in place to deal
with matters such as land rights, and environmental and wildlife issues. We will work with the
villages, the communities, the NTC, Indigenous peoples, sister Ministries and international
organisations as we address these issues. I am proud to say that the Ministry of Indigenous
Peoples’ Affairs has a capable team. Staff could handle this and we are going to ensure that all
these activities will be met on time.
Renewable clean energy, especially for schools and health facilities, is another major issue that
we will address. As detailed by the Hon. Minister, Mrs. Hughes, information and
communications technology (ICT) connectivity for schools and community buildings will be
addressed. This is part of the approach to ensuring that information and education are taken to
our citizens where they live. It is essential to connect Coastal Guyana to Hinterland Guyana, the
realisation of one nation, as advocated by His Excellency the President.
We want the Hinterland and the coast to have a two-way flow of education because we, as
Indigenous peoples, are the keepers of the environment that gives to each and every one of us a
life. There is where true life is because we know and understand a lot about the laws of nature
and how the ecosystem works. So, we have a role to play in the development of our country.
Agriculture products, including fruit farms, are also on the Ministry’s agenda.
Adequate potable water supply is also another important agenda item for the Ministry in 2016.
The Hon. Minister of Finance presented a budget that is for all Guyanese. I say to him and his
team that they did a wonderful job of including the opportunity for the Indigenous peoples to be
given that chance to help in the development of the nation. He has given us the recipe; we also
have the formula. The good life beckons; we must respond. We have been given this opportunity
and we should not lose it. I now, therefore, commend this Budget for passage in the honourable
House. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. [Applause]
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Mr. Lumumba: Mr. Speaker, before I comment on the more substantial items of my
presentation, in passing, I just want to say that I know that the Hon. Vice President is capable but
maybe he travels too much. I thought, by now, that the Hon. Vice-President would have, at least,
gathered some rice markets. I also noticed that, in eight months, he has not been able to put
together any bilateral agreement with any country or association that brings food or development
to Guyana. I know that you have some more time, hopefully by next Budget. I will ably respond
to that in the positive.
I must congratulate the Hon. Minister of Finance, Mr. Jordan, for his first, full one-year Budget.
This Minister, in particular, is a person I respect. I recall, during his days as Budget Director, I
always stopped by and sought his advice on a variety of issues and he was always willing to
provide it. However, I think that it is unfortunate that the things he said recently are in
contradiction to what he was taught by the “Master Blaster”, the Hon. Opposition Leader, and his
ex-boss, Mr. Bharat Jagdeo.
The objective of a budget is to highlight and indicate what the Government will do for the people
for a period of one year and how funds will be allocated to carry out the requisite activities.
Sometimes more is required; sometimes less is spent and some has to be returned to the
Consolidated Fund.
This Budget is like the phantom; this Budget is full of illusions. The Hon. Minister of Finance
reminds me of a three-card player at Bourda Market; one time one sees King of Spades and,
another time, one does not see it. This Budget represents a blur. A serious Government that
claims it is concerned about the have nots, a serious Government which, during its campaign for
office, indicated that it was campaigning for the people should present a budget that reflects the
cornerstone of its ideological position.
Let me highlight a few items: I start with Value Added Tax (VAT). There is a Member of this
Government who, when in Opposition, hammered the then Government, the PPP/C, for the
implementation of the Value Added Tax, and, on several occasions, in every pathway and
byway, told this nation that they would reduce VAT substantially or eradicate VAT. There is a
gentleman in Guyana, a well-known con man by the name of Byron France. He attempted to sell
City Hall; he sold Parade Ground and he sold the bauxite ship, Saguenay. When it comes to the
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Value Added Tax, the present Government pulled a Byron France on the people of Guyana.
[An Hon. Member: A who?] Byron France was his name. [An Hon. Member:
The President?]
[Mr. Nandlall: The present Government.]
The present
Government… I know not to mention the President’s name.
[An Hon. Member: You know
you do not have to refute that point of view with us. You know I would admit though.] Well,
beginning with you.
We call on the Minister of Finance to keep the promise of APNU/AFC and to reduce the VAT or
eliminate it in totality. No country can develop unless there is a strong manufacturing sector. The
key to a manufacturing sector is cheap, reliable and sustainable power. The then Opposition, now
Government, traversed this country and pounded us on the issue of Amelia Hydro-dam, a
project that would have given us over 160 megawatts of reliable and sustainable power to
generate and expand our manufacturing capacity, a project that would have resulted in job
opportunities and many other things. The project has been cancelled and the Government’s
Budget has not given Guyanese any idea as to when the Government will tackle the issue of
cheap and reliable energy and has not identified funding for an alternative to the hydro project.
I noticed another con in the making. A 40-50 megawatts wind farm is an enormous enterprise
anywhere in the world. It is renewable energy. The Hon. Minister, Mr. Patterson, knows this.
Very few places in the world have tackled a wind farm of 40-50 megawatts. Renewable energy,
at this point, particularly in that area, is still the most expensive source of power generated. Thus,
the pronouncement of a wind farm at Hope is premature and represents another con but for those
who have a personal interest in this project. Where is the feasibility study?
The Opposition, together with some friends of mine, namely Mr. Philips, Professor Hinds and
others, have indicated, on several occasions, that there is an ethnic economic imbalance in
Guyana. Mr. Speaker, if you were a foreigner, you would believe that this was imposed during
the last 23 years, but statistics would show that the economic strength of Afro-Guyanese, rural
Indians and Amerindians grew 1,000 times during the last 23 years. When the PPP came to
power, there was no black middle class. All left; all ran during the Burnham era. Ask the Hon.
Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine. Minister Roopnarine spoke on this on several occasions.
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There was no modernisation in Guyana. Before 23 years, there were no functioning hospitals, no
villages with potable water, no roads with [Inaudible]. Your neighbour did not have a car and
television before 23 years ago.
7.08 p.m.
Evidence shows that the PPP/C empowered the Afro-Guyanese, rural Indians and Amerindian
peoples while the past Peoples National Congress (PNC) Government brought waste and poverty
to Guyana.
This Government has access to billions of taxpayers’ deposits in the banks in Guyana. Yet, while
the Hon. Minister spoke eloquently about the need to ensure that 30% of the economy is in the
hands of the have nots, he has not indicated how he will implement that transformation and that
is the 3% and third aspect of the three-card illusion. The Minister of Finance has an obligation to
implement the 30% distribution he speaks of by way of a Government guarantee so that small
businesses will receive loans for start-up capital projects after approval by the Guyana Office for
Investment (GO-Invest). This Government needs to walk the walk and not talk the talk.
Mr. Speaker, I want to speak on the issue of the village economies. The President has made the
villages a very noble pet project of his and we must give him some credit for that. However, I am
very disappointed that the Minister only selected a few villages - Buxton, Triumph and Ithaca for
such
initial
development
or,
maybe, they are just examples. This House needs clarity on
whether these funds or additional funds will be allocated for projects in communities such as
Lichfield, Hopetown, Unity, Leonora, Enmore, Weldaad, Belladrum and others. Nothing is
wrong with these villages. There are also areas in Regions 8 and 9 that are blessed with
productive agricultural lands and they should be part of the village projects.
What must be noted is the failure of the Minister of Finance to illustrate and specify the strategy
that will be put in place to manage the dispensation of these expenditures. In addition to the
selection process of the individual participants, whether there will be training, the criteria of
funding and other related issues must be pronounced on. Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to, in
anyway, say you are an old man; I will never say that because I do not know your age. But I
know that you are aware that the late L F S Burnham, the late President, was very aggressive on
village economics and, together with the elder statesman, Eusi Kwayana, and an organisation
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called ASTRA, developed several agriculture and livestock schemes in many communities in
Guyana.
Mr. Speaker, I do not know if you can recall, but I can certainly enlighten you to the fact that this
endeavour collapsed for basic reasons. For example, the people of Pomeroon could not get their
passion fruit to Georgetown in a timely manner. There was a lack of transportation. Pumpkins
and ground provision rotted on the ground in many communities. Packaging, storage and
marketing were absent from this process. I hope that the Hon. Minister of Finance can answer
some of my queries which will determine whether the people of Buxton and Triumph’s farm
system will be supported by adequate roads to bring their products out of the back dam, in
particular during rainy seasons, and whether he has spent time to look at the reasons behind the
past failures.
It would be good if the Minister of Finance, in his Budget defence, could point out whether he
plans to allocate funding for packaging and marketing of these produce. One of the critical
elements here is start-up capital or initial expenditure to support the village enterprise
entrepreneurs. To me, the Minister of Finance was not clear on this. The Minister of Finance
brought this Budget to the honourable House and indicated that billions of dollars will be spent
to develop village economies, but he did not indicate whether there is funding for feasibility
studies and planning, plus his presentation lacks expectation and did not emphasise the economic
impact on the villages, in particular employment.
The days of providing something to do for a certain ethnic group are over, in particular AfroGuyanese.
We
cannot
just
empower
them
in
the
public
service,
by the People’s Militia or by the
National Service. We have to empower them so that they can become businessmen and
businesswomen. The Minister needs to tell us whether these billions of dollars will go beyond
two boxes of ochro, four cows, 10 pounds of yam, six hogs or if the end results of this allocation
will result in dramatic increase in production of these items, and whether there will be put in
place an aggressive response from the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC). In essence, we
cannot put the village economies in place and we cannot put the production elements of the
village in place unless the Guyana Marketing Corporation is modernised and activated properly
or we will have the same problem like we had in the past.
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Furthermore, the Hon. Minister must tell this House whether his decision to select the villages
was based on ethnicity, history or geography, whether these factors led to the identification of
locations, and whether the budgetary proposal has room for rural Indians and Amerindians.
Another issue that bothers me is the silent decision to restructure the economy so that the
resources of our country can respond to the call of Dr. Hinds, Eric Phillips, Dr. Thomas and
others. This call might be timely and, in particular, with the pending closure of Wales Estate,
these decisions must be brought before the House and debated extensively. I believe that the
catalyst of this 30% initiative that the Minister has focused on can, in a positive manner, energise
small businesses but it must be handled in a bipartisan manner and must not be seen as a means
to put one ethnic group against another. I have not accused the Minister of doing that; I am just
saying that we have to be careful in terms of how it is being handled.
The potential of hundreds of small business entities can be financed through a financial structure
from the banking institutions. These banks host billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money and,
sometimes, it is very difficult for a small businessman or businesswoman to get a loan from these
banks. So, there has to be some assurances. It does not make logical sense for the Minister to
beat his chest and tell this nation that he is going to ensure that 30% of the national economy
goes towards the have nots so they can become the haves and, at the same time, he does not look
at the restructuring of the banking system; he does not find a way to put the mechanisms in place
so that a small man can become the real man.
The Minister of Finance should note that the banks in Guyana are custodians of taxpayers’
money and, while the banks cannot offer loans to Tom, Dick and Harry, the Minister of Finance
must put in place mechanisms so that 30% of the deposits can go to our small business and
village projects approved by GO-Invest.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to turn to mining. An important aspect of the mining industry is its
impact on small miners. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the Government of Guyana
for appointing Mdm. Broomes as Minister. I think her heart is in the right place and she will
protect the rights of the small and the abused.
The President has spoken about village economies and what should not be forgotten are African
villages and the role the mining industry played in their development. Mr. Speaker, the strength
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of these villages were elders like my grandfather and, even possibly, your grandfather, who went
in the bush, not the Interior in those days - we said grandfather went in the bush - who left their
families for six and seven months, who returned with their gold and diamond and who bought
land, built houses and supported their children so that they can gain an education. We can call
them pork knockers but those days are long gone. Now, we have small miners but the problems
are still the same. They are allowed to work on lands that belong to the landlord; they find gold
and diamond; then they are driven off like cattle.
[Mr. Bulkan: What is the Master Blaster
doing?] We got to do it together. These small miners are the real prospectors and the
Guyana Geological and Mines Corporation (GGMC) has failed them by supporting corrupt
mining officials and greedy landlords.
What is interesting is that the APNU/AFC coalition went to these villages prior to Elections and
pledged to protect the rights of the small and the weak, yet this Budget has failed to highlight
how the GGMC, as an institution, will protect those I spoke of earlier.
We need legislation that will clearly allow the small miner, who is, indeed, the initial prospector,
to delink his find from the landlord but provide the landlord with fair compensation. [An
Hon. Member: We have.] The legislation needs to be strengthened. The small miners or
the modern porknockers were the strength of dozens of villages and the Hon. Member, Dr.
Roopnarine, knows this because he is a familiar visitor of Buxton, even in the days when he was
tormented by the People’s National Congress. The pork knockers have been the base of dozens
of African families. This Budget should be amended so that the engine of growth can be
cemented around the gold and diamond industries, which can, once again, play a part of the
economic development of the villages. It must happen and I anticipate that the Hon. Minister of
Natural Resources would pronounce on these matters and will acknowledge that the absence was
a mistake by the Minister of Finance.
The 30% access in the national economy that this Government speaks of must also target mining
lands. Let us not only talk the talk; this Budget must allow us to walk the walk. My Good friend,
fellow Buxtonian Professor David Hinds, Eric Phillips and Dr. Clive Thomas, have spoken at
length about the need to empower certain sections of the economy. As a matter of fact, Mr.
Phillips said that the Afro-Guyanese represent 3% to 5% of the national economy. I differ with
his conclusion and I have no idea where he received his facts. We cannot advocate walking into
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the vaults at the bank and handing out money. We cannot take people’s vehicles and homes and
hand them to the have nots so that they can become the haves. But let us work together to put in
place a perceived fair environment that will address the issue of ethnic equality and a balance
class system. Again, the Government has failed to bring a solution to the perceptions to the table.
It is this Government that rallied around this country and spoke of the inequalities in the
economic system. It is this Government that said that it needs to set aside 30% and it needs to
restructure the economy, but this Government is being feeble in its approach to solve this
problem. Bring a paper to this Parliament; let us debate and discuss it.
The whole cowboy days of the Western America was dominated by gold and cattle, then the
railroad. In Guyana, we have gold and diamond. The Budget needs to be amended with the
introduction of mechanisms to access the 30% of the gold and diamond lands. We cannot throw
this 30% figure in an unscientific manner. It must be justified and must be structured by the
means of good and fair governance. We must put in place the fair mechanism that will allow the
Hinds, the Phillips and the Thomases to recommend valuable solutions to historical cultural
issues.
As a young man growing up in Buxton, my mother used to tell me to not like money. She said,
“God does not like people who like money.” And many Afro-Guyanese were told this: do not
like money; it is bad if you like money.
7.23 p.m.
I am saying here is that we have to turn this clock around. Nothing is wrong with money. All
money is not good money.
Let me go back to mining. Mining is another key and fundamental issue. The absence of a strong
Government strategy to improve the management of the gold industry is worrisome. The key
issues are landlordism, protection and development of small miners and land reclamation. For
each of these areas there needs to be stronger legislation to give more teeth to the authority and
officials at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). Legislation should be
introduced that would ensure that each medium and large-scale applicant gain a temporary
permit first, with guidelines on how to operate and would proceed with prospecting as part of the
initial stage. Prior to the operator being granted official mining licence, an adequate reclamation
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plan with proper bond must be put together. Too much mining is going on in Guyana that leaves
the land in a terrible state of affairs. In developing countries, after a person mines the land must
be able to tolerate man, animal and plants. The Closed Area Committee, which comes under the
board, and in many way the Minister, should be abolished and all lands, except those set aside to
small miners, should be processed by means of lottery and a bidding system. The closed area
system leads to corruption, nepotism and all kinds of other isms.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have five minutes more.
Ms. Teixeira: Mr. Speaker, I move that the Hon. Member be given his full time, whatever time
is available to him now plus the five minutes.
Question put, and agreed to.
Mr. Lumumba: This new legislation will serve as an obstacle to landlordism. I listened to
Senator Bernie Sanders, the United States of America presidential contestant, on his
pronouncement of the 1% which controls the American economy. I immediately saw the nexus
between the 1% in Guyana which controls the gold and diamond industry. In many ways it
serves as a hindrance to the development of small miners and the equitable distribution of wealth
in our society. I thought that this budget proposal would have and should have pinpointed
measures that would be put in place to expand the revenue base of the country, by ensuring that
our primitive system of allocating gold and diamond lands is dispensed with by means of
legislation and we put a halt to landlordism and monopoly.
The budget presentation in this area contradicts APNU/AFC pre-election promise to make the
small man the real man. Government can only expand its revenue base if its natural resources are
put to proper use. The more mining lands are made available for work, in particular with the
need to have more independent operators and small miners, it would create more opportunities
for revenue growth. It is to the advantage of the Government to control landlordism and ensure
that more small miners are involved in the process. This not only creates economic opportunities
for the small man but increases employment, increases small business and has a lot of
implications for villages and our community as a whole.
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The petroleum sector: Oil and gas are on the horizon. Oil and gas are probably the most powerful
natural resources on the planet today, either for the good or the bad. Oil and gas have destroyed
countries such as Nigeria; it has made some countries grow; it made some countries stable; it is
on our horizon. This budget does not illustrate how the Government will prepare for the
petroleum industry. This budget lacks a futuristic approach to its development. For example, the
Minister should have pledged funding to the University of Guyana now. We must not wait on
ExxonMobil. If we wait on ExxonMobil, it would want something in return. We should
immediately start in September a two-year diploma or a four-year degree programme in
petroleum. We should immediately have a relationship with Trinidad, some form of
collaboration, so we can train potential technicians about the industry. We should ensure that the
Guyana Technical Institute (GTI) becomes functional in this area so that there can be
technicians. Furthermore, in this budget, the Government of Guyana should have set aside the
training of a significant number of technical personnel by means of collaboration with the
Government of Trinidad and Tobago and ExxonMobil. Again, this shows the lack of creativity
and the absence of vision when it comes to the handling of our economy.
The Minister of Natural Resources – Mr. Speaker, I know I should be looking at you but I want
to look at him a bit - I know he means well, and he has spoken at length about the Sovereign
Wealth Fund, but speaking at length is not good enough. The time has come in which a concept
paper or some proposal or White Paper should be brought before this National Assembly for
discussions and debate.
In closing, on my way here today - I would whisper at the appropriate time to my good friend
Hon. Minister Joseph Harmon - I saw a very strong supporter of APNU/AFC and she said to me,
“Mr. Odinga, I am disappointed in the budget. These men I voted for, run around the country
whole year and was talking about the PPP/C discriminating against black people, I do not see
anything fundamental in the budget to help black people.” I said to her that we have to be
balanced in this country. She said to me that she does not support what is happening in Wales
because when you interfere with the sugar industry you are interfering with the survival of the
Indian community. She said that just as when you interfered with Linden I did not like it, I do not
want you to interfere with Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), because when you close an
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estate you are threatening the livelihood of thousands of people, and in most cases those
thousands of people are an ethnic type.
We need to move this country. We need to find solutions in this country so that all races can
work together. We must not live in a society where it appears that one Government is for one
race and one party is for another race.
I just want to close by saying that this year must be a watershed year for Guyana. This must be
the year, regardless of our differences, we must find some mechanism so that we can work
together for the development of this country, so we can put racial problems at the back of us and
look forward as one united country.
Thank you. [Applause]
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, we are now at 7.30 p.m. We would take the suspension and return
in half of an hour.
Sitting suspended at 7.33 p.m.
Sitting resumed at 8.07 p.m.
Mr. Trotman: I rise, as my colleagues before me, to make my contribution to the debate on
Budget 2016 which is being presented under the theme, Stimulating Growth, Restoring
Confidence: The Good Life Beckons. At the outset, let me joint with my colleagues in this
National Assembly in first commending the visionary, the Hon. W.D. Jordan, Minister of
Finance and his erudite team for presenting to this National Assembly with yet another budget of
the coalition Government. It is a budget that speaks and responds to the aspirations of all
Guyanese. If I may say, it is no small feat to produce two budgets in four months, between
August and December, by my calculations, is four months. This effort of the Hon. Minister of
Finance and his dedicated team cannot be understated nor its significance be allowed to pass
unmentioned.
It was Winston Churchill who said, many years ago, that “continuous effort, not strength or
intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential.” If I may use a topical analogy borrowed from
American football, “it is like gaining yards towards the end zone until the touchdown is
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achieved.” This budget, coming months after the first presented, has gained yardage for the
coalition Government and the people of Guyana.
Before I go into the presentation I prepared, allow me to respond to comments made by the Hon.
Member Odinga Lumumba who has come back in. I have sat in this House for 18 continuous
years and have listened to the Hon. Member Odinga Lumumba for many of those years. I can
say, without fear of contradiction, that the presentation he made today is the same speech he has
made every year. There is the usual attack on the PNC, Burnham, who chased away, who left the
country. There is nothing new about it. The Hon. Member I can call a colleague and I can call a
friend. I have tremendous respect for him.
There was something that has been jarring me throughout these debates and it is the constant
reference by Members of the Opposition pointing to the Government about geriatrics. It jars me.
Let me say that when I heard the Hon. Member Lumumba I think I got the point. We are okay
over here; you have a problem over there. [Mr. Ramson: It is your own PNC man who said
that.] With that said, you never bite the hand that feeds you. That is something that should
be remembered. Your father would tell you that because he was in the PNC for some time. The
Hon. Member Ramson’s grandfather was the Assistant General Secretary for the People’s
National Congress. The People’s National Congress would never forget him, I know, for the
good work and labour he put in to keep the party strong.
Moving on, the Hon. Member Mr. Lumumba made some very good points which we would be
taking into consideration. If I may say, I have written to him and we have started our discourse
because he has brought some good contributions and points which we will be taking on board
and I will get to them later in the presentation.
8.11 p.m.
With that said, I feel inspired to point out that the efforts of the second row, on the Government
side, has been nothing but outstanding and at the risk of causing some disruption in the front, and
unless some of my colleagues feel disrespected, I still have to say to them well done. I believe
that they have done better than expected and they have done better than us here, if I may be
allowed that. Thank you very much for your contributions.
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The tenor of these debates has not been the best but certainly not the worst that have been
witnessed in this House before. I believe, however, that there two fundamental matters that I
wish to address, fundamental to good governance and to our inclusive and participatory
governance and democracy. We were lectured yesterday about respect and disrespect. I feel it is
my duty to point out some glaring examples, not just for the sake of saying this is an example of
disrespect, but it is to ask the question: Are we to continue with the disrespect that we speak of?
It is time for change. There was disrespect shown when the Opposition was invited to be part of
joint committees and then that invitation was met by refusal. In the past, whenever an invitation
came from the Office of the President, the Opposition never failed to respond in the national
interest to that invitation. We may not have always respected the personages or the persons we
had to meet but we always respected the Office of the President, and always attended whenever
invited to participate in talks.
In 1997, myself, a junior then, sat in a room for two and a half years with the Hon. Member
Teixeira, Hon. Member, then as he was, Mr. Ramotar and Dr. Roger Luncheon in political
dialogue. In 2001, there was constructive engagement. In 2006, we were invited back to the
Office of the President and we met. We did not refuse to meet. There was disrespect shown in
failing to honour the Herdmanston Accord process by not taking up seats on boards and
commissions, as we agreed that the Opposition would always have a seat reserve for it at every
board and committee.
Lastly, there was gross disrespect shown recently in this House when the Minister of Finance
gave his address and budget presentation and the Leader of the Opposition chose to sit in the
Members’ lounge. He failed to sit here and listen to the Minister of Finance. Past Leaders of the
Opposition, the Hon. Members Mr. Hoyte, Mr. Corbin and Mr. Granger never disrespected the
Minister of Finance in the way that this disrespect was heaped on this Government. It never
happened in the past.
This brings me to the second point, as we are discussing respect. Last night, again, we were
lectured about religion and the use of references to scripture by Members on this side of the
House. It may appear a simple matter, but to us it is a serious one. Guyana is indeed a secular
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state and yet we have the good sense, of every day prayer, to give prayer to the Almighty God to
guide us with our infinite wisdom.
Ms. Teixeira: Point of Oder, Mr. Speaker. I have no problem with the Hon. Member’s view on
religion but what I said in this House, and the Hansard would show it, is the use of one text in
the budget speech and at the inauguration. I said nothing about Members of this House referring
to speeches or quoting from the Bible. I talked about the official budget document that quotes
from one text and I quoted from the inauguration, one text. Sir, I do not have a problem with
people with their beliefs and quoting what they want, but I am saying at official functions then it
is not…That is the point I was making. The Member is trying to make it appears as if I am trying
to muzzle people’s religious belief. It is not true.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you know the rules and you have tirelessly talked about your
length of service here. You should, and I hasten to say, set an example in the manner which these
things are done. I must ask you to do that. When you rise to speak, if you are rising on a Point of
Order you know what you must do. If you are rising on a point of explanation you know what
you must do. I say no more.
Ms. Teixeira: What is your ruling? I asked that the matter be corrected. I did not say the things
the Hon. Member said. It is a point of elucidation, Standing Order 40 (b).
Mr. Speaker: I thank the Hon. Member. It is a point of elucidation and not a Point of Order, as
you have presented. Hon. Member, you have heard the statement presented by the Hon. Member,
in elucidation.
Mr. Trotman: I have Sir.
Mr. Speaker: I would assume, having heard that, you would want to present your reaction to it.
Mr. Trotman: Yes Sir. Mr. Speaker, to borrow a line use quite successfully by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs earlier, “I throw meh corn but I ain’t call anyone.” Mr. Speaker, I did not name
anyone’s name and so if, at all, anyone is offended I apologise. I named no one. I just said that
we were told about persons making references, on this side of the House, to scriptures from one
book and I called no name, Sir, with the greatest of respect. I am wise enough to know not to do
so.
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Mr. Speaker: I thank the Hon. Member.
Mr. Trotman: As stated, I said that whenever we start our proceeding in this House we invoke
the presence of Almighty God in our prayers. Elsewhere, many of us attend functions, both
official and unofficial, where prayers are said and we, ourselves, say those prayers and quote
different verses of scriptures from various holy books. I have sat in admiration at the fluent way
in which the Hon. Member Vindhya Persaud sometimes quotes from her holy book. Even in this
debate alone, we have heard the Hon. Members Bishop Edghill, Dharamlall and Ramson quoted
scripture quietly in their presentations. Much to my pleasant surprise, the Hon. Member
Neendkumar cited a well-known passage from Psalms 118 which tells us, “to rejoice in the day
that the Lord has made.” It seems that we are about to have a revival in this House and it is good
thing. I do believe that we have become too politically correct, too afraid to affirm our faith and
to acknowledge that we have strong spiritual beliefs. I would hate to think that we can practise
our religion in closets and be afraid to embrace it when in public. I say let us be like Daniel and
throw open the windows and not hide our face.
In this hallowed House we are Christians, Hindus, Muslims and even some of us are agnostic and
atheist, and that is our individual right. For a suggestion to come that same of us should not
practise our faith, I believe it is a dangerous suggestion. We, on this side, are happy to know they
are some over there as well who acknowledge that we are mere mortals… [Interruption] I have
not called a name.
Ms. Teixeira: Mr. Speaker, the reference is that Members on this side of the House [inaudible].
No one said it in this side of the House [inaudible]. The point is that he is talking about this side
of the House. No Member of said anything to challenge anybody… [inaudible] I am asking you
Mr. Speaker, to please ask the Hon. Member to stop this. It is misrepresentation of what was said
on this side of the House. I am begging you, Mr. Speaker, to please put a stop to this line of
argument.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, I thank you for your statement but please do not beg the Speaker
for anything. The Speaker will do what you request of him as long as it is within the rules. I
certainly would. Hon. Member please proceed.
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Mr. Trotman: Grateful Sir. I was at the point of interruption making the point that we are mere
mortals. We are not infallible neither we do consider ourselves, on this side of the House, to be
immutable or invincible and so whenever we quote from scripture we are affirming our faith and
acknowledging a higher authority over our lives and our decision making. That is our right. The
Book of 2
nd
Samuel, chapter 23, verse 3 tells us, “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in
the fear of God.” If - with the greatest of respect, this is just a hypothetical “if” - there is any
amongst who reject the quoting of any scripture, whether it be from any holy books - the Bible,
the Bhagavad Gita or the Koran - then they need to check themselves. I believe that there is
delivery service held every night around the city. They may attend. Before I leave the subject, I
wish only to state that even as we celebrate our 50
Anniversary I hope that we may gather as a
nation and acknowledge our different religions and cultures and have a day of national prayer.
That is my wish.
th
The focus of this year’s budget as we have heard outlined by our able Minister of Finance and
many colleagues before, who have spoken, have recognised some of the merits therein. It is
about creating opportunities for our people. I wish to say that it is not only creating opportunities
for our people, but for creating opportunities for all the people of Guyana, not just those who
voted for this side, but all the people of Guyana wherever they are. Since we last met much has
happened and much attention had been paid to redefining the scope and definition of natural
resources themselves. In the past, administrators had naturally, and no pun intended, seen natural
resources as tangible wealth that is to be exploited and earned from. However, with the “fresh
approach”, and in the context of the national patrimony, our resources are far more expansive
than gold or diamond or logs and bauxite, but include as well air and water, health and wellbeing.
In
fact,
the
“good
life”
is
both
a
natural
and
a
national
treasure.
Interestingly
the
United

Arab
Emirates
only
earlier
this
week
appointed
a
Minister
of
State
with
responsibility
for

happiness,
recognising
that
overall
well-being
must
be
achieved
correspondingly
and

contemporaneously
with
infrastructural
and
economic
growth
and
that
human
resources
and

natural
resources
are
symbiotically
related.
In this regard the new Ministry of Natural Resources has set itself the mission:
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“To develop, implement and oversee policies for the sustainable development and
utilisation of the natural resources whilst promoting the protection and conservation of
the environment.”
We carry this mission out in collaboration with all other Ministries and agencies of Government.
There is much to celebrate, roads, bridges, clean communities, a cleaner city, higher pensions
and better health care to name a few. [Mr. Ramson: Higher ministerial salaries too.]
Yes, and higher salaries for you too. For our part, we have to joyous reasons in the Ministry to
celebrate. The first is that we do have the formation of a Ministry of Natural Resources and,
secondly, we celebrate, and perhaps we can say the augmentation and enrichment of the Ministry
with the addition of the illustrious and dynamic Hon. Simona Broomes, Minister within the
Ministry.
Time does not permit me to cover every facet of the manifold activities of the Ministry. I will
give an overview of our upcoming plans and programmes.
The Ministry, in continuing the expansion and sustainability of the natural resources and
environmental sectors, has commenced a series of critical initiatives to improve management and
coordination of these sectors in the short and medium terms. This is in keeping with the
commitment to have a more inclusive and collaborative working relationship with the various
associations and other stakeholders, and to continue building achievements emanating from the
natural resources and environmental sectors. We are presently instilling, within the various
sectoral agencies, the GGMC, the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), the Environmental
Protection Agency, (EPA), EAB, the Protected Areas Commission and the Guyana Gold Board,
and including the Wildlife Management Authority, the concept of the one team approach, so that
the patrimonial canopy can be extended over all of them and the expected synergies can be
realised.
I believe that it would be appropriate to say that the inclusivity, we speak of, includes the
Opposition as well and to remind the Members that there is always a space at the table set and
waiting for them to join us.
8.26 p.m.
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If I may be allowed to share some highlights on 2015, it is oil and gas. Between July and
December, the department, as it then was, in the area of oil and gas, was able to create a draft to
upstream oil and gas policy, which will be presented to Cabinet within another month or there
about. There were also two workshops on the Sovereign Wealth Fund, in conjunction and with
the kind gesture of the Canadian High Commission and the University of Calvary in Canada. We
have as well increased activity and interest in both offshore and onshore blocks for drilling and
exploring of oil.
In the area of mining, we have continued, and our discussions are now about to implement a
mainstream bio-diversity project with the United Nations Development Fund. We are
implementing the roadmap for the eradication of the use of mercury in mining, in keeping with
the Minamata Convention on mercury. As it is well known, we have established an Anti–gold
Smuggling Task Force. We heard that there was gold smuggling task force, so we thought we
would establish an Anti–gold Smuggling Task Force. That task force is actually working well.
We have reopened, with great success the Bartica Gold Board office and are looking to open a
few more. Our crowning glory came at the end of the year when we declared 451,490 ounces of
gold, surpassing the target of 381,000 that was set. That declaration gave the nation over half a
billion of US dollars of revenue.
In the area of wildlife management, we have completed and submitted to the committee, headed
by the Hon. Prime Minister, to review legislation of our draft Wildlife Authority Bill, which
will be presented immediately after the budget debates are over. The zoo regulations are also to
be laid. We have as well, in the area of the environment, successfully participated in the United
Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Conference of Parties (COP)
21 Conference in Paris France. It was a defining year for us. The agreement has been hailed by
all as the most ambitious international environment agreement in history. Guyana was honoured
to have participated in its formation. Despite the doubting Thomases, Guyana and the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) accomplished most of what was sought to be achieved in the Paris
Agreement. In moving forward, and as a demonstration of Government’s continued commitment
to addressing climate change, Guyana will ratify the Paris Agreement when the United Nations’
General Secretary holds a high level signing ceremony in April of this year.
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Lastly, we were able at the end of December, 2015 to pass regulations to restrict the importation
of styrofoam products in keeping with our drive for a green and clean economy. Later in this
year we will be addressing ways of better managing plastics and other non-degradables.
Mr. Speaker, in the area of forestry we continue negotiations with the European Union (EU)with
the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), which is a governance
mechanism for the forestry sector. Currently, there is a team from Brussels in the country. There
is a fourth round of negotiations, which will continue in March. We have, as well, done very
extensive work in stemming the wild and wanton cutting and export of Guyana’s logs at the
expense of the value-added development as contained in the various investment development
agreements, which were being breached.
Governance in the natural resources sector: We are actively taking steps to take up membership
in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Guyana has already hosted two
workshops, and a team is readying to attend the seventh summit of the EITI in Lima, Peru, later
in this month. In accompanying, Hon. Prime Minister in Mexico City, in November, Guyana also
participated in the Open Government Partnership Summit held in Mexico City where the whole
issue of transparency and accountability in the extractive industries sector was dealt with.
Guyana has committed to taking up membership there as well.
We are proud to say that on the invitation received by the Hon. Member Odinga Lumumba,
Chairman of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee Natural Resources Committee, the Ministry
also appeared towards the end of 2015 before that Committee and was able to interact and to
answer questions. Indeed, it is to start what is going to be, hopefully, a good, long and healthy
relationship between the Ministry and the Parliament going forward.
It is if I may say a few words about gold, I heard the Hon. Member Nandlall, speaking about
gold, earlier. The world market prices for all commodities are down, but as of this week, and
over the last two, but more so this week, we have seen favourable rises in the price of gold where
earlier in the week the price went up to US$1,200, and if I may quote from a publication called
The Week, which favourably reported as follows:
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“The trajectory over recent weeks is quite clear and that is from a near seven year low
around US$1000, back in December, gold has been setting higher peaks and shallower
thrusts”
The Minister of Finance, has already signalled that this year gold production is expected to,
again, do the heavy lifting by providing a minimum of 550,000 ounces of gold to the national
effort, an increase of 22% over 2015 production. I can safely report that the miners, the
representatives the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, the Guyana Women’s
Miners Organisation and the large gold mining companies have assured the Government that
they will meet the target set by the Hon. Minister of Finance.
In the area of bauxite, because of challenges in Asia, it underperformed but the two companies
operating RUSAL, or the BCGI, Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc., and Bosai, both were able to
turn a small profit and to hold their own against a difficult market. The forecast for the next
decade, however, is positive, as it is expected that bauxite projects worldwide will have to be
enhanced and developed to supply alumina capacity growth in China, the Middle East and India.
It augurs well for our industry. The two companies are currently operating and holding their
own. There is a third, First Bauxite Inc., which is preparing as soon as the market, does a bit
better to enter into production.
This year, I will announce, and am announcing now, that the Government will move to
implement its manifesto’s commitment to ensure that a high level technical team is put together
to development plans to examine the possibility of an international scale alumina refinery in
Linden, Region 10. As always, the Opposition will be invited to participate in this exercise and I
hope the Members patriotism will not wane to a point where they say no to this invitation, as
well.
In the area of forestry, production this year was 550,000 metric cubic metres with an export
value of $54 million. It was lower than previous years but, as I said, there was too much export
of raw logs and less value-added, and this is why there was a reflection or a drop in exports. We
will continue to work along with the international community to enhance our capabilities in this
regard.
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For the benefit of those here and those who may be listening, I would just like to give some
figures and statistics for the month of January, 2016. Gold, we have already collected 35,000
ounces of gold for the month of January. This tells us that, if we are to extrapolate, we are well
on our way to meeting our target if we maintain the 35,000 mark per month. As well, 3,119
metric carats of diamonds have been produced; 109,000 tons of bauxite has been mined by
BCGI, which is RUSAL. We have mined 135,000 tons of stone and 3,300 tons of sand. That is
for the month of January, 2016.
As I said, we will continue this year to discharge our responsibilities and to manage as best as we
can. I would take the opportunity to address an issue which has been coming up and which I dare
say will rear its head next week, and that is the staffing details at the Ministry of Natural
Resources. At present, there are 56 staff mentioned in line item 6116, contracted employees, but
I wish to state that 31 of them are scholarship recipients who we inherited. I do have their
contracts with me. It would appear that persons going on scholarships to Cuba and to the
University of Guyana, in the areas and the natural resources sector, Mining Engineering,
Forestry, the Environment, the Government of Guyana is mandated to give them employment.
The letter would come from the Public Service Ministry, and we are told that we have to absorb
them. In that regard, there are 22 such persons as Forest Engineers and Rangers at the Guyana
Forestry Commission, five Meteorological Engineers at the GGMC, nine such staff members,
Environmental Officers at the EPA and the head office, which is the Ministry itself, only has 20
employees.
The Minister of Finance has been good enough this year to give us $746 million-plus dollars to
implement our environmental management policies, which cover Environmental Protection
Agency, the National Parks Commission, the Protected Areas Commission, which encompasses
the Kanuku Mountain Range in Region 9, the Shell Beach Reserve in Region 1 and the Kaieteur
National Park. This is where moneys will be spent. With this allocation in place, we move closer
to revealing a Guyana that is discernibly more environmentally responsible. If I may pause, to
say that the Government is currently in negotiations with the Aurora Goldfields to create what is
known as an offset because of it having to go on the international market for financing for its
project. It has to provide an offset for the environmental damage that is caused by its mining, and
so, Government has identified the Kaieteur National Park to be the recipient of that offset. We
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are proud to say that we intend to have that in place before April of this year. I would like to
report as well that the protected areas system continues to be strengthened. There is a loan with
the Government of Germany which is being drawn down on. This year, Government has set
aside an extra $5 million – thank you - in the budget to take care of furniture, equipment, radios
and two satellite phones which will be …
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have four minutes more.
Ms. Ally: Mr. Speaker, I move that the Hon. Member be given five additional minutes as an
extension to his minutes allotted.
Question put, and agreed to.
Mr. Trotman: I may return to the issue of the national forest policy. In 2016, the Ministry of
Natural Resources will continue to update and rationalise policies and laws relating to the
conservation management protection and sustainable development of the nation’s patrimony in
its forest resources. In light of the changes in Guyana’s economic, social and political landscape
over the past five years, since the previous policy was crafted, we feel that it is imperative that
we put a new one in place. Much to our horror, we discovered, on assuming office, that when
asked the question about total production forest areas available in Guyana, all, 100%, have been
given out. It is unimaginable. This is what a former Head of State would have referred to as
confounded nonsense. How could a responsible Government proceed over the allocation of all,
not some, of its productive forest? What about future generations? Are they not entitled to share
in the patrimony of the forest? In the context of the national patrimony, this is a threat to our
long-term viability and to our security as a people. Understandably, in the national interest the
Government will have to do and will be doing something about it.
Only last evening Hon. Member Ms. Hastings quite competently spoke about efforts to have
water resource management brought to the front burner. The Ministry of Natural Resources is
going to collaborate with the Ministry of Communities to play its part to ensure that that is a
success.
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May, last year, it was disclosed that
a significant, what is described as a significant, find of hydrocarbons was made off the coast of
Guyana.
I turn quickly to oil and gas. As we know, on or about the 8
th
8.41 p.m.
ExxonMobil having made that find will be aggressively, this year starting, in fact this weekend,
begin further explorations and the surveying of the sub-surface sea bed and the sea-bed itself and
below, to see the extent, scope and depth of that find. We are pleased to say that this has already
started to give a boost, small as it is for now, to our economy. There are also heightened
activities with helicopters flying and forth. Perhaps, at an appropriate time, we will have the
Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee visit the rig so that he may see for himself what is
happening.
The Minister of Finance has already spoken about the Sovereign Wealth Fund and its
importance. We recognise the statements made by the Hon. Member, Mr. Lumumba. The
Government is moving to put in place the Fund, not just for oil and gas, but for all resources,
such as, water, forest, sand, stone, diamonds and gold so that future generations, 100 and 200
years from now, will be able to benefit from these resources.
If I may go to my conclusion, just to say that this is the Year of Renaissance. It is a momentous
year of the Golden Jubilee of our Independence. If I could reveal, it was also the year in which I
was born.
Budget 2016 is anchored innovation that every Guyanese must enjoy the ‘good life’, and it
represents the beginning of the fulfilment of that promise made by the coalition Government
towards transforming our national economy and ensuring a ‘good life’ for all Guyanese. The
Natural Resources Sector is one that is growing and very critical and central to economic growth
and fostering social stability. The contribution of the sector to our economy is expanding, and
with Budget 2016, this sector undoubtedly will continue to perform with resilience, through
environmental and economic sustainability.
We must, move and I quote a Biblical phrase again. I hope that it is not too annoying. It is one
used frequently by my brother, the Hon. Member, Mr. Ramjattan:
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“We must move from being hues of wood and draws of water and move to becoming the
producers of value added products from oil, gas, gold and diamonds”.
There are few areas as important as the issue of the National Patrimony and the management of
the natural resources that have been bequeathed to us by the Almighty God. It is axiomatic that
we must work together. It is what makes sense. Incidentally, the offer for the Opposition to be
represented on boards will remain open, but they must realise that, with each passing day, they,
and not us, are closing the door on cohesion and on nation-building, thereby, excluding
themselves from enjoying the benefits of the ‘good life’.
The Persian Stage of the Middle Age - Omar Khayyam puts it best, he says:
“The moving finger writes; and, having writ, moves on:”
Your time is going to come and pass, if you allow it to go. In the meantime, we will take up the
mantle of responsibility and discharge our duties to the best of our abilities, whilst they on the
other side come to terms with the new political realities that they are faced with.
We pray for God’s strength, for guidance and covering over the President and Parliament of
Guyana, and over all of Guyana’s people, as we excitedly and expectantly enter into an
unprecedented era of renaissance, restoration and revival.
Mr. Speaker, this 2016 Budget speaks boldly to us. It is stimulating growth socially,
economically, infrastructurally, democratically, and even spiritually; it is restoring our
confidence, both in ourselves and in our beloved country; it is loudly beckoning to us hail the
‘good life’; “he that has ears to hear let him hear”. May God bless us all. I thank you.
[Applause]
Minister of Citizenship [Mr. Felix]: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Worthy and most
Hon. Members of this House, I rise to support a Budget which was proposed to this House by the
Hon. Minister of Finance to the tune of some $230 billion to propel Guyana’s development and
to ensure that Guyanese enjoy a better life, which eluded us over the past 23 years.
Permit me to observe the attitude to this Budget by the many speakers of the Opposition. They
would have us believe that their work initiated the economic growth-rate, which the PPP/C
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Government experienced. Not so! In fact, it was the 1985 – 1992 stewardship of the economic
affairs of this country, by the Hon. Carl Barrington Greenidge, and his astute management of the
Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) which gave birth to a positive growth of 7%. Now, the
PPP/C, having experienced a growth of 4%, the PPP MPs now boasts about their growth rate
without looking back with gratitude from where it originated.
The Opposition now behaves as though the PPP/C is still in Government. We will not be
deterred by their posture, but will follow the path to a glorious future created by the expert
guidance of our Minister of Finance.
This Budget, which is entitled Stimulating Growth, Restoring Confidence: The Good Life
Beckons, is an example of our Government’s recognition that there was some growth, which
must be stimulated to give confidence to all Guyanese as they work, that a ‘good life’ awaits
them.
That could not have been our experience in the recent past since the stewardship of the previous
Government ensured that crime ate away at our fabric, like the cancer in the human body. It was
robbery after robbery; it was piracy after piracy. The Government seemed incapable of reigning
in the criminal situation. It is true that crime seem to have been out of control in the hands of the
PPP/C.
The Hon. Member Anamayah, spoke of crime as though crime was a phenomenon in our
Government, but we have inherited it from the PPP/C. This Budget is designed to ensure that the
Guyana Police Force (GPF) is resourced and delivers upon its mandate to protect our citizens,
and to prevent and detect crime.
Not so long ago, in our position over there, we had to be goading this Government to reign in the
excesses of the police. Thank God that in nine months we have not seen any evidence of any
behaviour which suggests that policemen will burn genitals, burn hands, and use batons on
persons in custody. In any event, the police now seem to be on a path where they are solving
crimes.
I support the ban on used tyres. It is the coalition’s way of ensuring the safety of its citizens. We
recognise a frugal spending, but we will not encourage frugal spending which would lead our
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citizens to a death trap – which is what the used tyres hold in store for Guyanese citizens. I am
aware that the countries from where used tyres are imported have strict laws which prohibit the
use of tyres on motor vehicles and which do not have a certain thread thickness. That is why they
are made used tyres, and we buy them. These tyres become unsafe for use on the roads of those
countries and they must be replaced, and they are unsafe here too. Therefore, as leaders we must
protect our citizens.
The Opposition has been criticising the Government for returning unspent money to the
Treasury. To the Opposition, I say, thank you for the publicity which now informs the public that
this Government will deal honestly with their moneys without the need for Commissions of
Inquiries to find out what was done with it.
Similarly, they claim that the cost of renewing a firearm licence is too expensive. These licences
have not been increased in years and the current increases are well within the range of their
holders. The people who apply for firearms or handgun licences are the ones who claim that they
move around the country with large sums of moneys. What is wrong with paying a few dollars
more?
Mr. Speaker, I will now turn to my department, but before doing so, let me congratulate the Hon.
Winston Dacosta Jordan for crafting an excellent Budget, which takes into consideration every
aspect of our developmental needs.
This coalition Government will give reality to the enjoyment of a glorious future for all
Guyanese. The Department of Citizenship will play its role which transcends all the productive
sectors of this Government. The Department of Citizenship plays an essential role in relation to
the work of the Ministries of Public Telecommunications, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Public
Infrastructure, Public Health, the Guyana Forestry Commission and its immigration service. The
Department must perform with a high degree of efficiency, to ensure that visitors and persons
pursuing business in Guyana would be allowed to do so with systems and procedures to facilitate
free and easy entry and movement in Guyana, void of delays and frustrations, which are all
regular experiences of the recent past.
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The Department of Citizenship offer services to citizens and foreigners such as: visas for visitors,
students, employment and business to allow for business development and the enjoyment of the
tourism product.
Visas issued were as follows: for 2014 – 1473; for 2015 – 1171; during January, 2016, the
Department issued 445 visas to various foreigners seeking to enter Guyana for different reasons.
The Department is responsible for the naturalisation of persons residing in Guyana and satisfying
the residency requirements, and the registering of persons as citizens by birth and by marriage,
During 2015, 94 foreign nationals from 15 countries were registered as citizens in Guyana, while
18 foreign nationals were made citizens through naturalisation.
8.56 p.m.
Our immigration service has to be particularly vigilant as visitors seek to enter our country and
remain here outside the confines of the law. As soon as this APNU/AFC Government came into
Office, there arose the need to clamp down on persons who arrived at our airport without the
standard entry requirements, recognised and implemented in countries around the world, and this
form of enforcement continues to this day. Apparently, the tacit approval of those in power, a
year and more ago, had turned a blind eye to immigration abuses. This coalition Government is
now putting right. Every nation and every country has rules and laws that control and regulate
people who come from other places.
Unrecorded Immigrants attract abuses primarily because they are illegal, having arrived in this
country without satisfying the entry requirements or they were allowed entry because of
deception using forged documents. We must be alive to consequences which would naturally
flow from unrecorded immigrants. The result is the abominable crime of human trafficking.
Many of the illegal immigrants end up in very dangerous situations, as they do not have proper
documents to secure jobs, and as a consequence, they end up in unfortunate situations. The flow
of illegal immigrants to Guyana is the result of the pull factor in certain developed countries, but
stringent checks at certain ports have forced these illegal immigrants from those countries to use
Guyana as a transit point. Unfortunately, quite a number remain in this country.
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Guyana is an open country; it welcomes all visitors and has landed many who have not been
traced to have left the country legally. Our checks revealed that over 5300 illegal immigrants
remain unaccounted for in Guyana. These are undocumented immigrants who live in Guyana
without permission and the Government has only their entry records. They were legally here, but
are now illegal because they have overstayed their time. In any country, undocumented and
illegal immigrants are a source additional pressure on the resources of Government as they utilise
services such as health and education and pay no taxes. Therefore, the law must be enforced
against them.
Illegal immigrants contribute to the dark figure of crime, which are unreported crimes, because
of their status. This APNU/AFC Government will not relent in its effort to be vigilant at its ports
and to track down those who are in Guyana illegally.
Even in this effort, pressure would be placed on the Immigration Department to build up and
devote additional manpower, specifically to trace illegals. For January 2016, 26,736 persons
were landed at all ports in Guyana; 53 Guyanese nationals were deported from seven countries;
40 persons were deported for immigration related issues; while 13 persons were deported for
their alleged involvement in criminal matter; forty three Guyanese nationals were refused entry
in the Caribbean.
Passports - soon after taking Office in 2015, the coalition Government, in response to persistent
pleas from the diaspora for the speedy processing of their passports, their issues were resolved
when this new Government moved to reduce the three-month waiting time to acquire a new
passport overseas. Once passports arrived from the diaspora, they are processed in Guyana
within five days and are returned to their destinations. I am sure that these passports are returned
to their respective owners within one month, removing two months of unnecessary waiting.
During 2015, the Central Immigration and Passport Office at Eve Leary processed 89,136
passports for local use, and 14,606 passports were processed for Guyanese in the diaspora. For
January, 2016, 8059 passports were prepared for local use, while 1140 passports were prepared
for the diaspora.
Initiatives are under consideration for early implementation, which includes decentralisation of
the application and issuance of passports. This Government is in the mood to take services to the
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people. The crowds, long lines, and cramped spaces at the Central Immigration and Passport
Office, on Camp Road, Eve Leary is an intolerable situation this Government inherited and every
effort will be made to take the service to outlying areas and to draw on the power of information
technology, particularly where the E-governance project exists.
To promote a project, which facilitates the public making applications for passports online, I am
aware of the procedural challenges likely to impede implementation of this project, but in the test
phase, corrections and adjustments would guide the project to perfection. Running side by side
with this project, there is another initiative which will permit the replacement of machine
readable passports, wherever they are in Guyana. Currently, under review, is the reintroduction
of the 64-page passports since the current 32-page passport seems inadequate for frequent
travellers. These measures intend to relieve the public of poor services, time wasting and to
replace the discomforts with a more user-friendly service, befitting this 21
st
century.
Birth Certificates – this is a basic and an essential document of identity and it should be issued
either at birth or as soon as possible thereafter, so that children can receive health and education
services. In this regard, Guyana has been pursuing 100% birth registration, which is an
international standard intended to ensure that children are documented. In furtherance of our
desire to have every child registered, the Department has partnered with the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to visit the hinterland and riverine communities to discover and
register children. During the last week ending 6
February, 2016, sections of Region 1,
Barima/Waini, was visited by staff from the Department. That visit was very successful based on
the number of registrations done, over 200. Another region will be visited in the new week.
th
There is a proposal in this year’s Budget to digitise the records at the General Register’s Office
(GRO). This project was tendered, but would be retendered because of the need to remove
certain flaws. As a consequence of the digitisation, huge amounts of data would be stored
electronically leading to printed rather than written birth, death, and marriage certificates.
We will continue to ensure that children receive the protection they need from the State against
abuses, and eventually attain and maintain 100% birth registration. The areas that are outlined
above are just the known and established areas in which the Department functions. On 14
th
January, 2016, in his address to the National Assembly, His Excellency, President David
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Granger, set out other areas in which the Department must play a role. He identified the global
terrorist threats and transnational crimes to confront migration and trafficking in persons, as a
result of a multi-sectorial approach to these issues.
It is not intended that the Department of Citizenship takes over the job of these agencies, but the
intention is to have us play a back-up role to detect and discover the misuse of our country by
those who perpetrate transnational crimes or are somewhere involved in terrorist activities. This
year, the Budget proposed by our Minister of Finance has adequately catered for this
Department’s role in ensuring that we move to provide the services which the Guyanese and the
wider public need; to ensure that immigration issues are properly dealt with; and that we ensure
that our country is not being abused by those who traffic in persons and commit other crimes.
The time is now ripe for all the talk about cooperation and collaboration, and for those on the
other side of the House, to work with us and to ensure that we make Guyana what our motto says
- One people, one nation and one destiny. In this regard, I ask that we all support Mr. Winston
Dacosta Jordan in proposing his Budget for approval in this National Assembly. [Applause]
Mr. Rohee: I welcome this opportunity on behalf of the People Progressive Party to speak to
this Budget Presentation by the Hon. Minister of Finance. Before I go to the heart of the matter, I
have to say that the persistent references that I have heard from the Government benches in
respect of – “Working together; that you did not do it when you were there for 23 years; you had
so much time to do it, why did you not do it”. All of these platitudes, placed to the context of the
existing political situation, are meaningless and worthless.
I would even go on to say that, a lot of talk had also been made in respect to beautification. Who
would be against beautification? Who would be against of nicing-up our own beautiful
Georgetown? The problem is however, one cannot eat beautification. Beautification does not put
money in our pockets. It puts money in other people’s pockets who may have gotten the
contracts to hire people to do so. This romanticism and deification of beatification is something
that we need to be a little judicious about.
The Hon. Member, Mr. Trotman, made reference to what he described as the disrespect on the
path of the Opposition Leader. I would like to say from the very outset that, Mr. Trotman’s
words does not match the antecedents which have occurred in this National Assembly.
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9.11 p.m.
I have sat in this National Assembly for years and I have seen the respect by my Colleagues, who
were on that side of the House for some time, given to past Presidents, including Mr. Hoyte;
other Oppositions Leaders, including Mr. Granger and Mr. Corbin. There was not a single heckle
of these distinguish gentlemen when they spoke, incidentally, when they spoke in wrapping up
for the Opposition benches on the budget debates. What we have now is a glowing departure
from that convention. If we want to talk about respect and disrespect, we have to put it in that
historical context. Our Opposition Leader has been denied, perpetually, the right that was given
to previous Opposition Leaders in this honourable House.
The Hon. Member, Mr. Jordan, the Minister of Finance, have been presented and described in
many ways by his Colleagues and they have a right to do so, after all, he is their Colleague, and
they are his Colleagues. But what floored me was when someone went totally overboard in
describing the distinguish Minister of Finance as a genius. The word “genius” is a very treasured
word and ought not to be dispensed whimsically. I want to welcome the Hon. Minister of
Finance into the gallery of accidental geniuses.
I have discerned, in the course of this debate, with a certain degree of puzzlement and
amazement, if not bewilderment, of statements emanating from the eastern wing of this House
that are somewhat bizarre. For example, it would suffice to say that, we were told that only under
the APNU/AFC Government could the working class enjoy a ‘good life’. But how can this be,
when it is with a gross contradiction to the realities of everyday life in this country. More than
3,000 rice farmers cannot say what their future will be in this so called ‘good life’. They are
totally devastated. How can we say that we can rejoice today and be glad, when thousands of
sugar workers are at a lost to know what the future holds for them? How could they say to whom
the ‘good life’ is beckoning, when hundreds are being witch-hunted out of jobs and are now, as
they say in Guyanese parlance, kicking bricks in hard guava season.
This situation is grim and irrespective of the gross and rosy picture that might be painted in this
honourable House by those who sit on the Government benches, it is in stark contradiction to the
realities of Guyanese society. I want to submit that, what they are describing, is tantamount to a
surreal situation. That is what we are living and that is what they are pretending to be living. As
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the famous song sang by Swamp Dog says: “It is a synthetic world we are living in”; it is a
synthetic world that is being painted.
What we have in Guyana is a political party called the PPP fresh out of Government, after 23
years, with, in fact, a wealth of experience, both at the national and international levels. But what
have they done, notwithstanding their called for unity? They have totally dismissed 23 long years
of governmental experience; an economy that has grown exponentially; and for them it is worth
nothing. That is precisely why they will find governing, as we did at the beginning, a very
difficult sisyphus task. It will be difficult. Notwithstanding their reluctance to admit the
difficulties that we know they are encountering because we have been there and we have done
that. So they can paint the rosiest picture that they want to paint, there are many experienced
persons on this side of the House who know different.
They chose to throw all of this away, and in the same breath they come to us and talk about the
need for national unity and social cohesion. How on earth could you speak about national unity
and social cohesion and you dispense with a party, that had been in Government for 23 years, as
though it was nothing. We are hearing all these quantum leaps, backward and forward, creating a
tremendous gap in the history of this country, as though the PPP/Civic never existed. There was
no Government lead by former Presidents of this country.
We do not have a problem, it is okay for them to dismiss the 23 years of the PPP/C. It is quite
okay for them to say that we do know have intellectual property rights on the budgets that still
symbolises or are symbols of the PPP/Civic reign in office. We do not have a problem with that.
The problem is that you cannot wish it away, it is there. When the Hon. Prime Minister travels to
Essequibo, which boat does he travel on with his entourage and his retinue? That is a symbol of
the rule of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.
Yet, they have the gumption to come to us and talk to us about the need for social cohesion and
national unity. We do not need to defend our track records on social cohesion and national unity.
The historical records speak for itself. They are riding on the crest of the accomplishments of the
PPP/Civic’s economic policy. They are riding on the crest of the economic developmental
polices of the PPP/Civic. How can they, in nine months, construct this monumental mirage,
which some have an optical illusion of, created by the APNU/AFC? It is impossible. One cannot
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in any way, create in eight months, what this Government is seeking to make people believe. It
cannot happen. They cannot create in eight months what the PPP/C has created in 23 years. That
is ridiculous.
I want to say that, apart from riding on the crest of the PPP’s accomplishments, they are
traversing the worn and beaten path of corruption. And, I want to warn the Members on this side
of the House that, at some point in time, they will run out of gaff on corruption. They will run
out of gaff on this corruption ‘hobby horse’ and they will have to find something else to speak
about.
The sweet taste of victory is already turning bitter. We know what it is all about. Do not believe
that we are living in an ivory tower. They keep looking back, but I want to warn them that, if
they keep looking back, like Lot’s Biblical wife, we know that they will turn into a pillar of salt.
I have read the two documents. I have read the Minister’s speeches of 2015 and 2016 and I have
made the comparative analysis. In the speech that he has made in respect to the security sector
and the public safety, there are three goals: Reducing crime; rebuilding public trust; and
reforming the public security system. For 2015 and 2016, they have reduced it to two goals.
What are those two goals? Safeguarding public security and rebuilding public trust. Are we to
assume that they have accomplished the previous goals, and as a result of accomplishing those,
they are now reduced to two goals.
I want to say that, almost each and every one of the programmes that they are now pursuing in
the security sector had its genesis in the PPP/Civic Administration. There is no way in eight
months - someone said that you could fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot
fool all the people all of the time - they would have to do like what Jesus Christ did at the sea of
Galilee and I doubt whether they can do that. But I am saying that there is no way in eight
months they could create those programmes in the security sector.
I am submitting, as I did before, talking about crime and exerting efforts to fight crime is only
one part of the picture and I know what the difficulties are. There is no way that Mr. Ramjattan
can lecture me on the difficulties of the security sector - no way. I am saying to my Colleague
that, unless you get the cooperation of the ministries in the social sector, you will not succeed.
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That is the most difficult task because most of the Ministers in the social sector do not want to go
in that particular arena.
So I want to say that, what we have seen in the speech, it is a regurgitation. I have looked at it
and compared it, and Mr. Jordan knows what I am talking about. He knows how budget speeches
are prepared; he has been there. When one looks at the two presentations, one has four
paragraphs and one has three paragraphs.
9.26 p.m.
There are four paragraphs in the 2015 speech and there are three paragraphs in the 2016 speech
but it is the same old same old.
In the 2015 speech, a lot of emphasis was placed on the Citizens’ Security Programme 2 (CSP2).
In this Budget, the Hon. Member puts less emphasis on that and more emphasis on the goodies
the Government intends to bring to the Guyana Police Force and the other security forces. I am
saying that the focus has narrowed. Unless this matter is placed in the context of the totality, a
holistic approach, I am sorry but the country would never succeed in addressing the security
issue. It is like running on the spot.
We were told that a national security plan was being developed. A special meeting was held with
some leading lights in the Government to develop a national security plan in a draft. What has
happened subsequently? We were told that the document went from the Ministry of the
Presidency to the Ministry of Public Security then to the Commissioner of Police, and all this
time it was being tweaked, weaked, leaked, jeaped. We do not know. In the end, nothing
resulted. What we heard or read about was that Operation Dragnet has consummated the national
security plan. There is no need for a national security strategy anymore. It is a waste of time
because it is now consummated in the Operation Dragnet which we are told will attack the four
big areas, and, incidentally, local government elections is one of the areas being targeted in the
security plan.
I want to move very quickly. We heard of issues that were inherited and needed fixing. I want to
suggest to the distinguished Members, on the Government benches, that there is a store on Main
Street called Fix-It. There are some very beautiful tools in there for those who do not have
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toolkits, and I am not referring to anyone’s virility. To those who need toolkits to do fix-it jobs, I
suggest they go there.
In the Budget speech, nothing was heard about the fight against drugs. One leading light in the
Government, when in Opposition, mentioned time and time again, to this nation, that the
economy was driven by drugs. Well, in eight months, it has stopped; it is no more; the drugs
have disappeared; the drug peddlers are no longer there and all of that has dried up in eight
months. The economy is not being driven, anymore, by drugs and the drug trade. What is even
more surprising and laughable, although we welcome it, is that the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) is here but the drug economy is no longer here. Why? It is because there
has been a [inaudible] and a new Government is there. Therefore, all the evils that were there
when the PPP/C was in Government are no longer there. Glory Hallelujah! They are no longer
there.
I am asking the Hon. Minister, where is the national drug strategy master plan which a leading
light, when in Opposition, kept harping on the need to implement? It is no longer there. Is the
DEA and is Operation Dragnet part of the national drug strategy master plan? I am telling you
that if a national drug strategy master plan is being formulated and the players, whether external
or internal, are not part of that strategy, you will end up in the trouble which we were envisaging
in light of this situation.
We heard about the four horsemen hindering our country’s development. There are not four
horsemen; it is one horseman because the four areas that were mentioned are all social. So there
is one horse in the social area. You better watch out for the other two horsemen – the economic
and the political. If we do not address the economic and the political and only deal with the one
horseman, you will be overtaken by the time you reach the tape. I mentioned that as something
that the Hon. Members need to pay attention to.
In the speech, there was no reference to human security and human security is the basis on which
all other aspects of security are built up in this country.
We have heard about the upgrading of the passports by my good Friend, Mr. Winston Felix, a
former Commissioner of Police, and I know the police quite well; they are good at making things
look nice. Mr. Felix mentioned a 64-page passport but he did not mention what it will cost for
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the ordinary Guyanese to purchase a 64-page machine readable passport. I know what it will cost
because we were in Government and saw what the cost was and found that it was too exorbitant
for the ordinary traveller. It will have a tremendous cost.
In addition to that, I did not hear the Hon. Member, Mr. Felix, mention, which he did last year,
the procurement of two pieces of equipment but there is money, in the Budget, again, for the
same equipment. They were going to procure two pieces of equipment to upgrade the production
of the current machine readable passports. By the way, before the PPP/C left Government, a
fresh set of new machine readable passports, with enhanced security features, were already
ordered and paid for. We have not heard anything about them. There was supposed to be a
phasing out of the current passports and the bringing on stream of the new passports with the
enhanced security features. We hope that that money has not gone wasted. Two pieces of
equipment were to be procured: one to upgrade the equipment and the other to produce passports
in the various regions. I have read an interview with Mr. Felix, recently, where he regretted that
this could not have been in place, that they need to have a building and that they had limitations
and so forth. Interestingly, and quite cleverly, he did not mention anything about that.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have four minutes remaining.
Mr. Ali: I rise to request the agreed additional five minutes for the Hon. Member.
Question put and agreed to.
Mr. Rohee: I looked for the vision. What did I find? The vision comprises three components:
one, the British Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP); two, the draft security plan which
we never saw; and three, Operation Dragnet. That is the vision. How on earth can a vision
comprise a security plan that is going to be crafted in London and brought to Guyana, a security
plan that was never a kind of childbirth and Operation Dragnet, which is an operation that has
not been put into any context whatsoever? Therefore, there is no vision whatsoever.
We were told that a command centre, at a cost of $2.15 million would have been established last
year. Nothing has been heard about it. Where does the command centre exist? Where has it been
set up? How is it being staffed?
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There were also supposed to be sweeps in the Interior location and the Kayamoo, the prostitution
and the gun smuggling were supposed to be dealt with. We, on this side of the House, would like
to know how many sweeps have taken place since the announcement was made. How much
harvest has been reaped as a result of these sweeps that took place in the Interior? We would also
like to know what has happened with the impact report on the 2.00 a.m. curfew. The Minister of
Tourism had announced, publicly, that an impact assessment study had been commissioned to
examine the merits and demerits of the 2.00 a.m. curfew. Is this a turf facing question? Is it a
question of ministerial turf? Is it a question that the matter has been caught up in the politics of
Cabinet? If it is so, I believe we ought to know.
We heard that every street in the City was to have Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras
and moneys were allocated for that in the Budget last year. Where are the cameras? Who got the
contracts to establish the cameras around the city? We do not know.
We also heard that there is a Presidential Advisor on National Security who has been going
around to different police stations, which the Minister should be doing, and was supposed to
present a report in August, last year, to the Ministry of the Presidency. I do not want to call his
name because he is not here and there might be an objection to say, “Why call his name if he is
not here to defend himself?” But I think the Hon. Member knows who I am speaking about.
Where is the document that the Presidential Advisor on National Security was supposed to
present, in August of last year, to assist the Minister and the Government, as a whole, in dealing
with these questions? What we have are people trampling all over the Ministry of Public Security
and the Minister probably needs a dose of Viagra, Tisane de Durbon, Nutrophos or Phosphorine.
We are not seeing or hearing the Minister on these issues. Other than that, we are hearing of
people who are walking here and walking there and the next thing we will hear is that they are
walking all over [inaudible]. “These boots are made for walking.”
Mr. Speaker, I want to wind up now.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have four minutes remaining.
Mr. Rohee: We heard that there was an investigation into the taking of bribes on the Corentyne,
where a truck with $6 million worth of cash and drugs was allowed to pass. No one has been
interdicted, as far as we are aware, but the Hon. Minister did say that he will commission an
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inquiry into that incident. Nothing was heard, so far, on this matter and, in the same breath, the
Minister is saying that he will root out corruption in the Guyana Police Force.
9.41 p.m.
We would like to find out, from the Hon. Minister, how many corrupt cops he has rooted out so
far from the Guyana Police Force. We would like to know that because he waged, and is still
waging, I understand, a campaign to deal with corruption in the Police Force. I think it is
important for the nation to hear how many of these persons he has rooted out from corrupt
practices in the Police Force. He must tell us that. It is not only good enough for [inaudible] he
has to tell us the results.
Incidentally, there is one other thing: before I left the Ministry of Home Affairs in the last
Government, we commissioned a floating police base.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have two minutes remaining.
Mr. Rohee: Thank you.
I have seen this floating police base moving backwards and forwards and I suspect, Mr. Harmon,
Hon. Minister, that there is some element of skulduggery going on there because three cheques
were cut: $49 million to build the floating base by Courtney Benn and $16.4 to purchase the
equipment for the boat. Twice cheques were cut to purchase the equipment. The Hon. Member
should tell us because the vessel moved from one wharf and ended up at the Coast Guard Wharf.
The moment it ended up at the Coast Guard Wharf, the last I heard of it was that the Hon. Prime
Minister went to Essequibo and proudly announced that the police floating base was to be
stationed in the mouth of the Pomeroon River. I do not think he knew what he was talking about
because there was already a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) floating base at the mouth of the
Pomeroon River. So we do not need two floating bases there. The Joint Services agreed that the
floating base would be at the mouth of the Waini River. If you got the Waini River mixed up
with the Pomeroon River, I am sorry we could not have been any help to you.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have one minute to wrap up.
Mr. Rohee: Thank you.
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We did not hear anything so far - it is still a mystery - about under whose portfolio the Custom
Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) falls. When I look at the Official Gazette, I still am not very clear
who is responsible for CANU. What I did hear is pronouncement from the Office of the
President or the Ministry of the Presidency stating that they are going to bring CANU and the
police together. Where are we with that? I know the difficulties that are inherent in that move. I
know what it is because we tried to do it and there was resistance to it. I assume that that is being
experienced up to now.
[An Hon. Member: You failed.]
It is not a question of failing.
Well, you are there to succeed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Applause]
Minister of Education [Dr. Roopnarine]: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I have to say that, looking at the list of speakers, I find myself in a most curious cluster. I was
very instructed and entertained by my Friend the Hon. Clement Rohee’s presentation and there is
one aspect of it with which I do want to deal. That really has to do with the points he offered on
the question of national unity and the extent to which we, on this side, were failing to take
advantage of the experience and knowledge that exist on the other side, acquired over long years
of experience. I cannot speak for my Colleagues but I do believe that certainly we, in the
Ministry of Education, are relying on the expertise and experience of our Colleagues on that side
to move us forward in an area in which, I believe, we need not have any great fat. Education is
an area of our work in this Assembly over which we do not need to fight. It is an area, I believe,
over which we can find much agreement. I do not think there is anyone in this House who would
argue that there is anything more important than the formation of our young people. This is what
takes place in our schools and for it to happen as you want it to happen, it would require the
active collaboration of parents, teachers and, I believe, all energies in this House.
As we, in the Ministry of Education, under the APNU/AFC Government, embark on our first full
calendar year of operations, it inevitably continues to be partially in diagnostic mode. As we
said, in 2015, we shall go ahead with what works and discard what does not. I had promised this
in 2015; I repeat it now. As we forge ahead, we remain cognisant of the immediate past state of
the education system, the course of which, I believe, we must change for the good of the nation.
We remain cognisant of listing some of the critical shortcomings of the system, as I see it, the
system that we have inherited. I will cite a number of areas: one, there has been a neglect of the
tertiary education system; two, the significant appropriations, the returns on which were often far
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from optimal; three, the mismatch of appropriations with the articulated plans; four, the gap
between programme rationalising and programme implementation; five, politically motivated
decision making and coercion and intimidation of professionals; six, the hyping of the stellar
performance of a few in contrast to poor and declining results overall.
This is not a system that we intend to perpetuate. In its Manifesto, the APNU/AFC coalition
clearly identified the creation of a united, peaceful and developed Guyana as its core objective.
That objective or any one of its component parts is not achievable in a society which has not
benefited from real education. By that I mean education being a state of knowing and learning
that engenders the appreciation of human beings, of their existence, biologically and socially;
education that induces rationality to their existence; and education that enables the application of
knowledge to themselves and their environment in a complex relationship of thought, desire and
work as a basis for sustenance and self-reproduction. It is the achievement of that state of being
or the continuum towards its achievement that APNU/AFC refers to when it speaks about a good
life. Education is the driving force, the locomotive engine of that good life, and our primary
challenge is crafting a system that engenders education as we conceive it.
The stark reality is that our education system, under the previous Administration, did not grapple
with that concern, with focus instead being placed on the achievements of certificates at the
expense of the education of the citizens. We enjoin the entire nation to join us in this enterprise
of enhancing the education system to address our growth and improvement of society over the
next 50 years and beyond. We enjoin our Hon. Colleagues of the Opposition, in particular.
In view of APNU/AFC’s objective-oriented approach to the fulfilment of its mandate to govern,
in view of its understanding of the historiography of Guyana and in the context of its
understanding of the role of education, it conceptualised an appropriate approach to education in
Guyana. The approach envisaged programmes in as much as it identifies specific strategies for
the achievement of its objective - a good life for all. From a programmatic perspective, the
APNU/AFC concluded that attention to the curricula for the education system is key since
therein would be the knowledge which ought to be shared by Guyanese who would be involved
in the project, creating a good life for all. This also takes into consideration that curricula would
inevitably address the question of the manner in which learning should occur, thus providing an
opportunity for approaches to learning and the application of knowledge to be inculcated.
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APNU/AFC also recognises the plural nature of the Guyanese society and, in response to that
recognition, determined that the University of Guyana should establish research programmes to
investigate the causal factor of ethnic and racial tensions and conflicts in our society and to make
recommendations on how to address these.
Clearly, the APNU/AFC’s Manifesto provided an unambiguous direction in relation to how the
education system should be remedied as well as identifying the central issues that required
attention. These issues include: one, meeting the nutritional and transportation needs of primary
and secondary schools; two, retaining and recruiting teachers; three, reforming the curriculum;
four, equipping the schools for the teaching of Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) selected subjects; five, rescuing the University of Guyana; six, implementing a national
programme for technical and vocational education across the country; and seven, creating a
friendly and equitable environment for learning, along with extracurricular activities that would
enhance all-round development.
In terms of the 2015 Budget projections, those core strategic concerns are reflected in the
presentation of this Administration’s inaugural Budget, less than a year ago. It bears reminding
that, in his inaugural Budget speech in 2015, the Minister of Finance projected that education
would become both a means to and an end of sustainable development. He emphasised the
intended vision where all of our citizens would have equal access to high quality education and
learning opportunities and where education is positioned as the key intermediary through which
we lay the foundation of a robust, competitive economy as well as an inclusive and social
cohesive society.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, I ask you to reclaim your seat for a moment.
9.56 p.m.
The Hon. Prime Minister would proceed to move a motion for continuation of the debate beyond
10.00 p.m.
Suspension of Standing Order No. 10
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Mr. Nagamootoo: If it pleases Your Honour, I beg to move that this National Assembly
continues to meet and to discuss the matters on today’s agenda, beyond the hour of 10.00 p.m.,
until the list is completed.
Question put and agreed to.
Motion carried.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, we will continue until we have exhausted our list. Please proceed.
Dr. Roopnarine: On that occasion, the Hon. Minister of Finance further underlined the
collaborative nature of the education enterprise and the need for a holistic and integrated
approach to education, the objectives being to ensure a seamless transition between schooling
and employment. He projected that ultimately:
“By 2020, our children and young people must be exposed to an appropriate mix of
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, liberal arts, and
sports and culture that together will ensure well-rounded individuals who are capable of
excelling in their chosen path.”
In enjoining the Hon. Minister, Mr. Jordan, on that occasion, I, first of all, intimated the intention
to establish a commission of inquiry into the education system, with a view of locating precisely
where our journey begins. This approach is also informed by the intention to formulate evidencebased
policies
and
system-based
reform.
In
consonance
with
this
approach,
I
highlighted
the

need
for
the
establishment
of
the
National
Advisory
Council
as
a
stakeholder
forum
that
would

guide

the process of constructing and implementing an evidence-based strategy, based on core
tenets, including: one, a broad, multi-phased strategy framework for national education reform
and development; two, contextualisation within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Regional Education and Human Resources (HR) Development Strategy 2030; three, particular
focus on the use of technology and education sector management; and four, particular focus on
Hinterland education reform.
In that regard, I mentioned some specific initiatives that were to be outlined. Among those
initiatives were: one, a review of the Education Cash Grant Programme which seems not to be
serving the intended purpose; two, the expansion of the warm meals and general school feeding
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programmes; three, the revamping of school boards and parent teacher association and the reestablishment
of
regional
education
committees;
four,
better
service
delivery
to
the
disabled
and

a
more
enlightened
approach,
by the population, to persons with disabilities; five, the strategic
integration of ICT education as opposed to a One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Project that proved
not only ill-conceived, but was also, in our experience, froth with wastage and corruption; and
six, provision of teachers with both equipment and training.
The 2020 outcome that I envisaged was the production of a competent Guyanese citizen and
provision of our youth, the voice and the role in shaping their destiny. The reality of 2015 was
that it was a severely truncated year. The Government was installed in May, 2015, but a budget
only became available in September, 2015. Having embarked in September, much was done to
commence the realisation of that which had been articulated in the Manifesto, and which found
itself into the proposals for the 2015 Budget and subsequent presidential and ministerial
pronouncements.
Even against this backdrop, in keeping with the Ministry’s action plan and with a view to the
actual state of the sector, a number of policies were formulated and initiated. The most notable of
such initiatives are: one, the use of the Grades Two and Four Assessments purely for diagnostic
purposes and the attendant follow-up, and the use of the Grade VI assessment solely for the
determination of placement in post primary schools; two, the lowering of the entry age for
nursery schools from three years, nine months to three years, six months; three, the raising of the
age for qualification to write the Grade Six Assessment from 12 to 13 years, thus eliminating the
need for unwarranted acceleration solely for the purpose of writing the Secondary School
Entrance Examination (SSEE) even though the pupil might not be preferred; four, the
engagement of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to develop and administer Grades
Two, Four and Six Assessments, while simultaneously building the National Centre for
Education Resource Development’s (NCERD) capacity in that area, with the intention of
restoring the function to NCERD in the medium term; five, the development of the mechanism to
ensure that the CSEC School Based Assessments (SBAs) are submitted by 31
January each
year; six, the review of the status of parent teachers associations countrywide, with a view to
st
ensuring that they are established and functional; seven, a review of the student report system
and parent teacher conference arrangements with the intent of ensuring that reports are provided
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in a timely manner and parents are actively involved in their children’s welfare; eight, the
drafting of a universal prayer for schools and a consultative process to achieve consensus on the
prayer, in recognition of the plural nature of Guyanese society; nine, the crafting of sports and
physical education survey instrument which is to be used to determine what steps should be
taken to ensure that sports and physical education find their rightful place in the school system;
and the induction of a cohort of education cadet officers: this programme is intended to improve
the quality of administrators in and administration of the education system.
Allow me to say here, Mr. Speaker, that I have attempted to place great emphasis on the
restoration of the place of sports and music in the school system. I have a vision, over the next
few years, of encouraging, since it is beyond our capacity in a budgetary sense to provide an
operational orchestra in all the schools, a small steel band, for instance, which would be
wonderful, but expensive. What I know is that every child is born with a musical instrument,
which is called the voice, and it is not beyond us to train school choirs throughout the country
and to have our children singing every morning. In fact, I was thinking as I listened to the Hon.
Minister, Carl Greenidge, today, speaking about the Venezuelans. I was tempted to think of if all
the children in all the schools of Guyana, at a single hour every morning, were to be singing “not
a blade of grass”, perhaps they would even hear us in Caracas.
Early Childhood Education
The operational education engines of educational delivery are early childhood, primary,
secondary, technical and vocational and tertiary, each capably supported by several units within
the Ministry. In the area of early childhood education, we have had the following achievements:
one, four new nursery schools were commissioned in 2015 - Good Hope Nursery in Region 4,
Number 77 Nursery in Region 6, Kairuni Nursery in Region 4 and Cummings Park Nursery in
Georgetown; two, the newly developed nursery diagnostic assessments were administered as
well as the revamped literacy and numeracy assessments for nursery years one and two; three,
the Roraima Reader Series, which was piloted in 2013, was rolled out nationally; four, Nursery
Field Officers received further training and are expected to support the monitoring and
supervision being done at this level. The Guyana Early Childhood Education Project is being
rolled out in the Hinterland regions to improve our delivery and output.
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In the area of primary education, the primary grades diagnostic assessments were administered
system-wide, with specific emphasis placed on teachers’ planning based on the demonstrated
needs of pupils; secondly, greater emphasis is being placed on the early grades, literacy and
numeracy preparation of pupils to ensure mastery is attained. To that end, all schools are now
required to prepare action plans based on the needs of pupils, as demonstrated by assessments
and to report on the progress made at the end of every term; thirdly, continuous professional
development of teachers in the primary level has been expanded to all regions, with specific
emphasis on education delivery in the core subject areas; fourthly, music instruction has been
improved with the training of primary teachers to facilitate the formation and sustainability of
school choirs. The expansion to include the use of instruments such as recorders and steel bands
will be attained through further training of teachers. This is in keeping with our objective of
significantly enhancing arts education within the school system.
With regard to secondary education, firstly, through collaboration with the Caribbean
Examination Council, a number of CSEC and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination
(CAPE) syllabus reviews and methodology workshops were conducted for teachers across the
country in various subject areas; secondly, the work to improve the performance in the key areas
of English Language and Mathematics is ongoing, with consistent training and monitoring of
teachers. In addition, the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project has commenced,
with specific emphasis on the improvement of Mathematics instruction in all secondary schools;
thirdly, a survey was conducted on the status of all dormitories across the country and the
information compiled will be used to devise a comprehensive dormitory improvement strategy.
10.11 p.m.
Fourthly, through collaboration with the Faculty of Education and Humanities at the University
of Guyana, teachers of Spanish have commenced their Bachelor of Arts degree programme. It is
our hope also that come September to introduce Portuguese into secondary schools.
Guyana continues to benefit from the contribution of World Teach, Project Trust and Peace Core
Volunteers in secondary schools across the country.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have five minutes more.
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Annex 102
Ms. Ally: Mr. Speaker, I wish to move that the Hon. Member be given five minutes as an
extension to his original time.
Question put, and agreed to.
Dr. Roopnaraine: In the area of technical and vocational education, technical institutes have
collaborated with the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to
meet requirements for Guyana to be recognised to award the Caribbean vocational qualifications
at the next Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) meeting. Competence based
education and training courses are still being rolled out in all technical institutes. As promised,
we made good on our commitment to strengthen one of the core components of the system,
namely teacher training. The Cyril Potter College of Education has had its largest intake of
approximately 751 trainees in 2015. The technical teacher programme has commenced in
collaboration with the Government Technical Institute (GTI).
The mentorship and induction programme for new teachers has been embedded in the system
with widespread and consistent monitoring being done in all regions. Teacher training has been
expanded to Kwakwani, Charity and Mahdia to ensure underqualified and untrained teachers
receive the necessary capacity building. Distance education training programmes continue in
Regions 1 and 9 as well as other satellite centres across the country. The Guyana Improving
Teacher Education Project came to an end in 2015 with the significant strategic objectives being
attained.
I turn to the University of Guyana with a few brief remarks. On the important issue of the fate of
our sole national tertiary education institution, I am happy to report that a new University
Council was appointed without any political manipulation of the process and a new Chancellor
was appointed by the council. The council has since embarked on a search for a new ViceChancellor
to
replace
the
outgoing
Vice-Chancellor
Professor
Jacob
Opedayi.
As
well,
the

council
has
embarked
on
the
process
of
establishing
a
transformational
task
force
to
craft
a

strategy
for
the
reversal
of
the
university’s
decline.
The
first
meeting
of
this
task
force
was

convened
earlier
today.
As it relates to the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) assessments, performance in 2015
continued to show improvement over previous years. In the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency
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Annex 102
Examinations (CAPE) candidates wrote units in 29 subject areas. Each unit comprises three
modules equivalent to 150 credit hours and is separately examined and certified. Candidates
from Guyana wrote 56 units at this year’s examination. In addition, for the first time Guyana
received two regional top awards for CAPE.
The analysis of the 2015 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results revealed
that the overall pass rate at the general and technical proficiencies for Grades I to III was 62.72%
as opposed to 60.21% in 2014. The Grades I to III passes in English A and Mathematics both
improved over last year’s performance. The English A pass rate is 49.36%, up from 46.98% in
2014 and 45.69% in 2013. The Mathematics pass rate is 45.07%, up from 38.75% in 2014 and
28.92% in 2013. Guyana continued to earn top regional CSEC awards.
The appointment of boards for the various schools was done, as well as the appointment of
boards for other allied agencies, that is, the National Accreditation Council (NAC), which was
also achieved. The National Accreditation Council and the Council for Technical and Vocational
Training have forged ahead with the execution of their projects under the CARICOM Single
Market and Economy/ Caribbean Development Bank (CSME/CDB) facility. The NAC should be
equipped to commence accreditation later this year. The National Accreditation Council and the
Ministry proposes to host the Caribbean Area Network for Quality Assurance in Tertiary
Education annual workshop and conference in 2016.
In 2015 the hot meals programme was expanded to include four schools in Region 7, namely,
Precious Gems Nursery, Beach View Nursery, Hill View Nursery and Future Builders Nursery.
With regard to transportation, His Excellency would have strategically commissioned five boats
for use in Region 2, Pomeroon, Region 4, Demerara River, Region 5, Mahaicony River and
Region 10, Berbice River. In 2016, we expect that under the 3 “Bs” initiative the critical gap in
access to education will continue to be addressed.
During the period May to December, 2015 a number of areas of concern were identified and
these will be the focus of our agenda in 2016. They include
•
First, the need for psychosocial support programmes for schools and residential
facilities. Beyond the glaring fact that suicide disproportionally impacts upon our
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Annex 102
young people, there is recognition that it is only one of the unfortunate outcomes of
poor psychosocial support system, in general.
•
Secondly, the need for an approach for the reintegration of teenage mothers into the
school system. Young women in the Twenty-first Century cannot have pregnancy be
a barrier to their continued education.
•
Thirdly, the provision of more opportunities for continuous professional development
and the widening of the scope of the learning channel and the Ministry’s radio
broadcast; the expansion of the skills for life training programme generally, with
emphasis on the hinterland areas; and, we need to deal with the issue of
accommodation for teachers in the hinterland.
These are among the challenges that are going to be confronted in 2016 as the Ministry seeks to
overcome these challenges and launch new initiatives for the enhancement of the education
system, which enhancement will eventually impact the ultimate goal of the system, the
production of a better all-round citizen and the creation of a better society.
The Ministry is committed to an inclusive approach to its work, hence much of what it proposed
to do will be subjected to a consultative process with its stakeholders, foremost of whom would
be the teachers, parents, students and employers. In fact, the inquiry which was referred to in the
Budget 2015 speech should be fully operationalised and concluded in 2016. The members of the
commission have already been assembled. Similarly, the members of the National Education
Council, National Advisory Council, have also been identified. The intention is for the council to
be convened at the end of the inquiry. The council would then deliberate on the findings of the
inquiry and the Education Sector Bill and provide the Ministry with advice on the way forward.
Thereafter, the Ministry will be engaged on the review of the 2014-2018 Education Sector Plan.
The reviewing and tabling of the Education Sector Bill in the National Assembly will see the
Ministry emerging from what I earlier described as the diagnostic phase into its full-fledged
operations to improve the education system.
I am assured that the Ministry has been and will be doing to demonstrate its commitment to the
policies and programmes outlined in the manifesto of 2015 and subsequent pronouncements of
the President, the Minister of Finance and yours truly. We will continue with that which works,
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Annex 102
discontinue what does not as we embark on new initiatives aimed at ultimately giving the
Guyanese a “good life.” I believe that a “good life” will only be achieved through an education
system that creates the competent Guyanese citizen.
I thank you. [Applause]
Mr. Ramjattan: Before I proceed to deal with the matters, especially the more meritorious ones
dealt with by Hon. Member Mr. Rohee, I too want to pay tribute to Mr. Winston Jordan, Hon.
Minister of Finance, for coming up with a budget that provides literally for all. What makes it all
the more wonderful is the context in which it is being presented; and, that context is a number of
difficult, what the economists would call, exogenous and endogenous factors. He has managed
with the resources he has got and which he will get through revenue collection in the months to
come, the necessary resources to ensure the Ministries in this Government get allocation which
will create that which is the “good life” which is beckoning in this country today. In that context
then, we must appreciate all the more this budget. I want to thank you very much Hon. Minister
of Finance. To do that in these circumstances requires some amount of genius. Those who might
not want to grant you that status, well, this is a democratic country and they are entitled to their
opinion.
I want to tell my honourable colleague, Mr. Rohee, in this budget debate that I took a stand
against police torture, and nobody can deny that. I took a stand against drunken driving by
ensuring that there is a curfew which, by the way, it is but the law. It was not anything but the
law. I took a stand to police our vast borders in association with the Office of the President, even
if we had to use horses to do so. I took a stand, bold and strong, against illegal firearms and
offered an amnesty. Even though partially successful, it was a stand nevertheless. Hon. Mr.
Rohee, as far as I knew, never took any such stands.
10.26 p.m.
If anyone needs a dose of that medication, which he talks about, it is him.
I want to be frank with my colleague and indicate that a number of the points he made are largely
meritorious because we do have a very difficult crime and violence situation in this country. It is
particularly during the last decade and a half in which this crime and violence have become a
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Annex 102
legitimate concern for each and every one of us. Guyana’s homicide rates have dramatically
increased since 2000 from 9.9 per 100,000 inhabitants to now - 2014 and this was the last
statistics I got - 20 per 100,000. It rose from a lower level in 2000 to 2013, that is, the robbery
rate reaching 214.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Domestic violence rate also rose in 2013 to almost 431.2 per 100 inhabitants and we also have in
accordance with a very profound report from the World Health Organization, the highest suicide
rate in the Americas and in the world, and that were based on statistics prior to 2014.
This issue about these negatives in our society did not occur during the course of our stewardship
from May last year. They were with us. If we want to confront these issues with the full brunt of
our intellect, it requires us being frank about these figures and not in way trying to twist facts to
play political football, because it is not going to get us anywhere. To that extent then we have
to… It is by virtue of getting these statistics then analysing them to find out what are the causes.
The crime problem in Guyana is compounded by high incidents of violent behaviour at the
community level. There is no doubt about that. I see that that every day, literally. Then, of
course, there is relatively low levels of trust in law enforcement agencies. I must say that Hon.
Member Mr. Rohee had commanded a commission from Mr. Ganga Persaud. In that
commission, Mr. Ganga Persaud’s report revealed exactly that. Low levels of trust in the law
enforcement and also, what is called, a set of social norms that tolerate the use of violence
among partners and of course within the community itself. I have the report here by Mr. Ganga
Persaud. I think the Ministry still owes him some moneys for this report. We also have in an
assessment report - it is necessary that we take these facts as produce by another report - the
Citizen Security Programme Phase One Report, that the perception of insecurity increased
dramatically in and around 2014. The perception of the police, that they are not doing a good job,
rose from 26 % in 2006 to 43 % in 2014. That is nationally. They were certain regions where it
rose even longer.
Those findings from major studies done by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Mr.
Ganga Persaud and a number of others have caused my administration of the Ministry of Public
Security identify certain priority matters to ensure that we can curb this scourge that assails us as
a people. We are using that which were those findings and facts in what is called now the
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Annex 102
Citizens Security Programme Phase Two. I want to commend what I inherited in the Ministry of
Home Affairs, now called Ministry of Public Security, because there were indeed a lot of facts
and recommendations that were in its policy and research department that I found extraordinarily
useful.
I agree that stopping crime and violence is not going to be merely the task of law enforcement.
The social factors mentioned and the social projects mentioned by Mr. Rohee, have to be
promoted.
That is why the Citizens Security Programme Phase Two is going to be incorporated as a big part
of the crime strategy of Guyana, which was literally adopted. It is in the context of it being
integrated with the five-point plan of the Commissioner of Police and a number of other task
force recommendations, such as the combating of illicit trafficking in person, the task force on
suicide and there is the drug master plan strategy, all being incorporated and integrated. We are
going to come up with that which is going to be probably the best strategy, but it will take some
time.
I want to tell Hon. Member Mr. Rohee and the Members on the other side that the Citizen’s
Security Strategy is a five-year plan. It is not a one-year plan and in the Project Execution Unit is
going to ensure that our Smart City Project, which he seems to want immediately, in eight
months,… He cannot have it. Right now the Project Execution Unit is doing some designing as
to what might be best for the city. Remember in Georgetown, 52% of Guyana’s crimes are
committed when compared nationally, in the city and that is the Ministry of Home Affairs’
statistics. Right now, the statistics of serious crimes in and around the divisions are proving that.
We thus have to incorporate a variety of these recommendations and findings into that. We are
coming up with this plan that will involve community based crime prevention, capacity building.
Of course, we have started and we have community policing groups all around the country which
we are trying to resource and tool better. He spoke about tool kits, and so on. Yes, we are doing
all of that and more. More vehicles will be provided. [Mr. Rohee: Give back the vehicles.]
I will come just now to a number. When I got into the office there in Brickdam I had to take
some vehicles from the community policing and give to the Police Force for purposes of the
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Annex 102
police doing their surveillance. They will get theirs. I am not going to say that they would not get
it back, but it will take some time.
We also see another component of this citizen security dealing with evidence based social
projects. We have to do what is called local diagnostics and we are not going to incorporate
necessarily what is from overseas. There is a need sometimes for international imitation, but it
must be juxtaposed with local invention, if I may put it that way. We can combine the two to get
the correct strategy and then we will move on.
As a part of the next component, we will also increase the effectiveness of the Guyana Police
Force in preventing and investigating crime and violence by creating a network component that
is going to ensure that there will be literally a police headquarters, a command centre that will
know everything and all the reports being made at each and every station. It is going to be to the
extent…
Additionally, the programme will ensure support for criminal and forensic investigation
techniques. In that regard, we have to do lots more to graduate the forensic lab into a higher level
that would get it the certification required for it to do the DNA testing and all of that. It is an
important aspect that is required in this country, that forensic lab. As the certifiers have been
saying there are certain difficulties of integrity with specimen and a number of issues that caused
it not as yet to be so certified. There is difficulty of space and a number of difficulties which
include cost, and so on. We are going to look after those this year in at least a gradual way. It
might not be done this year or it might take some more time.
Also we want to congratulate the United States Government for ensuring, only two days ago, that
we now have the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) office here in Guyana. It is not only the
DEA office that is assisting in relation to police matters. We have got huge support from the
British who, right now, are in the process of doing a big training in relation to immigration
officers. The arrangement is for them to come here in Guyana to train at least 30 immigration
officers. Also it is to train a number of policemen as they have been doing either by going to
Florida, New York, and there is some police academy in El Salvador under the Organization of
American States (OAS) agreement. All of that we are having a lot of policemen…
125

Annex 102
In last year’s budget debate I indicated how policemen were not having these training because
there was, as I said then, certain controls. Whatever it was, they have now got no interference, in
relation to these matters, to the extent now that almost everyone that becomes policemen are sent
overseas. The Cabinet, as of today, has not blocked any from going overseas for training and we
feel all of these are going to help in that.
There is also a component three which seeks to strengthen the rehabilitative services of the
Guyana Prison Service. This component will employ a menu of many measures aimed at
reducing prisoners’ recidivism, that is, going back as soon as they come out to steal or to commit
robbery again.
10.41 p.m.
We need alternatives to incarceration for pre-trial detainees. That is why, as part of that larger
umbrella or main set of menu measures, we are going to deal with a brand new Juvenile Justice
Bill this year, as was mentioned by the Attorney General. It is being fine-tuned, I understand, and
it will be going to go for further consultation. We do have a strategy. Moreover, the Ministry of
Public Security also has, right now, a final draft of the drug master plan, which was further
refined as that which was there during the Hon. Member Mr. Rohee’s administration. I must say
that it is being fine-tuned by Mr. Michael Atherley. I want to tell Mr. Rohee this, so that
Members over there will also know that Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) comes under the
Ministry of Public Security, and this drug master plan strategy is going to… As Mr. Rohee said,
he had difficulties with it in integrating the networks. We are going to make sure that it is done
under an umbrella organisation called the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA). It will
incorporate in an integrative way CANU, the Police Narcotics Unit and the Guyana Revenue
Authority (GRA). It is important that he understands that. It is called NANA. They will have
their autonomy, these units, but they will come under an umbrella organisation for purposes of
ensuring that their work be integrated. CANU would not in a way know what the Police
Narcotics Unit is doing or the GRA is not doing. It is a concept that is required especially in
these times when the integrative measures are needed to be put in place to ensure that all of them
know.
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Annex 102
It is also important to know that this M. B. Tamakay platform, which Mr. Rohee was talking
about, the first cheque is to ensure that it is built and it has been built. There has been another
cheque issued for the ancillaries to be placed in it so that it can be like a police station on a
floating platform. Certain moneys in this budget, the details in the Capital Estimates, are here;
and provision for the floating base, $6.3 million.
[Mr. Rohee: We want an audit of that.]
Well, you are going to get your audit of whatever you want.
[Mr. Rohee: You are making an
issue.] I want you to give me as much scrutiny as you want. We have here a number of
questions asked in relation to the training of policemen, the M. B. Tamakay and what is
happening with the drug master strategy. I am just reporting to this National Assembly because
these are the things that would appear.
Right now, in relation to the Smart City Project and the Close Circuit Television (CCTV)
cameras, the Project Execution Unit would want to know whether it is America or England it
would have to go to see it in action to find out what best might be the model that would be
applicable here for Guyana. All of that is now in this first year, the design year as it is called.
It was only last week, in last month, that the disbursements were finally obtained from IDB for
this US$15 million project which will be a five-year programme and which comes up to $3
billion.
[Ms. Manickchand: You have spent three minutes on that, so…] You will not
fix my agenda, Madam. You can never do that.
The police force also requires a number of comfort zones in the context of having better
facilities. I want to congratulate the Minister of Finance for literally giving…Although we had
asked for some more, I must say, he indicated that we could not have got all. I appreciated that.
Here are some. Rehabilitation of officers’ quarters in Fort Kaituma - $7 million; rehabilitation of
Special Branch Admin building - $24 million; rehabilitation to Leonora Police Station - $6.7
million; Enmore Outpost - $5.3 million; Mounted Branch stable - $31 million; Reliance Police
Station - $10 million; living quarters, Mahaicony - $6.1 million; rehabilitation of East La
Penitence Police Station - $5.6 million. Now, when there is a police force that has comfortable
working conditions it is going to deliver. Try to understand it in that context. There is too,
provision for the floating base; construction of the stable at Lethem another - $20 million;
construction of the lockups at the Brickdam Police Station, the upper flat - $20 million;
rehabilitation of Quarter Master building - $60 million; band room - we also want some music
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Annex 102
and dedication as the Minister said but we are going to refurbish it with lots more instruments to
the tune of $74 million, Ms. Teixeira. We will have new drums not old drums. There is the
construction of a brand new police station, as I have been hearing from some Members in the
back benches, at La Parfaite Harmonie.
I know time is going to run and I want you and the Members over there to understand that we
also have for the Police Force’s Fingerprint Branch being resourced with a number of other items
that will be to the tune of $15 million. The Ballistic Section - $10 million; the communication
equipment, the Integrated Crime Information System (ICIS) - $60 million, and a whole lot more,
and even the Canines Section some $4 million.
Mr. Speaker: Hon. Member, you have five minutes more.
Ms. Ally: Mr. Speaker, I move that the Hon. Member be given five minutes extension added to
his original amount.
Question put, and agreed to.
Mr. Ramjattan: The Ministry of Public Security has lots more than merely the police force,
and it is especially important that we also pay attention to that which was done in relation to
capital for the fire service, and what was done in relation to a number of other services, even
CANU and the forensic lab. It is all there in the Capital Estimates. I want to say that in the fire
department we are trying to strengthen that by ensuring that we move ahead with the consultancy
for the realignment of that organisation structure and also the job descriptions. There are certain
recommended models for the fire and rescue services administration. We are in the process of
fine-tuning those in an emergency service department. It is going to be hard work but we are also
getting the support of some members of the diaspora who got almost US$100,000 in equipment
for the fire service out of the Hillsborough New Brunswick Canada Fire Department. I have
already indicated our gratitude to Fire Chief Glen Northrup and also Chief Ivan Davis of the
Norton Fire Department through some people who were in the fire service but are now living
overseas. One of the persons’ named is Mr. Taylor. And so we are going to utilise that. The
diaspora support will be there to get all these things. It is going to be very much important.
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Annex 102
Before my ten minutes is done I want to also make mention of what a lot of the Opposition
Members talked about, and that is the increase fees for gun licences. I have here a Cabinet paper
since 2012 to come into operation in 2013, signed by Dr. Roger Luncheon, and the original paper
was signed by Mr. Rohee, to increase fees for shot gun from $2,000 to $5,000. So I do not know
what they are rowing about. They had argued a case. It was then from $5,000 to $20,000. Now,
when Mr. Ramjattan does it, it is a big story. Rifle, it was to be $25, 000 and I increased it further
this year to $40,000. For firearms, the dealers, they went from $5,000 to $30,000. I have gone
over $150,000. They did not implement it, maybe because of probably political reasons. But it
was debated and they passed it in their Cabinet. The argument is well they have passed it and we
are going ahead executing on that which they passed because it is necessary.
I want also to make mention of something that we have heard that is very important, and that is I
think
it
was
my
good
colleague,
Hon.
Member
Dr.
Vindhya
Persaud,
who
indicated
yesterday

that
she
wanted
some
information
as
to
how
many…
It
would
appear
that
we
are
not
releasing

women
prisoners.
I
would
like
to
tell
her,
through
the
parole
board,
and
also
the
arguments
by

the
Office
of
the
President,
under
the
grant
of
pardon,…
I
will
name
them
because
sometimes

this
thing
is
twisted
and
turned
in
the
public
as
if
we
are
against
women.
We
are
not.
Bibi

Basheen,
Latisha
Sattaur,
Indira
Bissondai,
Jasodra
Bahadur,
Annette
Small,
Odessa
Thomas,

Coleen
Easton,
Tiffany
Peters
and
Ashley
Albert,
grant
of
pardon,
their
ages
range
from
the
ages

of 37,
and,
one
by
the
way,
is
at
the
age
of
60.
It
was
at
least 11
or
12
of
them
in
the
2015

December

Presidential pardon. If the information is required, I have an open line. As you all
know my line, you just ask and you will get the information so that there might not be any
misinformation as a result of no information. There are lots more that I can speak on in relation
to the Ministry of Public Security.
They want to hear something about SOCU. SOCU is under the Ministry of Public Security. It
was created by the Hon. Minister Rohee.
[Ms. Teixeira: It was under the law.] The
protocols have been already drafted in relation to how… That was not done, as far as I
understand, under Mr. Rohee’s administration. I have now done that. It is about six pages of
protocols as to how it must do its operations and those are going to be made public. You will see
them. It is to ensure that they come in line with that which is under the Police Standing Orders. I
am glad that you will welcome that.
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The difficulties of overcoming crime and violence in our society are not going to be an overnight
success. It will take some time and people must appreciate the difficulties of this thing. It is not
as if it is only in Guyana. In Jamaica, Minister Bunting is having problems; Trinidad, it has huge
problems.
10.56 p.m.
It probably had lots more than us here in Guyana, but with the Drug Enforcement Agency, with
all these Task Forces and the men and women behind them, with the Guyana Police Force (GPC)
and our Prisons Service, our Fire Service and all those that come under the Ministry of Public
Security, we are going to beat this scourge that assails this society. I must say in that sense that
all that which was allocated to this Ministry this year, and of course, in years to come, will
ensure that we beat it. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. [Applause]
Mr. Speaker: I thank the Hon. Member for his statement. Hon. Members, we have exhausted
our list for today. Hon. Prime Minister, you may move the adjournment.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Nagamootoo: Mr. Speaker, I now move that this House be adjourned until tomorrow,
Friday, 12
th
February, at 1.00 p.m.
Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until tomorrow, Friday, 12
th
February, at 1.00 p.m.
Adjourned accordingly at 10.57 p.m.
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Annex 103
Letter from the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the Secretary-General of the
United Nations (26 Apr. 2016)
Annex 103
MINISTRY OF THE PRESIDENCY
Vlissengen Road,
Bourda, Georgetown,
Guyana
2016-04-26
His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Office of the Secretary General
United Nations Headquarters
760 United Nations Plaza
New York, New York 10017
United States of America
Excellency,
I have the honour to write with regard to the revised Way Forward which you had
proposed on December 14, 2015, pursuant to Article IV of the 1966 Geneva
Agreement between Guyana and Venezuela.
Guyana records its appreciation for your sustained efforts and those of your team
in seeking to make progress in obtaining a path to a final and binding procedure
for settlement of the territorial controversy.
Guyana regrets that progress has not yet been possible.
The controversy arose as a result of Venezuela's contention that the 1899 Arbitral
Award relating to the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is "null and
void".
Guyana recalls that both the initial UN proposal of 12 November 2015, and the
revised proposal of December 14, 2015, affirmed that the Secretary-General
"intends to choose the International Court of Justice" if there is no agreement
between the parties prior to the end of his tenure in December 2016.
Guyana recalls, further, that the meetings of the UN delegation during the week
of 14 March 2016 with the parties in Georgetown and Caracas, respectively, were
intended as a final attempt to arrive at an agreement, notwithstanding the
authority of the Secretary-General to choose the means of settlement, irrespective
of the consent of the parties.
1
Annex 103
Guyana has expressed its willingness to accept the Way Forward in a spirit of
utmost cooperation and compromise. More than five months have now lapsed
since the initial proposal and December 2016 is fast approaching. Venezuela,
evidently, is unwilling to accept any effective procedure for settlement of the
controversy.
Guyana will commemorate the 50
th
anniversary of its independence on 26 May
2016. It has been our hope that this important event might be celebrated in the
context of a situation of territorial stability. That has proven not to be possible in
the face of Venezuela's continuing unfounded claim to almost two-thirds of
Guyana's sovereign territory.
Guyana's security, development and well-being have been impaired by this
unfortunate situation. I am sure that you will agree that it is not a situation that
should be allowed to persist any longer as we seek to develop our young nation.
Guyana respectfully submits that, in light of the efforts undertaken and the lack
of progress, Your Excellency should now in the exercise of your authority under
Article IV of the 1966 Geneva Agreement, inform the parties of your choice of the
procedure leading to the final and binding settlement of the controversy by the
International Court of Justice.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Yours sincerely,
David Granger
President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
2
Annex 104
Note Verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the
Ministry of People’s Power for External Relations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, No.
1075/2016 (1 June 2016)
Annex 104
NOTE NO.: 1075/ 2016
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana presents its
compliments to the Ministry of Popular Power for External Relations of the Bolivarian Republic
of Venezuela and has the honour to inform that the Ministry has received a report from the Guyana
Geology and Mines Commi ssion (GGMC) that Officers of that State entity were shot at on the
Cuyuni River, by members of the Venezuelan armed forces.
The report states that on Monday, May 30, 2016, at approximately 17:20 hrs, on the way
from Arau, in the course of conducting their official duties , the Officers of the GGMC came under
gun fire from Venezuelan armed forces, approximately one mile above Eteringbang.
The Government of Guyana wishes to register its grave concern over this unwarranted and
dangerous action by the Venezuelan military which is in flagrant violation of the United Nations
Charter and general international law. The Government of Guyana calls on the Government of
Venezuela to desist from the use of force and provocativ e actions. Such acts can only lead to the
destabilization ofrelations between Guyana and Venezuela. The Government of Guyana intends
to bring this matter to the attention of the Secretary General of the Un ited Nations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republi c of Guyana avails itself of this opportunity
to renew to the Ministry of Popular Power for Externa l Relations of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela the assurances of its highest consideration .
GEORGETOWN
June 1. 2016
Annex 105
Letter from the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of
Guyana to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (3 June 2016)
Annex 105
• 1-
- .1
June 03, 2016
His Excellency Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Office of the Secretary -General
United Nations Headquarters
760 United Nations Plaza,
New York, New York 10017,
United States
Excellency,
I write as a matter of urgency to inform you of a most worrying development in
Guyana ' s relations with Venezuela.
On May 30
th
, 2016 at approximately 17:20 hours, a team of three officials from the
Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, came under gun fire from the Venezuelan army
in the Cuyuni River within Guyana's sovereign territory. The Officials were returning from
a monitoring and inspection exercise at Arau, in the Essequibo Region , when the chartered
boat used for transportation came under attack approximately one mile from the
Eteringbang Police Station.
This follows earlier incidents in 2015 during which Venezuelan patrol boats
repeated ly violated Guyana's territorial sovereignty by unlawfully crossing the
international boundary , in addition to seizure by the Venezuelan nav y in 20 I 3 of a survey
vesse l well within Guyana's maritime areas.
The use of military force complements and follows closely in the wake of letters
sent by Venezuelan authorities to Canadian companies operating or considering operating
within Guyana's borders. Those letters falsely suggested that the Geneva Agreement
transferred the Essequibo region to Venezuela under international law. On the basis of that
fiction they threatened the firms with all action/powers at their disposal.
The Government of Guyana has communicated its grave concern over this latest
incident to the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and has called on the
Venezuelan Government to desist from provocative actions on Guyana 's border that can
only lead to the destabi I ization of relations.
1
Annex 105
• \
•
l
'
Excellency , these series of incidents have left no doubt in our minds that the
Government of Vene zuela is prepared to utilize unlawful means in pursuit of its unjustified
claim to almost two-thirds of Guyana ' s territory . I recall the continued illegal occupation
of Guyana's half of Ankoko Island by the Venezuelan military and the 2006 bombing of a
pontoon in the Cuyuni River by the Venezuelan military , which resulted in the death of a
Guyanese citizen.
Histor y is replete with examples of Venezuela ' s use of its superior military strength
against Guyana. This escalating pattern of aggression has continued since 1966 when
Guyana gained its independence from Britain and despite the existence of the various
mechanisms put in place to address the controversy arising from Venezuela ' s unjustified
contention since 1962 that the 1899 Arbitral Award is null and avoid. In fact, during the
twenty-five years of the Good Offices Process , Guyana has continued to face repeated
threats and intimidation , military incursions and subversion , and a deliberate policy of
stymieing its economic development. That process has been used as a cover to maintain
an unjust status quo that has seriously undermined Guyana ' s future just as it celebrates the
fiftieth anniversary of its independence. This situation is intolerable and unacceptable and
cannot be allowed to persist any longer.
At this stage we are unable to see the utility of continuing with a proces s that has
manifestly failed to bring this controversy to a definitive and legally binding conclusion . It
is in this regard that I reiterate to you the conviction of the Government of Guyana that
recourse to the International Court of Justice is the only realistic means for a lasting
solution to the controversy arising from the Vene zuelan contention that the Arbitral Award
of 1899, that established the territorial boundaries between Guyana and Venezuela , is null
and void . Such a course is within your power under the 1966 Geneva Agreement , and
would bring to an end the difference by recourse to final settlement by the principal judicial
organ of the United Nations.
I take this opportunity to reiterate the gratitude of the Government of Guyana for
your unwavering commitment to the propo sals set forth in the "Way Forward " and reassure
you of the full commitment of Guyana to the peaceful and expeditious resolution of this
controversy with Venezuela that stands in the way of harmonious relations between two
neighbouring States .
Please accept , Excellency , the assurances of my highest consideration .
--tf::, ~
Greenidge
President an
inister of Foreign Affairs
2
Annex 106
Address of the President of the Republic of Guyana to the U.N. General Assembly, 71st Session,
U.N. Doc A/71/PV.8 (20 Sept. 2016)
Annex 106
United Nations
A/ 71/ PV.8
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-first session
8th plenary meeting
Tuesday, 20 September 2016, 9 a.m.
New York
President: Mr. Thomson ......................................... (Fiji)
The meeting was called to order at 9.05 a.m.
and persecution. We have the means to prevent conflict.
We have the potential to close the gap between rich and
poor, and to make rights a reality in people’s lives.
With the Sustainable Development Goals, we have a
manifesto for a better future. With the Paris Agreement
on climate change, we are tackling the defining
challenge of our time. We have no time to lose. I urge all
the leaders here to bring the Paris Agreement into force
before the end of this year. We need just 26 countries
more, representing just 15 per cent of greenhouse-gas
emissions. I ask all those here to help lead us to a world
of low-carbon growth, increased resilience and greater
opportunity and well-being for our children.
Agenda item 109
Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the
Organization (A/71/1)
The President: In accordance with the decision
taken at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 16 September 2016,
the General Assembly will hear a presentation by the
Secretary-General of his annual report on the work of
the Organization (A/71/1), under agenda item 109.
I give the floor to the Secretary-General.
The Secretary-General: I stand before the
Assembly today with gratitude for the support I have
been given across the decade during which I have had
the privilege to serve the great Organization of the
United Nations. In taking the oath of office in December
2006, I pledged to work with the Organization for “we,
the peoples”. With the Charter of the United Nations
as our guide and the dedication of the staff, we have
achieved much together.
I also stand here in deep concern. Gulfs of mistrust
divide citizens from their leaders. Extremists push
people into camps of “us” and “them”. The Earth assails
us with rising seas, record heat and extreme storms.
And danger defines the days of many. One hundred and
thirty million people need lifesaving assistance; tens of
millions of them are children and young people, so that
our next generation already at risk.
Yet after 10 years in office, I am more convinced
than ever that we have the power to end war, poverty
Those great gains are threatened by grave security
threats. Armed conflicts have grown more protracted
and complex. Governance failures have pushed societies
past the brink. Radicalization has threatened social
cohesion, which is precisely the response that violent
extremists seek and welcome. The tragic consequences
are on brutal display from Yemen to Libya and Iraq,
from Afghanistan to the Sahel and the Lake Chad basin.
In today’s world, the conflict in Syria is taking
the greatest number of lives and sowing the widest
instability. There is no military solution. Many groups
have killed many innocents, but none more so than the
Government of Syria, which continues to barrel-bomb
neighbourhoods and systematically torture thousands
of detainees. Powerful patrons who keep feeding the
war machine also have blood on their hands. Present
in this Hall today are representatives of Governments
that have ignored, facilitated, funded, participated in
This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches
delivered in other languages. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only.
They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member
of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506
([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official
Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org).
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and even planned and carried out atrocities inflicted on
Syrian civilians by every side in the Syria conflict.
Yesterday we made great progress in helping people
Just when we think it cannot get any worse, the
find a haven from conflict and tyranny. The New York
Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (resolution 71/1)
points the way toward saving lives and protecting the
rights of millions of people. We all must meet those
promises. All too often, refugees and migrants face
hatred. Muslims in particular are being targeted by
stereotyping and suspicion that evoke haunting echoes
of the dark past. I urge political leaders and candidates to
not engage in the cynical and dangerous political math
of adding votes by dividing people and multiplying fear.
bar of depravity sinks lower. Yesterday’s sickening,
savage and apparently deliberate attack on a United
Nations-Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid convoy is the
latest example. The United Nations has been forced
to suspend aid convoys as a result of that outrage. The
humanitarians delivering life-saving aid were heroes.
Those who bombed them were cowards. Accountability
for crimes such as these is essential. I appeal to all
those with influence to end the fighting and get talks
started. A political transition is long overdue. After so
much violence and misrule, the future of Syria should
not rest on the fate of a single man.
The world must stand up against lies and distortions of
One year ago, Palestine proudly raised its flag at
United Nations Headquarters, yet the prospects for a
two-State solution are decreasing every day, while the
occupation grinds into its fiftieth year. As a friend of
both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, it pains me
that the past decade has been 10 years lost to peace; 10
years lost to illegal settlement expansion; 10 years lost
to intra-Palestinian divide, growing polarization and
hopelessness. This is madness. Replacing a two-State
solution with a one-State construct would spell doom,
denying Palestinians their freedom and rightful future,
and pushing Israel further from its vision of a Jewish
democracy towards greater global isolation.
On the Korean peninsula, the fifth nuclear test
truth, and reject all forms of discrimination.
We must also address the factors that compel
people to move. That means investing in conflict
prevention and engaging in patient diplomacy. As the
demand for peacekeeping rises, we must continue
strengthening peace operations to help countries secure
and maintain peace. I am encouraged that the General
Assembly has endorsed the Plan of Action to Prevent
Violent Extremism, which can help us tackle the drivers
of conflict.
In Myanmar, the transition has entered a promising
new phase. In Sri Lanka, post-war healing efforts
have deepened. In both countries, true reconciliation
rests on ensuring that all communities, minorities
and majorities alike, are included in building a real
union. Next Monday, I will travel to Colombia for the
signing of a peace agreement to end one of the world’s
longest-running armed conflicts. The United Nations
will support the Colombian people every step of the
way. There is also encouraging momentum towards an
agreement on Cyprus. Let us all support the progress
and solutions that may now be at hand.
conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea has again threatened regional and international
security. Meanwhile, their people’s suffering and plight
are worsening. I urge the leaders of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea to change course and fulfil
their obligations — to their own people and to the
(spoke in French)
family of nations.
In Ukraine, the violence has caused an internal
upheaval, renewed tensions across Europe and rekindled
geopolitical rivalries. In South Sudan, leaders have
also betrayed their people. Indeed, in too many places,
we see leaders rewriting constitutions, manipulating
elections and taking other desperate steps to cling to
power. Those who hold office must understand that it
is a privilege entrusted to them by the people, not their
personal property. My message to all is clear — serve
the people, do not subvert democracy, do not pilfer
the country’s resources and do not imprison and
torture critics.
I take this opportunity to express my regrets on
two matters that have tarnished the Organization’s
reputation, and far worse, have traumatized the many
populations we serve.
First of all, the despicable acts of exploitation and
sexual violence committed by some peacekeeping
soldiers and other United Nations personnel have
compounded the suffering of people already embroiled
in armed conflict and have undermined the efforts of
so many other United Nations agencies worldwide.
Those who would protect must never become predators.
Member States and the Secretariat must redouble their
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efforts to enforce and bolster the Organization’s zerotolerance
policy.
other atrocity crimes. Civil society is essential to all of
these efforts.
Secondly, Haiti has been sorely tested. Shortly
I ask all present to join me today in saying “yes” to
after a devastating earthquake, the country was hit
by a cholera outbreak. I am deeply saddened by the
terrible suffering of the Haitian people affected by
cholera. We must devise a new approach to ease their
plight and improve their living conditions. We are
firmly resolved to take sustainable action to shoulder
that moral responsibility. We are currently drafting a
set of measures to assist those most directly affected,
and we are intensifying efforts to set up robust water,
sanitation and health systems, which is the best longterm
protection
against
disease.
We
cannot
succeed

without
the
unwavering
political
and
financial

support
of
Member
States.
Details
on
that
strategy

are
forthcoming.
Let
us
pool
our
efforts
to
honour
our

obligations
to
the
Haitian
people.
greater space for civil society and independent media,
and “no” to cracking down on the freedoms of assembly
and expression.
(spoke in French)
In the past 10 years, we have made great progress in
education and health. Polio has almost been eradicated,
more women survive childbirth, and more children are
in school and live longer, better lives. Our collective
response to the Ebola outbreak has prepared us for
future health emergencies. The work of the Global
Health Crises Task Force reminds us that vigilance
must start well before pandemics reach the front pages.
The control of deadly weapons advanced thanks to
the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Arms Trade
Treaty and effective action against chemical weapons.
(spoke in English)
Allow me to briefly touch on a few other areas that
I hope will long remain priorities of the United Nations.
I am proud that UN-Women came to life during my
tenure. It is now our established champion of gender
equality and empowerment, seeking to bring about a
50-50 planet. I have appointed more women to senior
positions at the United Nations than ever before — and
I am proud to call myself a feminist. Women hold up
half the sky and are essential to meeting all our goals.
I have always said that the least utilized resource in
the world is the potential of women. So we must do far
more to end deep-seated discrimination and chronic
violence against women, to advance their participation
in decision-making and to ensure that every girl gets
We need to build on this momentum to move closer
to the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons once and
for all. The World Humanitarian Summit strengthened
relief efforts to focus on prevention and resilience as
well as on reducing need. We are tapping the energies
of young people as never before, including thanks to the
work of my first-ever United Nations Envoy on Youth as
well as the new Special Envoy on Youth Employment.
Partnerships with the private sector have multiplied.
We have pushed for responsible practices that harness
the best of business for society and the world, and we
have made important strides in adapting and reforming
the United Nations for the twenty-first century.
the start in life she deserves.
I have been a proud defender of the rights of all
people, regardless of ethnicity, religion or sexual
orientation. Our human rights machinery, along with
the Human Rights Up Front initiative, is placing human
rights at the centre. Human rights are the pillars of
society and the antidotes to violent extremism and
civic despair.
We have deepened support for the responsibility to
(spoke in English)
Continued progress will require new heights of
solidarity. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies.
Member States have still not agreed on a formula
for reform of the Security Council, which poses a
continuing risk to its effectiveness and legitimacy.
In the same spirit, I want to put on the table today
a major and much-needed reform for fairness and
effectiveness in the United Nations. Far too often, I
have seen widely supported proposals blocked, in the
name of consensus, by a few or sometimes even just
one country. We see this being done by large and small
countries alike. Time and again, I have seen essential
action and good ideas blocked in the Security Council,
protect. We have made inroads against the death penalty.
Landmark convictions by the International Criminal
Court and other bodies have advanced accountability,
but we still must do far more to prevent genocide and
blocked in the General Assembly, blocked in the budget
process, blocked in the Conference on Disarmament
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and other bodies. We see this being done by large and
small countries alike.
Is it fair, in this complicated twenty-first century,
for any one country, or a few countries, to yield such
disproportionate power and hold the world hostage on
so many important issues?
life again to save her community; and people like
Yusra Mardini, the Syrian teen swimmer who pushed
her damaged refugee boat to safety and then went on to
compete in the Olympic Games; and, of course, people
like young Malala Yousafzai, who came to the United
Nations and showed us all how one book, one pen and
one person could make a difference.
Consensus should not be confused with unanimity.
The global public is right to ask whether this is how an
Organization in which we have invested so much hope
and so many aspirations should function. I propose,
A perfect world may be on the far horizon, but the
route to a better world, a safer world, a more trusted
world, is in each and every one of us. Ten years on, I
know that, working together, working united, we can get
Mr. President, that you explore, with my successor, the
establishment of a high-level panel to find practical
solutions that will improve decision-making at the
United Nations.
there. I count on members’ leadership and commitment.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I thank the Secretary-General for his statement.
States must also respect the independence of the
Secretariat, in accordance with the Charter. When
our reports say what needs to be said, Member States
should not try to rewrite history. When our human
rights personnel act on behalf of the most vulnerable,
Member States should not block their path. When our
humanitarian workers need to reach populations under
siege, Member States should remove all obstacles. And
when our envoys and personnel raise difficult issues,
Member States should not ostracize them or threaten to
banish them from the country. We must all be open and
accountable to the people we serve.
There is one last measure of the change that has
Statement by the President
The President: It is my privilege today to open the
general debate of the General Assembly at its seventyfirst
session.
In
exercising
this
privilege, I
am
greatly

humbled,
as a
proud
Fijian
citizen,
to
know
that
this
is

the
first
time
in
the
seven
decades
of
the
history
of
the

United
Nations
that a
President
of
the
Assembly
has

hailed
from
one
of
the
Pacific
island
nations.
Three
hundred
and
sixty-one
days
ago
in
this
great

Hall,
the
2030
Agenda
for
Sustainable
Development

was
adopted.
The
result
of
two
years
of
intense,

multilateral
negotiations,
the
2030
Agenda’s
adoption

was
like a
beacon
of
hope
raised
to
guide
all
humankind

to a
better
world.
With
its
17
Sustainable
Development

Goals
(SDGs),
the
2030
Agenda
is
hugely
ambitious.

Imbued
with a
universal
and
transformative
spirit,
the

2030
Agenda
sets
out a
master
plan
for
us
to
transform

our
world
into
one
in
which
extreme
poverty
has
been

eliminated
and
peaceful,
well
governed
societies
live

sustainably
and
in
harmony
with
our
environment.

Essentially,
it
provides
for a
future
in
which
generations

to
come
will
live
securely
in a
loving
world.
How
are
we
progressing?
Our
first
great
indication

of
progress
is
that
the
Paris
Agreement
on
climate

change
was
adopted
in
Paris
and
we
are
moving
steadily

towards
its
ratification. I
salute
the
Secretary-General

for
his
tireless
work
in
that
area
and
congratulate

the
Governments
that
have
ratified
the
Agreement.

Overcoming
the
challenges
of
climate
change
is
the

existential
responsibility
of
our
time.
We
must
not

delay
any
further,
and
it
is
encouraging
to
see
that

more
energy
is
being
produced
from
more
affordable,
defined the past decade.
It is hard to believe, but when I took office, a
smartphone like this had not even been introduced to
the world. Today it is a lifeline and perhaps, at times,
the bane of our existence. It is an indispensable part of
our lives. Our phones and social media have connected
the world in ways that were unimaginable when I
took office. Yes, they have been abused by extremists
and hate groups. But they have also created a world
of new communities and opportunities. For me, it is
all a reminder of the power of individuals to change
the world.
After all, people power helped make the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1)
the most inclusive development process of our time.
People power mobilized millions to push leaders to
take climate action. People power is what I have seen
in every corner of the world this past decade: people
like Rebecca Johnson, a nurse I met in Sierra Leone
who contracted Ebola, recovered and then risked her
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renewable sources than ever before, and more resources
are going to climate adaptation.
It is heartening to see that the number of people
living in extreme poverty and suffering from
communicable diseases, like polio and malaria,
continues to decrease. It is evident that the 2030
Agenda is being increasingly used as the framework for
improved national development plans around the world.
But we are far from where we need to be.
Millions of people around the globe are suffering
directly through domestic finance or through official
development assistance such as climate financing. We
need to create better regulatory environments and to
require the international financial system to ensure that
financing is increasingly focused on productive, green
and socially responsible investment. We must support
greater access for poor and marginalized communities
and countries to science, technology and innovation,
to trade opportunities and to more sustainable debt
solutions. We can, and must, work better on sustaining
peace, preventing and responding to conflict and in
managing the global humanitarian and refugee crisis.
the brutal effects of war. The crisis in Syria continues
to bring immense human suffering to the Syrian people,
for both those who have fled in search of sanctuary and
those who have stayed under inhumane conditions. I
strongly condemn the attacks on a United Nations
aid convoy that was seeking to bring desperately
needed food and medical supplies to people in need.
The deliberate targeting of humanitarian personnel
is a flagrant violation of international law and totally
morally unacceptable.
Collective action by Member States must be
advanced. Strategic and inclusive partnerships must be
forged to meet the global challenges we face — from
climate change to conflict, from violent extremism
and terrorism to the contagious diseases that threaten
humankind. As President of the General Assembly, I
assure the Assembly that I will do everything possible
to support members in addressing those issues during
the seventy-first session.
Around the world, more than 60 million people are
In summary, during the seventy-first session I am
on the move, many risking their lives to flee conflict or
disaster. Week after week, innocent people are falling
victim to the despicable acts of violent extremists. The
gap between rich and poor, between men and women,
between developing countries and advanced economies
remains stubbornly high. At a time when collaboration
and partnership are needed more than ever, we are
witnessing increasing xenophobia, divisive rhetoric and
attacks on our human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Meanwhile, global greenhouse-gas emissions continue
to rise. Incredible damage is being done to our oceans
and seas, and the window of opportunity to avert
catastrophic climate change is rapidly closing.
committed to a universal push for the implementation
of all 17 SDGs. I will push for a United Nations
development system that works seamlessly as one and
that responds effectively to the needs of Member States
for which United Nations support is essential.
In response to the crisis our beloved ocean is facing,
I will oversee the preparations for the United Nations
conference on SDG 14, on oceans, to be held here in
the Hall and in the surrounding conference rooms from
5 to 9 June 2017. We are building the conference to be
the game-changer for the way we safeguard our ocean’s
well-being, and I hope to see as many members attend
as possible.
Taken together, it is clear that the 2030 Sustainable
Development Agenda is not yet producing the results
that our world so desperately needs. What are we
therefore going to do about it? There is only one answer:
we must do better to accelerate the implementation
of the Sustainable Development Goals. We need to
teach our young people about the Goals, because for
the required transformation to occur, it must first take
hold in our minds and in our values. It is our children
who will be the inheritors of the Agenda’s results, so
every classroom around the world should be teaching
the Sustainable Development Goals. I encourage all
members to achieve that reality. Greater public resources
must be dedicated to achieving the SDGs, either
Beyond the 2030 Agenda, as President of the General
Assembly, I am fully conscious of the responsibilities,
functions and powers of this organ under Chapter IV
of the Charter of the United Nations. Next week, I will
travel to Colombia for the historic signing of the peace
agreement between the Government of Colombia and
the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia — a
welcome agreement ending decades of civil conflict.
It is my hope that, in collaboration with Member
States and the wider United Nations community, it will
also prove possible over the coming months to take
steps to advance other pressing agendas before the
Organization: to strengthen the United Nations peace
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and security pillar by enhancing the Organization’s
ability to prevent and respond to conflicts and threats;
to advance the sustaining peace agenda as fundamental
to the United Nations engagement across peace and
security, development and human rights — there can be,
after all, no sustainable development without sustainable
peace; to combat discrimination and to further the
realization of human rights so that all people are able to
live free and equal in dignity and rights; to strengthen
the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture and
to protect the lives of the vulnerable and those most
at risk of such mass violations; to strive for greater
consensus on disarmament and non-proliferation; and
to work towards transforming the United Nations itself
by addressing the need for gender equality and parity,
better geographical balance, encouraging practices that
are flexible, innovative and coherent and making the
Organization more effective, efficient, accountable and
fit for purpose.
emerging challenges of the twenty-first century. That
includes tackling the security dimensions resulting
from climate change. During the seventy-first session,
we must work with each other across and between
traditional groups to build trust and flexibility so that
we can achieve reform that is for the common good.
In conclusion, we have an expression in the Fijian
language that exhorts us to look ahead and not to dwell
on the grievances, the stalemates and the mistakes of
the past. Today, I have touched on some of the great
challenges that lie ahead for humankind. Let us prepare
ourselves for them. It has been said that a politician
thinks of the next election but that a statesperson thinks
of the next generation. Like never before, we must look
to the statesmen and stateswomen among us to guide us
to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and to deliver the secure and harmonious
future that all of us wish for our children, grandchildren
and for those who come after them.
I take this opportunity to salute from this high
Before giving the floor to the first speaker for this
rostrum the thousands of United Nations peacekeepers
serving around the world, and to remember those who
have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the high
ideals of this institution. Blessed are the peacemakers.
As President of the General Assembly at its
morning, I would like to remind members that the list
of speakers for the general debate has been established
on the agreed basis that statements should be no longer
than 15 minutes, to enable all the speakers to be heard
at a given meeting. Within this time frame, I would like
to appeal to speakers to deliver their statements at a
reasonable pace so that interpretation in the six official
United Nations languages may be provided properly.
seventy-first session, I am fully committed to building
on the standards of transparency and inclusiveness
set by my predecessor. That will be particularly so
for the process by which the new Secretary-General
is appointed. Thereafter, our work will be to support
a smooth transition and a strong start for the next
Secretary-General. I will ensure that there are ample
opportunities for early interaction between the new
Secretary-General and Member States so as to build a
solid working relationship with the Assembly.
I would also like to draw the Assembly’s attention to
During the seventy-first session, I will also seek to
the decision taken by the General Assembly at previous
sessions, namely, that the practice of expressing
congratulations inside the General Assembly Hall after
a speech has been delivered is strongly discouraged.
In that connection, after delivering their statements,
speakers are invited to exit the General Assembly Hall
through Room GA-200, located behind the podium,
before returning to their seats.
improve our ways of working in the General Assembly.
I will look to address the effectiveness of Assembly
committees to improve the coherence between the
major organs, to enhance synergies and coherence of
the agenda in the light of the Sustainable Development
Goals and to tackle long-standing issues that are
holding back the efficiency and effectiveness of the
Organization and embed greater transparency and
ethics into all we do.
May I take it that the General Assembly agrees to
proceed in the same manner during the general debate
of the seventy-first session?
Of course, one area in particular need of attention
is Security Council reform. We must have a Security
Council that is structured to be able to meet the new and
It was so decided.
The President: Finally, I should like to draw to the
attention of members that during the general debate
official photographs of all the speakers are taken by the
Department of Public Information. Members interested
in obtaining those photographs are requested to contact
the Photo Library of the United Nations.
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Address by Mr. Michel Temer, President of the
Federative Republic of Brazil
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
well-grounded and embracing of change. That is how
Brazil has conducted diplomacy both within our region
and beyond as a country that has pursued its interests
without ever relinquishing its principles.
address by the President of the Federative Republic
of Brazil.
What we wish for the world is what we wish for
Mr. Michel Temer, President of the Federative
Republic of Brazil, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations
His Excellency Mr. Michel Temer, President of the
Federative Republic of Brazil, and to invite him to
address the Assembly.
President Temer (spoke in Portuguese): Brazil
Brazil — peace, sustainable development and respect
for human rights. Those are the values and aspirations
of our society. Those are the values and aspirations that
guide us on the international stage. We would like to
live in a world in which law prevails over force. We
would like to have rules that reflect the pluralistic
nature of the community of nations. We would like
to have a results-oriented United Nations, capable of
facing up to the major challenges of our time. Our
debates and negotiations cannot possibly be confined
to the Organization’s rooms and halls. Instead, they
should reverberate through the markets of Kabul, the
streets of Paris and the ruins of Aleppo.
brings its natural spirit of openness to the United
Nations and to the world. We are a country that is built
on and by the strength of diversity. We believe in the
power of dialogue. We strongly advocate the principles
that govern the Organization — principles that are
needed now more than ever before. Today’s world
shows signs of uncertainty and instability.
The United Nations cannot be reduced to a mere
The international system is currently experiencing
observation post that condemns the world’s scourges.
Instead, the Organization should assert itself as a source
of effective solutions. Those who sowed the seeds of
conflict have reinvented themselves, but multilateral
institutions have not. It is for that reason that Brazil has
warned that it is essential to make global governance
structures more representative, many of which have by
now aged and have become disconnected from reality.
The Security Council must be reformed. We stand
ready to overcome the current impasse surrounding
that issue.
what could be described as an order deficit. Reality
has moved ahead faster than our collective ability to
address it. From outbreaks of regional conflicts to
violent fundamentalism, we face both old and new
threats that we have been unable to contain. In view
of the refugee crisis and the upsurge in terrorism, we
cannot help but be overwhelmed by a sentiment of
perplexity or bewilderment. Hotbeds of tension show
no signs of fading away. A state of virtual political
inaction leads to prolonged wars with no solution. The
system’s inability to react to conflicts further worsens
cycles of destruction. The social vulnerability of so
many in several countries is exploited by narratives of
fear and entrenchment.
Many challenges go beyond national borders,
There has been a return to xenophobia, and extreme
including trafficking in drugs and weapons, and have
an impact on our cities, schools and families. Fighting
organized crime requires us to work hand in hand.
The very safety of our citizens ultimately depends on
the quality of our collective action. An example of
this is the war in Syria, which continues to engender
unacceptable suffering, with women and children as
the main victims. A political solution can no longer be
postponed. We call on the parties involved in the conflict
to respect the agreements endorsed by the Security
Council and to guarantee the civilian population access
to humanitarian aid.
forms of nationalism are gaining ground. Different
expressions of demagoguery bring about serious
risks on all continents. Even in the economic arena,
the fact is that today’s world lacks standards that can
otherwise reduce globalization’s asymmetries. Many
have yielded to the easy answer of protectionism. We
cannot possibly shy away from such a world. On the
contrary, we must join hands and unite to transform it
through diplomacy — balanced but firm diplomacy,
sobering but determined. Such diplomacy should be
We are also concerned by the lack of prospects for
peace between Israel and Palestine. Brazil continues to
support a solution based on two States living in peaceful
coexistence within mutually agreed and internationally
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recognized borders. It is our common responsibility to
give new impetus to the negotiating process.
As we are all aware, Governments of different
Another reason for concern, if I may say so,
is the lack of progress on the nuclear disarmament
agenda. There are thousands of nuclear weapons in
the world today. That amounts to thousands of threats
to international peace and security. The most recent
nuclear test in the Korean peninsula is a reminder of
the danger that nuclear proliferation poses. Brazil can
speak with the authority of a country where the use
of nuclear energy exclusively for peaceful purposes
is an obligation enshrined in the Constitution of the
Federative Republic of Brazil.
political inclinations coexist in our region. That is
natural and sound. What is essential is that there be
mutual respect and that we agree on basic common
objectives, such as economic growth, human rights,
social progress, security and freedom for all citizens.
Those are the objectives that guide and inform the
presence of the United Nations in Haiti. Since 2004,
Brazil has led the military component of the United
Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti and has sent more
than 33,000 contingents to that Caribbean country. We
trust that the United Nations presence on the ground
in Haiti will focus more on developing institutions and
capacity-building.
Yet not all news is bad. There are well-known
Brazil’s neighbours also include our brothers
examples, which have already been mentioned in today’s
meeting, of what can be accomplished through dialogue.
We celebrate that diplomacy has prevailed on the
Iranian nuclear dossier and encourage full compliance
and understanding with the agreements reached. The
peace accord between the Colombian government and
the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia
allows us to envisage the end of the last armed conflict
on our continent. I congratulate President Juan Manuel
Santos and all Colombians for that achievement. Brazil
stands ready to contribute to peace in Colombia. The
re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba
and the United States of America shows that there are
no eternal antagonisms or unbreakable deadlocks. We
hope that closer ties will bring progress to the region
as a whole, to include the economic and trade arenas.
We hope that the re–establishment of relations between
Cuba and the United State will be followed by the end
of the economic embargo against Cuba.
and sisters from Africa, to whom we are tied by the
Atlantic Ocean and by a long-standing history. This
year, we will host the Summit of the Community of
Portuguese-speaking Countries. Of the Community’s
nine members, six are African States. Brazil therefore
looks towards Africa with friendship and respect, with
a determination to undertake projects that will unite us
even more.
Development is more than just an objective, it is
an imperative. A developed society is one where all
are entitled to high-quality public services such as
education, health care, transportation and security; one
where equal opportunity is assured and where access
to decent work opportunities is not a privilege for a
few. In a nutshell, development is paramount to dignity,
and the dignity of humankind is one of the principles
of the Brazilian State, as laid down in article 1 of the
Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
This year, Brazil and Argentina celebrated the
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
twenty-fifth anniversary of the Brazilian-Argentine
is the greatest United Nations endeavour in favour of
Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear
development. Turning it into reality will require more
Materials. The Agency is the world’s only binational
organization responsible for applying nuclear
safeguards. As Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has
stated, the Agency is an inspiration for regional and
global efforts towards the elimination of nuclear
weapons. Confidence-building between Brazilians
and Argentines in the nuclear arena, as I have just
indicated, is part of the inception of our integration
experience, and of the foundation of projects like the
Southern Common Market. For Brazil, Latin American
integration is not only Government policy but the
expression of a constitutional principle and a permanent
foreign policy priority.
than the sum of national efforts. Supporting developing
countries will be crucial to the achievement of the
Sustainable Development Goals. Prosperity and wellbeing
today
should
not
impair
the
future
of
humankind.

Economic
growth
should
be
socially
balanced
and

environmentally
friendly.
After
all,
we
live
on
the
same

Planet.
There
is
no
plan
B.
We
must
therefore
take

ambitious
measures
under
the
principle
of
common

but
differentiated
responsibilities.
Tomorrow, I
will

formally
deposit
Brazil’s
instrument
of
ratification
of

the
Paris
Agreement
on
climate
change.
As
the
world’s

most
biodiverse
country,
and
with
one
of
the
world’s

cleanest
energy
mixes,
Brazil
is
an
environmental
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powerhouse with an uncompromising commitment to
the environment.
Development also depends on trade. In periods
in an atmosphere of peace and harmony. In fact, for
the first time, a delegation of refugees was able to
compete in the games. Therefore, through sports, we
can succeed in promoting peace, fighting exclusion and
tackling prejudice.
of economic crisis, protectionism often increases. It
must be curbed. Protectionism is a perverse barrier
to development. It reduces the number of jobs and
opportunities and makes men, women and families
around the world, including in Brazil, fall victim to
unemployment and hopelessness. The multilateral
trading system is part of the fight against that evil. Ending
protectionism in agriculture is particularly important
for development. We cannot keep backtracking on
the implementation of World Trade Organization
commitments on agriculture any longer. It is urgent
to prevent sanitary and phytosanitary measures from
serving protectionist purposes. It is urgent to discipline
subsidies and other distortive domestic support policies
in the agricultural sector. Home to a modern, diversified
and competitive agriculture, Brazil contributes to food
security. We produce for ourselves and we help to feed
the world.
Finally, I bring to the United Nations a message of
uncompromising commitment to democracy. Brazil has
just undergone a long and complex process, led by our
national congress and supreme court, which ultimately
led to an impeachment. I must stress that everything
unfolded in full compliance with constitutional order.
We offer that example as a clear indication that there can
be no democracy without the rule of law with standards
that apply equally to all, even the most powerful. That
is what Brazil is showing the world through the process
of cleansing its own political system.
We have an independent judiciary, an active public
Unfortunately, the full enjoyment of human rights
prosecutor’s office and executive and legislative bodies
that fulfil their duties. Individual agendas do not prevail
but rather the will of institutions, under the careful
oversight of a pluralistic society and a genuinely free
press. Our task now consists in resuming economic
growth and ensuring that Brazilian workers regain the
millions of lost jobs. We are clear on the path to be
followed. It is the path of fiscal and social responsibility.
Trust has already been restored and a more prosperous
horizon lies ahead in the near future. Our development
process consists primarily of investment, trade,
science, and technology partnerships. In that regard,
our relations with countries of all continents will prove
decisive.
remains an unaccomplished aspiration in today’s
world. Every human being has the right to live freely,
according to one’s own beliefs and convictions. Such
fundamental liberty, however, is disrespected every day.
Persecutions, political detentions and other arbitrary
acts remain recurrent in many areas of the world. Our
eyes should also turn to minorities and other more
vulnerable segments of our society. That is what we
have done in Brazil through income-transfer initiatives
and housing and education programmes, including
financial aid available to students from poor families
and backgrounds. We have also advocated gender
equality as expressly envisaged in our Constitution. It
I do not wish to close my remarks without addressing
the Secretary-General, who will soon be leaving office.
Mr. Ban Ki-moon, as we all know, has devoted the
last 10 years of his life to a tireless pursuit of peace,
is incumbent upon us to safeguard the rights of all.
development and human rights. He can be sure that we
are highly appreciative and thankful for his efforts.
Refugees and migrants are, more often than not,
victims of human rights violations, poverty, war and
political repression. Yesterday’s high-level meeting
cast light on some of those substantive matters. Brazil
is the product of immigrants, men and women from
all continents. We repudiate all forms of racism,
xenophobia and other forms of intolerance. We provide
shelter to refugees and migrants, as I underscored in
yesterday’s meeting (see A/71/PV.4B).
In the second decade of the twenty-first century, we
In a world still plagued by hatred and sectarianism,
can no longer doubt that our problems are global. There
is no place for isolationism. Ours is a common destiny.
At the United Nations, more than anywhere else, we
can come close to the universalist ideal that drives
us all. About sixty years ago, my fellow countryman,
Oswaldo Aranha, stated from this rostrum that even in
a world as disturbed as it was then, no one wished to
see the doors of the United Nations close. He warned
us all that without the United Nations, the shadows of
war would descend upon humankind to relentlessly
the Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic games
showed that it was possible for nations to come together
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and indefinitely eclipse the hope of so many men and
women. It is in the Assembly of nations that we nurture
our hope, a hope achieved through dialogue, mutual
understanding and respect for others, ourselves, our
children and our grandchildren.
increasingly interdependent and interconnected, just
as the challenges have become global and collective
in nature. The world in which we live is facing
multidimensional threats which prompt great concern.
Armed conflict, terrorism, climate change,
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I wish to thank the President of the Federative Republic
of Brazil for the statement he has just made.
Mr. Michel Temer, President of the Federative
Republic of Brazil, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
Address by Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, President of the
Republic of Chad
mass migration, underdevelopment, poverty, and
political, economic and financial crises have reached
unprecedented proportions. No continent or region
of the world has been spared by at least one of those
scourges. Citizens of the world from all walks of life
in some cases live in a perpetual state of fear and in
others in a state of despair because wars, indiscriminate
violence, poverty and the adverse effects of climate
change are on the rise and there is slim hope of solving
those problems.
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
address by the President of the Republic of Chad.
Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic
of Chad, was escorted into the General Assembly
Hall.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations
His Excellency Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, President of the
Republic of Chad, and to invite him to address the
Assembly.
President Deby Itno (spoke in French): Allow me
at the outset to congratulate His Excellency Mr. Peter
Thomson, Permanent Representative of Fiji, who has
been elected President of the General Assembly at its
seventy-first session. We wish him every success in
discharging his mandate. Chad pledges its full support.
I would also like to congratulate and thank His
Excellency Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, outgoing President
of the General Assembly, for his dedication and his
many initiatives to strengthen the role of the Assembly,
the most democratic and representative entity of the
United Nations.
At the same time, on behalf of Chad and the
African Union, I would like to congratulate and render
a heartfelt tribute to His Excellency Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon, whose mandate will soon come to a close.
His leadership, commitment and unflagging dedication
during the past 10 years have contributed to buttressing
the role of the United Nations and promoting its ideals.
Founded over 70 years ago by 51 Member States,
The growing number of refugees and displaced
persons throughout the world; the ongoing shipwrecks
of makeshift boats in the Mediterranean, resulting in
the loss of thousands of lives; and the Syrian tragedy,
which has been unfolding before our eyes for more than
five years, among other challenges, are tangible events
that eloquently illustrate our collective powerlessness.
In this world of uncertainty, Africa is the most
vulnerable and exposed continent. The victim of
colonial plunder and affected by the numerous problems
caused by underdevelopment, Africa is today under
full attack from terrorism — the greatest threat of the
century. Somalia, Libya, Mali, the Lake Chad basin and
the Sahel in general are seriously destabilized and the
danger is threatening to spread throughout the entire
continent. Despite their modest means, the African
Union and its member States are highly mobilized and
committed to fighting this absolute evil.
That is evidenced by the great sacrifices that the
African Union Mission in Somalia has made since
the United Nations today now consists of 193 Member
2004, the implementation of the Multinational Joint
Task Force by States of the Lake Chad basin and
Benin to fight the Boko Haram terrorist group, and the
establishment of the Group of Five for the Sahel, which
is a framework for security cooperation and countering
all cross-border threats in the countries of the Sahel.
This impetus for mobilization should be strengthened
and supported by the entire international community
by all means available, including physical, financial
and military, as well as through intelligence-sharing.
In that regard, from this rostrum I appeal to all States
Members of the United Nations, particularly Africa’s
partners, to contribute to the African Fund Against
States. The evolution of humankind has made our States
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Terrorism created by the African Union at its Summit,
held in Kigali in July.
The political and security situation in many African
Africa is also working with great diligence
countries concerns us deeply. Mali remains a target
of attacks by terrorist groups despite the presence of
United Nations forces on the ground and the peace
agreements reached following arduous negotiations in
Algiers. The international community must undertake
an in-depth analysis of the situation with a view to
ending the conflict through dialogue, without losing
sight of tailored and appropriate responses to the
terrorist threat.
to manage the crises and conflicts besetting it by
promoting a regional approach to crisis resolution,
underpinned by a peace and security architecture. Such
an approach, which is deserving of the firm support
of the international community, seeks to strengthen
the response capacity of regional and subregional
organizations in the light of their geographical
proximity, knowledge of the terrain and their rapid and
flexible deployment capabilities. The African Union
Mission in the Sudan, the African Union Mission in
Somalia, the African-led International Support Mission
in Mali and the African-led International Support
Mission in the Central African Republic are concrete
examples of the efforts of the African Union.
The situations in Libya and South Sudan remains
The complexity of conflicts throughout the world,
extremely troubling and requires a more substantial
mobilization on the part of the international community,
with the vigorous engagement and coordination of the
respective regional organizations involved in resolving
the crises. In that respect, the joint effort of the African
Union and the United Nations to deploy a civilian
protection force of 4,000 men, in addition to the United
Nations Mission in South Sudan, is to be commended.
We also call for more concerted efforts between the
African Union High-level Implementation Panel for
the Sudan and South Sudan and the United Nations to
persuade the non-signatories of the Doha Document for
Peace in Darfur to commit to it.
including in Africa, is such that no organization can
resolve them alone. That is why the African Union
has always advocated a strategic partnership with the
United Nations to confront security challenges on the
continent. The African Union has deployed all of the
aforementioned operations on behalf of the international
community and in deference to the purview of the
Security Council. Consequently, the African Union can
legitimately count on the multifaceted and financial
support of the United Nations.
Despite the successful holding of presidential and
We welcome the fact that this long-held position
legislative elections, the situation in the Central African
Republic remains fragile, as evidenced by the latest
clashes between armed groups within the country. That
situation requires a long-term follow-up, and the newly
elected Central African authorities must be further
supported in their efforts to normalize the situation in
their country. I call on the international community to
maintain and strengthen its support for peacebuilding
and national reconciliation there. We also urge the
political actors in brotherly countries, including the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Gabon,
to prioritize dialogue and cooperation with regard to
pre- and post-electoral crises. The African Union is
ready to assist them in settling their disputes through
peaceful means.
of the African Union is endorsed in the High-level
Independent Panel on United Nations Peace Operations
in its 20l5 report (see A/70/95), which has been
unanimously praised. Accordingly, in the spirit of
shared responsibility, at its latest summit the African
Union adopted a measure to shoulder 25 per cent of
the cost of peacekeeping operations authorized by
the Security Council on the continent. The African
Union hopes to receive the remaining 75 per cent from
the United Nations peacekeeping budget, in keeping
with the spirit of the division of labour and costsharing.
The
African
Union
anxiously
awaits
the
start

of
constructive
discussions
with
the
United
Nations

on
this
proposal
in
order
to
reach
an
agreement
that

could
further
strengthen
the
exemplary
partnership

between
the
African
Union
and
the
United
Nations
in

the
interests
of
peace
and
the
protection
of
civilians
in

times
of
crisis.
The serious crises affecting Iraq, Syria and Yemen
call on our collective conscience concerning the
many who have been killed, wounded, displaced or
made refugees, as well as to the destruction of their
vital infrastructure. The international community
must urgently find a political solution to all of these
crises through direct negotiations between the parties
in conflict.
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Concerning the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, we
One of the major challenges facing Africa is climate
call for a definitive, just and equitable solution that
guarantees security for Israel and an independent and
viable State for Palestinians, urging both parties to
resume dialogue and relaunch the peace process, and
setting out a clear framework for future negotiations,
along with a deadline, that will make it possible to put
an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.
Africa is not only a gigantic reservoir of raw
change and environmental issues. The advance of the
desert, the silting up of the Niger river, the El Niño
phenomenon in southern Africa and deforestation are
all the most striking signs of climate change in Africa.
Lake Chad has shrunk from 25,000 square kilometres
in 1960 to less than 2,000 today; this is additional
proof of the degradation of our planet’s climate. This
ecological disaster, which is endangering coexistence
among communities and dangerously threatening food
security in the Sahel, will certainly have consequences
materials; it is also home to more than 1 billion men
and women who yearn for harmonious development
accompanied by social well-being and prosperity. The
international community can eradicate poverty in the
world only if it upholds the commitments made within
the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development (resolution 70/1), which puts people
at the very core of all concerns. The implementation
of the Agenda must be an absolute priority in order
to eliminate extreme poverty, fight climate change,
strengthen resilience and promote sustainable economic
growth that will benefit all.
for the security and the stability of the region, as we
see from the strong presence and the accelerated
development of the terrorist threat.
The partnership with Africa must also be seen
In this respect, we stress the urgent need for an
in the fight for the preservation of the environment,
which is seriously threatened. In this respect, the Paris
Agreement on Climate Change, signed on 22 April
by all States, creates new obligations and a structural
framework for the long-term fight against climate
change. There is a great deal left to do to in order to
achieve tangible achievements in the implementation
of the commitments undertaken by all parties
according to the principle of common but differentiated
responsibility.
effective mobilization of the resources necessary to
finance development in accordance with the Addis
Ababa Action Agenda. Africa is committed to playing
its part by ensuring an effective coordination of efforts
as well as consistency among the goals of both Agenda
2063 and Agenda 2030. No region of the world, no
State can prosper alone or be surrounded by an ocean
of destitution and poverty without experiencing the
consequences.
The Agreement will be credible only if it is
accompanied by specific action aimed at bridging the
enormous gap between the efforts that have been pledged
and the noble objectives that are sought, including
those established at Copenhagen, namely, mobilizing
$100 billion by 2024 for the poorest countries.
The successive waves of young African migrants
The question of United Nations reform, and
moving towards Europe that we see on a daily basis,
thousands of whom have drowned, are a challenge to
the conscience of the international community. Though
we may erect barriers, build ghettos and mobilize naval
forces to contain migrants, the phenomenon will not
stop until the regions concerned are closely involved in
a suitable collective response. The solutions outlined at
the 2015 Valletta summit seem, unfortunately, to have
fallen short of our expectations and of the challenges.
It is not a matter of providing charity to Africa, but,
rather, of establishing with it a true strategic partnership
aimed at tackling common global challenges. It is not
too late to begin collective and concerted action that
takes on board the legitimate concerns of all the parties
concerned.
specifically that of the Security Council, remains a
major concern for Africa, which, because of a historical
injustice, remains marginalized in this organ. It is
unfortunate that such reform, which the African Union
has called for at every one of its summits for years, does
not seem to prompt any interest. Nonetheless, Africa
will continue to call for the creation of a more just and
equitable universal Organization, while reaffirming its
position on this matter as expressed in the Ezulwini
Consensus.
Confidence and hope in the global solutions that
the United Nations inspires will be well founded only
if all nations, in their diversity, take part in their design
and implementation. All of us, as in a marriage, must be
faithful to humankind, for better and for worse.
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The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I wish to thank the President of the Republic of Chad
for the statement he has just made.
Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic of
Chad, was escorted from the General Assembly
Hall.
Address by Mr. Barack Obama, President of the
United States of America
disruptions continue to weigh upon our workers and
entire communities. Across vast swaths of the Middle
East, basic security and basic order have broken down.
We see too many Governments muzzling journalists,
quashing dissent and censoring the flow of information.
Terrorist networks use social media to prey upon
the minds of our youth, endangering open societies
and spurring anger against innocent immigrants and
Muslims. Powerful nations contest the constraints
placed on them by international law.
The President: The Assembly will now hear
This is the paradox that defines our world today. A
an address by the President of the United States of
quarter century after the end of the Cold War, the world
is by many measures less violent and more prosperous
than ever before, and yet our societies are filled with
uncertainty, unease and strife. Despite enormous
progress, as people lose trust in institutions, governing
becomes more difficult and tensions between nations
become more quick to surface.
America.
Mr. Barack Obama, President of the United
States of America, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations His
Excellency Mr. Barack Obama, President of the United
States of America, and to invite him to address the
Assembly.
President Obama: As I address the General
Assembly in this Hall as President for the final time, let
me recount the progress that we have made these last eight
years. From the depths of the greatest financial crisis of
our time, we coordinated our response to avoid further
catastrophe and return the global economy to growth.
We have taken away terrorist safe havens, strengthened
the non-proliferation regime and resolved the Iranian
nuclear issue through diplomacy. We opened relations
with Cuba, helped Colombia end Latin America’s
longest war, and we welcome a democratically elected
leader of Myanmar to this Assembly. Our assistance
is helping people feed themselves, care for the sick,
power communities across Africa and promote models
of development rather than dependence. We have made
international institutions such as the World Bank and
the International Monetary Fund more representative,
while establishing a framework to protect our planet
from the ravages of climate change.
This is important work. It has made a real difference
in the lives of our people, and it could not have happened
had we not worked together. Yet around the globe we
are seeing the same forces of global integration that
have made us interdependent also expose deep fault
lines in the existing international order. We see it in the
headlines every day. Around the world, refugees flow
across borders in flight from brutal conflict. Financial
I therefore believe that at this moment we all face
a choice. We can choose to press forward with a better
model of cooperation and integration, or we can retreat
into a world sharply divided, and ultimately in conflict,
along age-old lines of nation, tribe, race or religion. I
want to suggest today that we must go forward and not
backward. I believe that as imperfect as they are, the
principles of open markets, accountable governance,
democracy, human rights and international law that we
have forged remain the firmest foundation for human
progress in this century. I make this argument not based
on theory or ideology, but on facts — facts that all too
often we forget in the immediacy of current events.
This is the most important fact: the integration of
our global economy has made life better for billions of
men, women and children. Over the last 25 years, the
number of people living in extreme poverty has been
cut from nearly 40 per cent of humanity to under 10 per
cent. That is unprecedented, and it is not an abstraction.
It means children have enough to eat; mothers do not
die in childbirth.
Meanwhile, cracking the genetic code promises to
cure diseases that have plagued us for centuries. The
Internet can deliver the entirety of human knowledge
to a young girl in a remote village on a single handheld
device.
In
medicine
and
manufacturing,
in

education
and
communications,
we
are
experiencing

a
transformation
of
how
human
beings
live
on a
scale

that
recalls
the
revolutions
in
agriculture
and
industry.

As a
result, a
person
born
today
is
more
likely
to
be
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healthy, live longer and have access to opportunity than
at any time in human history. Moreover, the collapse of
colonialism and communism has allowed more people
than ever before to live with the freedom to choose
their leaders. Despite the real and troubling areas where
freedom appears to be in retreat, the fact remains that
the number of democracies around the world has nearly
doubled in the last 25 years.
deliver security or prosperity over the long term, but
I do believe that these visions fail to recognize, at a
very basic level, our common humanity. Moreover, I
believe that the acceleration of travel, technology and
telecommunications — together with a global economy
that depends on a global supply chain — makes it
ultimately self-defeating for those who seek to reverse
this progress. Today, a nation ringed by walls would
only imprison itself.
In remote corners of the world, citizens are
demanding respect for the dignity of all people no
matter their gender, race, religion, disability or sexual
orientation, and those who deny others dignity are
subject to public reproach. An explosion of social
media has given ordinary people more ways to express
themselves and has raised people’s expectations for
those of us in power. Indeed, our international order
has been so successful that we take it as a given that
great Powers no longer fight world wars, that the end of
the Cold War lifted the shadow of nuclear Armageddon,
that the battlefields of Europe have been replaced by
peaceful union and that China and India remain on a
path of remarkable growth.
The answer cannot be a simple rejection of global
integration. Instead, we must work together to make
sure that the benefits of such integration are broadly
shared and that the economic, political and cultural
disruptions that are caused by integration are squarely
addressed. This is not the place for a detailed policy
blueprint, but let me offer in broad strokes those areas
where I believe we must do better together.
It starts with making the global economy work better
I say all this not to whitewash the challenges we
for all people and not just for those at the top. While
open markets and capitalism have raised standards of
living around the globe, globalization, combined with
rapid progress in technology, has also weakened the
position of workers and their ability to secure a decent
wage. In advanced economies like my own, unions
have been undermined and many manufacturing jobs
have disappeared. Often, those who benefit most from
globalization have used their political power to further
undermine the position of workers.
face or to suggest complacency. Rather, I believe that
we need to acknowledge these achievements in order to
summon the confidence to carry this progress forward
and to make sure that we do not abandon those very
things that have delivered this progress. In order to
move forward, however, we do have to acknowledge
that the existing path to global integration requires
a course correction. All too often, those trumpeting
the benefits of globalization have ignored inequality
within and among nations, have ignored the enduring
appeal of ethnic and sectarian identities, and have left
international institutions ill-equipped, underfunded and
In developing countries, labour organizations have
often been suppressed, and the growth of the middle class
has been held back by corruption and underinvestment.
Mercantilist policies pursued by Governments with
export-driven models threaten to undermine the
consensus that underpins global trade. Meanwhile,
global capital is too often unaccountable — nearly
underresourced for handling transnational challenges.
As these real problems have been neglected,
$8 trillion stashed away in tax havens, the shadow
banking system that grows beyond the reach of effective
oversight.
alternative visions of the world have pressed forward
both in the wealthiest countries and in the poorest:
religious fundamentalism, the politics of ethnicity
or tribe or sect, aggressive nationalism, a crude
populism — sometimes from the far left, but more
often from the far right — which seeks to restore what
they believe was a better, simpler age free of outside
contamination.
A world in which 1 per cent of humankind controls
We cannot dismiss these visions. They are
as much wealth as the other 99 per cent will never be
stable. I understand that the gaps between rich and
poor are not new, but just as the child in a slum today
can see the skyscraper nearby, technology now allows
any person with a smartphone to see how the most
privileged among us live and the contrast between their
own lives and others’. Expectations rise then — faster
than Governments can deliver — and a pervasive sense
of injustice undermines people’s faith in the system.
powerful. They reflect dissatisfaction among too
many of our citizens. I do not believe those visions can
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So how do we fix this imbalance? We cannot unwind
extort and bribe. That is why we have worked to reach
trade agreements that raise labour standards and raise
environmental standards, as we have done with the
Trans-Pacific Partnership, so that the benefits are more
broadly shared.
immigration any more than we can stuff technology
back into a box. Nor can we look to failed models of
the past. If we start resorting to trade wars, marketdistorting
subsidies,
beggar-thy-neighbour
policies
and

overreliance
on
natural
resources
instead
of
innovation,

these
approaches
will
make
us
poor
collectively,
and

they
are
more
likely
to
lead
to
conflict.
The
stark

contrast
between,
say,
the
success
of
the
Republic
of

Korea
and
the
wasteland
of
North
Korea
shows
that
the

central
planned
control
of
the
economy
is a
dead
end.
Just as we benefit by combating inequality within
But I do believe there is another path, one that
our countries, so I believe advanced economies still
need to do more to close the gap between rich and poor
nations around the globe. This is difficult politically. It
is difficult to spend on foreign assistance, but I do not
believe this is charity. For a small fraction of what we
spent on the war in Iraq, we could support institutions
so that fragile States do not collapse in the first place
and invest in emerging economies that become markets
for our goods. It is not just the right thing to do; it is the
smart thing to do.
fuels growth and innovation and offers the clearest
route to individual opportunity and national success.
It does not require succumbing to a soulless capitalism
that benefits only the few, but rather recognizes that
economies are more successful when we close the gap
between rich and poor and growth is broadly based.
That means respecting the rights of workers so that they
can organize into independent unions and earn a living
wage. It means investing in our people, their skills,
their education, their capacity to take an idea and turn
it into a business. It means strengthening the safety net
that protects our people from hardship and allows them
to take more risks to look for a new job or start a new
venture.
That is why we need to follow through on our efforts
to combat climate change. If we do not act boldly, the
bill that could come due will be mass migrations, cities
submerged, nations displaced, food supplies decimated
and conflicts borne of despair. The Paris Agreement on
Climate Change gives us a framework to act, but only
if we scale up our ambitions. There must be a sense of
urgency about bringing the Agreement into force and
helping poorer countries leapfrog destructive forms of
energy.
These are the policies that I pursued here in
the United States and with clear results. American
businesses have now created 15 million new jobs. After
the recession, the top 1 per cent of Americans were
capturing more than 90 per cent of income growth, but
today that is down to roughly half. Last year, poverty
in this country fell at the fastest rate in nearly 50 years.
With further investment in infrastructure and early
childhood education and basic research, I am confident
For the wealthiest countries, therefore, a green
climate fund should be just the beginning. We need
to invest in research and provide market incentives
to develop new technologies and then make those
technologies accessible and affordable for poor
countries. Only then can we continue lifting all people
up from poverty without condemning our children to a
planet beyond their capacity to repair it.
that such progress will continue.
We therefore need new models for the global
So just as I pursued these measures here at home,
so the United States has worked with many nations to
curb the excesses of capitalism, not to punish wealth,
but to prevent repeated crises that can destroy it. That is
why we have worked with other nations to create higher
and clearer standards for banking and taxation, because
a society that asks less of oligarchs than of ordinary
citizens will rot from within.
That is why we have pushed for transparency and
cooperation in rooting out corruption and tracking
illicit dollars, because markets create more jobs when
they are fuelled by hard work and not the capacity to
marketplace, models that are inclusive and sustainable.
In the same way, we need models of governance that
are inclusive and accountable to ordinary people. I
recognize that not every country in this Hall is going to
follow the same model of governance. I do not think that
America can or should impose our system of government
on other countries, but there appears to be a growing
contest between authoritarianism and liberalism right
now. I want everybody to understand, I am not neutral
in that contest. I believe in a liberal political order, an
order built not just through elections and representative
government, but also through respect for human rights
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and civil society and independent judiciaries and the
rule of law.
I know that some countries that now recognize
unique to America. Look at the transformation that has
taken place in countries as different as Japan, Chile,
Indonesia and Botswana. The countries that have
succeeded are ones in which people feel they have a
stake. In Europe, the progress of those countries in the
former Soviet bloc that embraced democracy stand in
clear contrast to those that did not. After all, the people
of Ukraine did not take to the streets because of some
plot imposed from abroad. They took to the streets
because their leadership was for sale and they had no
recourse. They demanded change because they saw life
get better for the people in the Baltics and in Poland,
societies that were more liberal and democratic and
open than their own.
the power of free markets still reject the model of free
societies. Perhaps those of us who have been promoting
democracy feel somewhat discouraged since the end
of the cold war, because we have learned that liberal
democracy will not just wash across the globe in a single
wave. It turns out that building accountable institutions
is hard work, the work of generations. The gains are
often fragile. Sometimes we take one step forward
and then two steps back. In countries held together
by borders drawn by colonial Powers, with ethnic
enclaves and tribal divisions, politics and elections can
sometimes appear to be a zero-sum game.
So those of us who believe in democracy need
So, given the difficulty in forging true democracy
to speak out forcefully because both the facts and
history, I believe, are on our side. That does not mean
that democracies are not without flaws. It does mean
that the cure for what ails our democracies is greater
engagement by our citizens, not less. Yes, in America,
there is too much money in politics, too much entrenched
partisanship, too little participation by citizens, in part
because of a patchwork of laws that makes it harder to
vote.
in the face of these pressures, it is no surprise that some
argue that the future favours the strong man, a top-down
model, rather than strong democratic institutions. But I
believe this thinking is wrong. I believe that the road of
true democracy remains the better path. I believe that,
in the twenty-first century, economies can only grow
to a certain point until they need to open up, because
entrepreneurs need to access information in order to
invent, young people need a global education in order
to thrive, independent media needs to check the abuses
of power. Without this evolution, the expectations of
people will ultimately not be met. Suppression and
stagnation will set in. And history shows that strong
men are then left with two paths: permanent crackdown,
which sparks strife at home, or scapegoating enemies
abroad, which can lead to war.
In Europe, a well-intentioned Brussels often became
too isolated from the normal push-and-pull of national
politics. Too often in capitals decision-makers have
forgotten that democracy needs to be driven by civic
engagement from the bottom up, not governance by
experts from the top down. So these are real problems.
As leaders of democratic Governments make the case
for democracy abroad, we had better strive harder to set
a better example at home.
I will admit that my belief that Governments should
serve the individual and not the other way around is
Moreover, every country will organize its
shaped by America’s story. Our nation began with the
Government informed by centuries of history, the
promise of freedom that applied only to the few, but
because of our democratic Constitution, because of our
Bill of Rights, because of our ideals, ordinary people
were able to organize and march and protest. And
ultimately those ideals won out and opened doors for
women, minorities and workers in ways that made our
economy more productive and turned our diversity into
a strength. It gave innovators the chance to transform
every area of human endeavour. It made it possible for
someone like me to be elected President of the United
States.
circumstances of geography and the deeply held beliefs
So, yes, my views are shaped by the specific
of its people. So I recognize that a traditional society may
value unity and cohesion more than a diverse country
like my own, which was founded upon what at the time
was a radical idea, the idea of the liberty of individual
human beings endowed with certain God-given rights.
But that does not mean that ordinary people in Asia
or Africa or the Middle East somehow prefer arbitrary
rule that denies them a voice in the decisions that can
shape their lives. I believe that spirit is universal. If
anyone doubts the universality of that desire, listen to
the voices of young people everywhere who call out
for freedom and dignity and the opportunity to control
their own lives.
experiences of America, but I do not think this story is
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This leads me to the third thing we need to do. We
If we are honest, we will understand that no external
must reject any forms of fundamentalism or racism or
belief in ethnic superiority that makes our traditional
identities irreconcilable with modernity. Instead,
we need to embrace the tolerance that results from
respect for all human beings. It is a truism that global
integration has led to a collision of cultures. Trade,
migration, the Internet — all these things can challenge
and unsettle our most cherished identities. We see
liberal societies express opposition when women
choose to cover themselves. We see protests responding
to Western newspaper cartoons that caricature the
Prophet Mohammed.
In a world that left the age of empire behind, we see
power is going to be able to force different religious
communities or ethnic communities to coexist for long.
But I do believe we have to be honest about the nature
of these conflicts. Our international community must
continue to work with those who seek to build rather than
to destroy. And there is a military component to that,
which means being united and relentless in destroying
networks like ISIL, which show no respect for human
life. But it also means that in a place like Syria, where
there is no ultimate military victory to be won, we are
going to have to pursue the hard work of diplomacy that
aims to stop the violence, deliver aid to those in need,
and support those who pursue a political settlement and
can see those who are not like themselves as worthy of
dignity and respect.
Russia attempting to recover lost glory through force.
Asian powers debate competing claims of history.
And in Europe and the United States, we see people
wrestle with concerns about immigration and changing
demographics, suggesting that somehow people who
look different are corrupting the character of our
countries. There is no easy answer for resolving all
these social forces, and we must respect the meaning
that people draw from their own traditions, from their
religion, from their ethnicity, from their sense of
nationhood. But I do not believe progress is possible
if our desire to preserve our identities gives way to an
impulse to dehumanize or dominate another group.
Across the region’s conflicts, we have to insist
that all parties recognize a common humanity and that
nations end proxy wars that fuel disorder, because until
basic questions are answered about how communities
coexist, the embers of extremism will continue to burn,
countless human beings will suffer — most of all in that
region — and extremism will continue to be exported
overseas. And the world is too small for us to simply be
able to build a wall and prevent it from affecting our
own societies.
And what is true in the Middle East is true for all
If our religion leads us to persecute those of
another faith, if we jail or beat people who are gay, if
our traditions lead us to prevent girls from going to
school, if we discriminate on the basis of race, tribe
or ethnicity, then the fragile bonds of civilization will
fray. The world is too small. We are too packed together
for us to be able to resort to those old ways of thinking.
of us. Surely religious traditions can be honoured and
upheld while teaching young people science and math,
rather than intolerance. Surely we can sustain our unique
traditions while giving women their full and rightful
role in the politics and economics of a nation. Surely
we can rally our nations to solidarity while recognizing
equal treatment for all communities — whether it is a
religious minority in Myanmar or an ethnic minority
We see this mindset in too many parts of the
in Burundi or a racial minority right here in the United
Middle East. So much of the collapse in order there
has been fuelled because leaders sought legitimacy, not
because of policies or programmes, but by resorting to
persecuting political opposition, or demonizing other
religious sects, by narrowing the public space to the
mosque, where in too many places perversions of a
great faith were tolerated. And these forces built up for
years. They are now at work helping to fuel both Syria’s
tragic civil war and the mindless medieval menace of
the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The
mindset of sectarianism, extremism, blood-letting
and retribution that has been taking place will not be
quickly reversed.
States. And surely, Israelis and Palestinians will be
better off if Palestinians reject incitement and recognize
the legitimacy of Israel, and Israel recognizes that it
cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land.
We all have to do better as leaders in tamping down,
rather than encouraging, a notion of identity that leads
us to diminish others.
And this leads me to the fourth and final thing
we need to do, and that is sustain our commitment
to international cooperation rooted in the rights and
responsibilities of nations. As President of the United
States, I know that for most of human history, power
has not been unipolar. The end of the Cold War may
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have led too many to forget this truth. I have noticed
as President that, at times, both America’s adversaries
and some of our allies believe that all problems were
either caused by Washington or could be solved by
Washington, and perhaps too many in Washington
believed that as well.
But I believe that America has been a rare super-
children – including our girls – the education that is the
foundation for opportunity in our world. But we have to
put our money where our mouths are. And we can only
realize the promise of this institution’s founding – to
replace the ravages of war with cooperation – if powerful
nations like my own accept constraints. Sometimes I
am criticized in my own country for professing a belief
in international norms and multilateral institutions. But
I am convinced that in the long run, giving up some
freedom of action – not giving up our ability to protect
ourselves or pursue our core interests, but binding
ourselves to international rules over the long term –
enhances our security. And I think that is not true just
for us.
Power in human history insofar as it has been willing
to think beyond narrow self-interest, that while we have
made our share of mistakes over these last 25 years
– and I have acknowledged some – we have strived,
sometimes at great sacrifice, to align better our actions
with our ideals. And as a consequence, I believe we
have been a force for good.
If Russia continues to interfere in the affairs of its
We have secured allies. We have acted to protect
neighbours, it may be popular at home and it may fuel
nationalist fervour for a time, but over time it is also
going to diminish its stature and make its borders less
secure. In the South China Sea, a peaceful resolution of
disputes offered by law will mean far greater stability
than the militarization of a few rocks and reefs.
the vulnerable. We have supported human rights and
welcomed scrutiny of our own actions. We have bound
our power to international laws and institutions. When
we have made mistakes, we have tried to acknowledge
them. We have worked to roll back poverty, hunger and
disease beyond our borders, not just within our borders.
We are all stakeholders in this international system,
I am proud of that. But I also know that we cannot
and it calls upon all of us to invest in the success of
institutions to which we belong. And the good news is
that many nations have shown what kind of progress is
possible when we make those commitments. Consider
what we have accomplished at the United Nations over
the past few years. Together, we mobilized some 50,000
additional troops for United Nations peacekeeping,
making them nimble, better equipped, better prepared
to deal with emergencies. Together we established an
Open Government Partnership so that, increasingly,
transparency empowers more and more people around
the globe. And together, now, we have to open our
hearts and do more to help refugees who are desperate
do this alone. And I believe that if we are to meet the
challenges of this century, we are all going to have to
do more to build up international capacity. We cannot
escape the prospect of nuclear war unless we all commit
to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and pursuing
a world without them. When Iran agrees to accept
constraints on its nuclear programme, that enhances
global security and enhances Iran’s ability to work with
other nations. On the other hand, when North Korea
tests a bomb that endangers all of us. And any country
that breaks this basic bargain must face consequences.
And those nations with these weapons, like the United
States, have a unique responsibility to pursue the path
for a home.
of reducing our stockpiles and reaffirming basic norms,
like the commitment to never test them again.
We cannot combat a disease like zika that recognizes
no borders – mosquitos do not respect walls – unless we
make permanent the same urgency that we brought to
bear against Ebola – by strengthening our own systems
of public health, by investing in cures, rolling back the
root causes of disease and helping poorer countries
develop their public health infrastructures.
We can only eliminate extreme poverty if the
Sustainable Development Goals that we have set are
more than words on paper. Human ingenuity now gives
us the capacity to feed the hungry and give all of our
We should all welcome the pledges of increased
assistance that have been made at this General Assembly
gathering. I will be discussing that more this afternoon,
but we have to follow through, even when the politics are
hard, because, in the eyes of innocent men and women
and children who, through no fault of their own, have
had to flee everything that they know, everything that
they love, we have to have the empathy to see ourselves.
We have to imagine what it would be like for our
family, for our children, if the unspeakable happened
to us. And we should all understand that, ultimately,
our world will be more secure if we are prepared to
help those in need and the nations that are carrying the
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largest burden with respect to accommodating these
refugees.
the fates of other human beings on the other side of the
world.
There are a lot of nations right now that are doing
I think of the thousands of health-care workers
the right thing, but many nations — particularly those
blessed with wealth and the benefits of geography — that
can do more to offer a hand, even if they also insist
that refugees who come to our countries have to do
more to adapt to the customs and conventions of the
communities that are now providing them a home.
Let me conclude by saying that I recognize that
from around the world who volunteered to fight Ebola.
I remember the young entrepreneurs I met who are now
starting new businesses in Cuba, or the parliamentarians
who used to be just a few years ago political prisoners
in Myanmar. I think of the girls who have braved taunts
or violence just to go to school in Afghanistan, and the
university students who started programmes online to
history tells a different story than the one that I have
reject the extremism of organizations like ISIL. I draw
talked about here today. There is a much darker and
more cynical view of history that we can adopt. Human
beings are too often motivated by greed and by power.
Big countries for most of history have pushed smaller
ones around. Tribes, ethnic groups and nation States
have very often found it most convenient to define
themselves by what they hate and not just those ideas
that bind them together.
strength from the young Americans — entrepreneurs,
activists, soldiers, new citizens — who are remaking
our nation once again, and who are unconstrained by
old habits and old conventions and unencumbered by
what is, but are instead ready to seize what ought to be.
My own family is made up of the flesh and blood
Time and again, human beings have believed that
and traditions and cultures and faiths from a lot of
different parts of the world — just as America has been
built by immigrants from every shore. And in my own
life in this country, and as President, I have learned
that our identities do not have to be defined by putting
someone else down, but can be enhanced by lifting
somebody else up. They do not have to be defined in
opposition to others, but rather by a belief in liberty and
equality and justice and fairness.
they finally arrived at a period of enlightenment only
to then repeat cycles of conflict and suffering. Perhaps
that is our fate. We have to remember that the choices
of individual human beings led to repeated world
war, but we also have to remember that the choices of
individual human beings created the United Nations so
that a war like that would never happen again. Each of
us as leaders and each nation can choose to reject those
who appeal to our worst impulses and embrace those
who appeal to our best, for we have shown that we can
choose a better history.
And the embrace of these principles as universal
Sitting in a prison cell, a young Martin Luther
does not weaken my particular pride in or my particular
love for America — it strengthens it. My belief that
these ideals apply everywhere does not lessen my
commitment to helping those who look like me, or pray
as I do, or pledge allegiance to my flag. But my faith
in those principles does force me to expand my moral
imagination and to recognize that I can best serve my
own people and I can best look after my own daughters
by making sure that my actions seek what is right for
all people and all children, and other people’s daughters
and sons.
King, Jr., wrote:
“Human progress never rolls on the wheels of
inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts
of men willing to be co-workers with God.”
And during the course of these eight years, as I have
travelled to many nations represented here, I have seen
that spirit in our young people, who are more educated
and more tolerant, more inclusive, more diverse and
more creative than our generation; who are more
empathetic and compassionate towards their fellow
human beings than previous generations. And, yes,
some of that comes with the idealism of youth, but it
also comes with young people’s access to information
about other peoples and places — an understanding
unique in human history that their future is bound with
This is what I believe — that all of us can be
co-workers with God. And our leadership, and our
Governments, and the United Nations should reflect
this irreducible truth.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I wish to thank the President of the United States of
America for the statement he has just made.
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Mr. Barack Obama, President of the United
States of America, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
Address by Mr. Andrej Kiska, President of the
Slovak Republic
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
the globalized world falling apart. Maybe that is one of
the reasons why so many people are sceptical about the
global development goals and our ability to deliver, and
why we often forget that humankind has an impressive
track record when it comes to making the world a better
place. Global poverty has been halved in the past two
decades. People fight fewer wars and commit fewer
homicides. Many more men and women have access to
health care and more girls attend schools than at any
time in the past.
address by the President of the Slovak Republic.
Mr. Andrej Kiska, President of the Slovak Republic,
was escorted into the General Assembly Hall.
I am sure that we are more than capable of dealing
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations His
Excellency Mr. Andrej Kiska, President of the Slovak
Republic, and to invite him to address the Assembly.
President Kiska: Many world leaders care more
with such challenges as poverty, hunger, diseases,
injustice and discrimination. With the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, we have the best means in the
history to make life on the planet as good as it gets. The
success of the new Agenda will not be possible without
efficient international cooperation and coordination,
backed by United Nations institutions. Success will be
not possible without us, the people in this Hall. At the
same time, we should not forget about our very own
homework — to win the hearts, minds and trust of our
people.
about retaining power than improving the lives of
their people. Those words of Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon were recently addressed to us, the people
in this Hall. We who are joined here are incredibly
privileged. Our job enables us to be in touch with the
most successful and the most miserable. We can meet
individuals with remarkable destinies and also the poor
whose daily routine is to fight for a piece of bread or a
bottle of clean water to stay alive. Each of them trusts
that we will be able to understand the scope of their
problems. They hope that we will never set our personal
interests over the needs of our people, our countries and
our planet.
The world has become smaller due to globalization
Last year’s decision of the international community
and modern communication technologies. The
problems our world faces have become more global
and intertwined. Yet our social instincts have often
remained local, and our sense of responsibility is often
limited by our national borders. There is a real danger
that many of us thought we would not see spreading
again. It is the rise of nationalism, extremism, racism
and intolerance in many parts of the world. I am certain
that responsible leaders need to address those dark
moods in our societies, because those moods are the
ultimate enemy of humankind — the enemy responsible
for the worst misery and bloodbath in our modern
history.
to transform the world for good — to leave no one
behind — was a clear and ambitious way of how to
address these needs. We are also perfectly aware of
the nature of the challenges awaiting us to decarbonize
the economy, to promote inclusive and sustainable
development. But too many people tend to be pessimistic
when it comes to setting grand global goals. Seemingly,
there are more than enough reasons for their negativity,
as we witness wars, terror and suffering. We see the
damaging consequences some of our actions have on
the planet and the people. And we can see them online,
as new technologies bring us closer than ever to each
other.
One of our most obvious duties as political leaders
In the interconnected world of social networks,
bad news travels especially fast. Sometimes it is
accompanied by lies, propaganda and dangerous
ideologies aimed at manipulating the public, spreading
hate and frustration, and creating a fearful picture of
is, without doubt, to provide for and preserve peace
and development. We have established many useful
institutions to progress in that effort. However, we are
witnessing the largest crisis of displacement since the
Second World War. There is no need for me to recall
the worrying number of refugees. We hear those
numbers so often that sometimes we forget that this
is not a numbers game. As His Holiness Pope Francis
reminds us, migrants and refugees are not pawns on the
chessboard of humankind. They are children, fathers
and mothers — real men and women.
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Every political misunderstanding and failure to
crisis. Slovakia is ready to continue to assist Ukraine in
securing a stable, prosperous and democratic future for
all of its citizens.
find solutions leads to more people without a roof over
their head, more families separated and more hungry
children. It means greater temptation to set people
against each other and arouse fear among them. We may
have different starting positions, different experiences
and even different points of view on the problem, but we
all have to understand that refugees need our empathy
and our help. I strongly and truly believe that it is a
moral duty of every successful, modern country to help.
It is a moral duty of any true political leader to think
seriously about how to help those fleeing violence and
death. Let us be honest here and again ask ourselves the
question raised by the Secretary-General. Are we all
doing enough to improve the lives of people in need, or
are we more concerned about retaining our power? Are
we here to serve or to be served?
Not long from now, the General Assembly will
appoint a new Secretary-General of the United Nations.
This year, the process of selecting the next SecretaryGeneral
has
been
more
consultative,
transparent
and

open
than
ever
before.
My
country
has
the
extraordinary

privilege
of
being
part
of
the
process
as
we
have
fielded

our
own
candidate. I
wish
to
take
this
opportunity
to

express
my
gratitude
and
appreciation
for
the
Member

States’
continued
support
as
we
approach
the
final

stages
of
the
selection
process.
Their
support
also

proves
that
candidates
from
our
region
have a
lot
to

offer
in
terms
of
potential,
capabilities,
knowledge
and

accomplishments.
We are still living in strange, contradictory times.
Our commitment to a just and safe world is tested
We can upload our personal medical data for an
examination by a physician on the opposite side of the
globe, and yet 16,000 children die every day, mostly
from preventable or treatable causes. We are using
autonomous, self-driving cars, but millions of kids still
cannot find their way into a classroom. Our phones,
powered by artificial intelligence, are speaking to us,
but one in 10 people on this planet does not have access
to drinkable water.
as we mourn with the families of the victims of
terrorism, and as we struggle to wrap our minds around
that source of human suffering. When a terrorist group
enslaves, murders and takes hope from men, women
and children, it is not a single nation’s problem. It is
an attack on our very core — on our humanity. It is an
attempt to kill goodness in us. Terrorists do not care
about dozens or hundreds of innocent victims. They
target hundreds of millions of the hearts and minds of
spectators around the world to cause them to fear and to
hate, encourage hostility among nations and fulfil their
sick vision of the clash of civilizations.
With all our resources, all our innovative power and
We need to stay strong in our societies and true to
our core values and culture of mutual respect, peace
and non-violence. We can see that it is not hard to
make people fear. Sadly, it is not hard to make people
hate. But we must not respond by judging people by
all our unprecedented ways of knowledge-sharing, we
cannot ignore the opportunities that exist to increase
global prosperity, freedom and the dignity of human
beings. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
has been crafted on the basis of our successes and our
experience. It is our task to drive the necessary change
to make the world a more prosperous, healthy, inclusive
and safe place. It is our task to share the wealth of
the colour of their skin or their choice of worship. We
our planet.
need to halt the growing anger, prejudice and hostility
towards different religions. True leadership brings
hope, reinforces trust and offers sustainable solutions
for safety and peaceful coexistence.
Yes, times are uncertain, but I do believe that we can
In the words of a well-known catchphrase, we
succeed. As one of the Slovak priests who spent years
in prison during the totalitarian period of my country’s
history once said, “I do not know what the future will
bring, but I know now how I will act.” He could say this
because he was always guided by his values.
should think globally and act locally. The crisis in
Ukraine — in the part of the world where I come
from — has entered its third year. Slovakia is very
concerned about the destabilization of a neighbouring
country and repeated violence in the region. I would
like once again to firmly call for tangible progress
in reaching a settlement of the conflict. I believe the
Minsk agreements remain the only viable way out of the
We can succeed too when we let our values guide
us through difficult times — our values of humanity,
solidarity and empathy — and when we, the political
leaders with the privilege and power of agenda-setting,
will not give up the battle for the hearts and minds of
our people to remain open to humanity, solidarity and
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hope, only then can our world prosper. Only then will
we truly leave no one behind.
in September 2015, and in the signing of the Paris
Agreement on Climate Change, in April 2016.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
The 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement have
I wish to thank the President of the Slovak Republic for
the statement he has just made.
Mr. Andrej Kiska, President of the Slovak Republic,
was escorted from the General Assembly Hall.
Address by Mr. David Arthur Granger, President
of the Republic of Guyana
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
had a massive and undeniable impact on the manner
in which the world manages the environment. The
2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement are evidence
of environmental common sense. They are excellent
examples of the sort of collective action most likely to
ensure a sustainable future and safety for the planet.
They are harbingers of hope for everyone, everywhere,
forever. The Secretary-General’s leadership has
irreversibly led the United Nations further along a
green path. We thank him heartily.
address by the President of the Republic of Guyana.
Mr. David Arthur Granger, President of the
Republic of Guyana, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations His
Excellency Mr. David Arthur Granger, President of
the Republic of Guyana, and to invite him to address
the Assembly.
President Granger: The Co-operative Republic of
Guyana congratulates you, Mr. Peter Thomson, on your
election as President of the General Assembly at its
seventy-first session. The election of a representative of
Fiji, a small island developing State, to preside over the
General Assembly at this session is especially gratifying.
The choice of theme for our general debate — “The
Sustainable Development Goals: a universal push to
transform our world” — is most appropriate.
We thank His Excellency Mr. Mogens Lykketoft,
outgoing President of the General Assembly at its
historic seventieth session, for his guidance of the
Assembly over the past year.
Guyana commends Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon for his stellar stewardship of the United
Nations during his decennium. The international
community owes him an enormous debt of gratitude
for the earnest efforts he has indefatigably exerted to
alleviate human distress, promote peace and sustain
development around the world.
The Secretary-General’s courageous campaign to
combat the adverse effects of climate change and his
commitment to sustainable development have been
Guyana is part of this global green movement.
Our natural assets, our commitment to sustainable
development, our contribution to conquering the
adverse effects of climate change and our collaboration
with the international community in seeking solutions
to global threats have distinguished us an emergent
green State. We are a State that will ensure a secure
future for our people in the pursuit of a green economy.
We are a State that is proud of its place as a reliable and
cooperative partner in international efforts to protect
the earth’s environment.
Guyana recognizes the interlocking objectives
of the Agenda and the Agreement. It realizes that
the establishment of a green State is consistent with
building climate resilience while mitigating the effects
of climate change. Guyana promises to continue
to work towards the Agenda’s goals, particularly
by contributing to limiting increases in global
temperatures, and to work towards a green path of
development that is in accord with the Agreement’s
nationally determined commitments.
Guyana serendipitously stands at the centre of
transformative. His labours bore fruit in the adoption
the Guiana Shield, one of the world’s last remaining
spheres of virgin tropical rainforest. The Guiana Shield
spans an area of 2.7 million square kilometres, an area
larger than Greenland, and it is shared by six South
American countries and territories — parts of Brazil
and Colombia, all of Guyana, all of French Guiana, all
of Suriname and part of Venezuela. Guyana, as a part
of that Shield, is a net carbon sink. A green canopy of
rainforest envelops more than 85 per cent of our land
mass, the second highest percentage forest cover on
earth. Guyana is pursuing a green path so as to better
understand how to protect its precious biodiversity and
sustainably manage its complex ecosystems.
of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
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Guyana made a covenant with the world to be an
students from the Caribbean and around the world to
come to our country to increase their knowledge of
vital ecosystems and share in the study of the Guiana
Shield and its amazing biodiversity.
exemplar of green growth in 1989, three years before
the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. We made a
gift to the prospect of sustainable development and
to the project of protecting our environment through
a generous grant of 371,000 hectares of our pristine
forests, to be used as an international model for
research, training and the development of technologies
that will promote the conservation and the sustainable
and equitable use of tropical rainforests in a manner
that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and
social benefits for the people of Guyana and the world
in general. The Iwokrama International Centre for
Rainforest Conservation and Development, located
in the centre of our country and at the heart of the
Guiana Shield, survives and thrives as a testament to
Guyana’s commitment to sustainable development and
environmental conservation.
Goal 13 of the Agenda calls for urgent action to
combat climate change and its impact. This goal
envisages and encourages international cooperation to
reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and abate the adverse
impact of climate change. The Agreement obligates
Member States to take action to limit the temperature
increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and foster
climate resilience and low greenhouse-gas emissions
development in a manner that does not threaten
food production.
Guyana is developing a comprehensive emissions-
Guyana is an important partner in the global
reduction programme as part of its responsibility to
contribute to global solutions in the face of the threat
of climate change. We will set aside an additional
2 million hectares of our territory for conservation
purposes. Guyana is pursuing a low-carbon growth
trajectory to enhance its contribution to the campaign
against climate change through the preservation of its
forests, within the ambit of the REDD-plus mechanism.
It will contribute up to 48.7 million metric tonnes of
carbon-dioxide equivalents to the global mitigation
effort, through an avoided-emissions programme.
environmental movement. It entered into an agreement
with the Kingdom of Norway to provide the world with
a relevant, replicable model of how the United Nations
Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation
and Forest Degradation and the Role of Conservation,
Sustainable Management of Forests and Enhancement
of Forest Carbon Stocks in Developing Countries
(REDD-plus mechanism), the mechanism for reducing
emissions from deforestation and forest degradation,
can align the development objectives of forest countries
with the world’s need to combat climate change. It has
also entered into agreements with the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan
and other States, and international organizations.
The Agreement on climate change and the Agenda
Guyana reaffirms its commitment to Goal 15
both emphasize the importance of financial flows in
supporting the efforts of States pursuing a green path
to development, so that they can meet their adaptation
and mitigation obligations and implement the Intended
Nationally Determined Contributions. I must state,
however, that all our efforts — nationally, regionally
and globally — for the advancement of development
in an environment of peace and stability, are being
of the Agenda under which States Members of the
challenged by the territorial ambitions of our neighbour,
United Nations pledge to protect, restore and promote
sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably
manage forests, combat desertification and halt and
reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss. Guyana
is improving the management of its ecosystems and
natural resources in order to conserve its forests and
their rich biodiversity. We will fulfil our obligation under
the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions set
forth in the Paris Agreement.
Guyana will continue its research by establishing an
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Guyana celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of
its independence this year. Regrettably, Venezuela
acknowledged this anniversary by reasserting, on
26 May, our independence day, its repudiation of a
border treaty that it had solemnly signed 117 years ago
and ratified and respected for over 60 of the years since
then.
I addressed the Assembly last year and warned of the
danger that Venezuela posed to the peace and security
of our region due not to its internal instability, but to its
external assault on Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial
international institute for biodiversity at the Iwokrama
International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and
Development. That institute will allow scientists and
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integrity (see A/70/PV.16). I placed my hopes in the fact
that the process for the final resolution of Venezuela’s
unworthy territorial claims rested now in the hands of
the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Since my
address last year, Venezuela has used every means to
stall, as it has intensified its aggression against Guyana
and thwarted all of the Secretary-General’s efforts to
pursue a way forward, at least in terms of a process that
would lead to a final resolution of the controversy.
not demonstrate the political will necessary to change
systems that are in direct contradiction to those policies.
Guyana is on a path to becoming a green State.
However, its efforts — and those of other small
States — will be derailed unless there is collective
commitment by the greater part of the international
community to collaborate with those States determined
to pursue a low-carbon, low-emissions path to
sustainable development and to stopping the rise of
global temperatures.
Guyana stands ready to have the International
Court of Justice reach a final determination on the
matter. We will work resolutely with the SecretaryGeneral
in
his
final
months
of
office,
and
with
his

successor,
to
free
Guyana
from
this
surreal
burden.

In
the
Geneva
Agreement
of
1966,
Venezuela
agreed

that
the
Secretary-General
would
determine
the
means

of
settlement
of
this
controversy,
including
by
judicial

settlement.
Yet
Venezuela
defies
his
every
effort
to

fulfil
that
commitment.
The road from Stockholm in 1972 to Paris in 2015
has been long and difficult. However, the words of the
Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the
Human Environment remain as relevant in 2016 as they
were 44 years ago, in 1972:
“A point has been reached in history when
The United Nations cannot be a dispassionate party
we must shape our actions throughout the world
with a more prudent care for their environmental
consequences. Through ignorance or indifference
we can do massive and irreversible harm to the
earthly environment on which our life and wellbeing
depend.
Conversely,
through
fuller
knowledge

and
wiser
action,
we
can
achieve
for
ourselves
and

our
posterity a
better
life
in
an
environment
more
in

keeping
with
human
needs
and
hopes...
To
defend

and
improve
the
human
environment
for
present

and
future
generations
has
become
an
imperative

goal
for
mankind
...”
(A/CONF./48/14/Rev.1,
para.

6).
to a threat to peace anywhere and to a challenge to the
law of nations. Venezuela’s territorial claim is such a
challenge. It strikes at the heart of the United Nations.
It strikes at the heart of the United States trusteeship
of the law of nations. It strikes at the heart of the
United Nations Charter, which the Secretary-General
is sworn to uphold. Guyana, a small State, must look to
the United Nations for protection against threats to its
security, for intervention, for peace and for respect for
international law.
The General Assembly at the seventy-first session
My plea for international understanding of our
plight has nothing to do with Venezuela’s internal
situation. The ordinary people of Venezuela are our
sisters and brothers. Their pain touches our hearts, and
we wish them early relief from their agony. However,
now has the opportunity and the obligation to commit to
measures to defend and improve the human environment
for present and future generations, thereby making the
road forward into the future an easier one for posterity.
Venezuela’s aggression against Guyana should not be
allowed to threaten our children’s future.
Venezuela’s claims are a threat to Guyana’s existence
as an independent nation. They are a scandalous revival
of the disease of the conquistadores that once plagued
Venezuela’s own history. They are a crime against our
humanity, clothed in the verbiage of national honour.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I wish to thank the President of the Republic of Guyana
for the statement he has just made.
I also wish to iterate Guyana’s ongoing support,
Mr. David Arthur Granger, President of the
Republic of Guyana, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
within the context of the preservation of sovereignty and
its link with sustainable development, for the complete
removal of the commercial, economic and financial
blockade imposed by the United States against another
Caribbean country, the Republic of Cuba. We cannot
commit to policies that transform our economies with
a view to providing development for our peoples and
Address by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin
Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
address by the Amir of the State of Qatar.
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His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani,
Amir of the State of Qatar, was escorted into the
General Assembly Hall.
Against the backdrop of the world’s silence and the
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations
His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani,
Amir of the State of Qatar, and to invite him to address
the Assembly.
Arab States’ involvement in their own current issues,
Israel’s leaders may believe that they have succeeded
in their endeavour. However, they have utterly failed
to resolve the issue. The Palestinian people are now
more devoted to their rights than ever. Furthermore, the
Arab peoples cannot accept any kind of normalization
of relations with Israel as long as Israel proceeds with
the occupation and its related practices and before a just
solution to the Palestinian cause is achieved.
Sheikh Al-Thani (Qatar) (spoke in Arabic): At
the outset, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate
Besides, what will Israel do with the millions of
you, Sir, on assuming the duties of the President of the
General Assembly at its seventy-first session. I wish
you every success in fulfilling your tasks. I also wish
to express our appreciation to Mr. Mogens Lykketoft
for his efforts during his presidency of the General
Assembly at its seventieth session. I also wish to
extend our profound thanks to His Excellency Mr. Ban
Ki-moon for the efforts he has undertaken to achieve
United Nations goals during his tenure.
The international community is facing many
Palestinians who are living on their own land and are
increasing in number and resourcefulness? The options
are clearly narrowing. Israel has either to opt for the
two-State solution or to establish a system of apartheid.
Does Israel really think that it could maintain a system
of apartheid in the twenty-first century? Eliminating the
occupation has become an urgent political and security
prerequisite and an international obligation towards
a people whose land was occupied and homeland
confiscated and whose suffering is exacerbating
the situation.
challenges and unresolved regional and international
crises that have become a hindrance to regional and
international development and stability. Some countries
continue to pursue an approach with actions that go
beyond the framework of international legitimacy
against the backdrop of international negligence in
the implementation of Security Council resolutions. It
is no longer possible to overlook the weakness of the
United Nations legal and institutional system and its
inability in many cases to apply standards of justice and
fairness in the functioning of its mechanisms. There is a
persistent recurring pattern that marks all these crises:
the selectivity of the Security Council in addressing
problems, especially when it comes to the use of force
by countries in international relations.
The Security Council bears a special responsibility
to impose international legitimacy and consensus with
respect to the negotiations on the basis of a two-State
solution, including the establishment of a Palestinian
State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, within the
pre-1967 borders. Meanwhile, it is necessary to
cease settlement activities, respect the legal status of
Al-Quds, lift the unjust siege on the Gaza Strip and end
the Israeli occupation of all occupied Arab territories,
including the Syrian Golan.
In the past, from this very rostrum, we have warned
that inaction in addressing crises will only increase
their intensity and complexity and consequently pose
After more than seven decades of Israeli occupation
a threat to international security. Today, more than five
years after the outbreak of the Syrian crisis and in the
aftermath of the destruction of most of Syria’s cities
by the Al-Assad regime, we are meeting again in this
Hall. As a result of the crisis, the number of refugees
has doubled and the quest for refuge has become
transcontinental in scope. Syria is now importing
terrorist and sectarian organizations and militias that
pose a regional and international threat.
of Arab territories, the Palestinian cause is at standstill,
waiting for a just solution. The Government of Israel
has not only rejected the resolutions of international
legitimacy and the comprehensive Arab Peace
Initiative, but it also seeks to impose a fait accompli
through long-term plans to build settlements in the West
Bank and Jerusalem. It has founded its occupation on
discrimination and racial segregation. It has established
two legal systems under its sovereignty — one for
the occupiers and another for those languishing
under occupation.
Everyone knows that the Syrian revolution started
as a popular and peaceful uprising against a repressive
dictatorial regime and that the great people of Syria
face death or years of torture in prison if they attend
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peaceful demonstrations against the regime. During
this period, the Syrian authorities have deliberately
tried to turn the revolution into a violent one. It has
also acted under the guise of political rhetoric to split
the Syrian people into factions, but the people have
responded with the chant, “the Syrian people are one”.
In contrast, the regime’s declared slogan was “Al-Assad
alone, or we will burn the country down”. Many people
may not have realized that this slogan is the de facto
project of the regime and remains its only programme.
Al-Zabadani or other towns also threatened with
displacement. Many Syrian citizens are wondering the
same thing.
We cannot fool ourselves or our people because
Theoretically, the majority of the countries of the
it is unacceptable that the will of the international
community is crippled when it comes to the perpetrators
of crimes against humanity. It is simply not true that
it was impossible to protect the Syrian people. The
international community has allowed illegal military
interventions to be undertaken to overthrow regimes
in our region, which is still taking its toll on us.
Unfortunately, while many of us share responsibility
for that situation, the international community has not
stepped in to protect a defenceless people, despite the
fact that this people has proved time and again that it
could change the regime on its own if they were protected
by the international community from bombardment.
world have stood by the Syrian people, but in practical
terms, Syria has been abandoned, supported only by
some loyal friends. Red lines had been set for the
regime, but it violated them, and those who set the red
lines did nothing. The red lines continued to shift until
the regime became aware that there were no limits on
what it could do without accountability.
Putting an end to this humanitarian disaster has
It is true that violent radical forces that have nothing
to do with the objectives of the Syrian revolution have
entered the Syrian arena, refuse to take up revolution’s
banner and fight against the rebels more than against
the regime. There have been many violations, but these
phenomena, which have marred the revolution, cannot
be understood without also considering the barbaric
policy of repression applied by the Syrian regime and
the inability of the international community to protect
civilians against the use of chemical weapons, bomb
barrels and torture.
The city of Daraa presented a model of peaceful
become a political and moral necessity. The Security
Council has a historical and undeniable responsibility
to stop the bloodshed of the Syrians by halting
the barbaric bombings and blockades of cities, by
repatriating the displaced and by taking measures to
resume the political process within the framework of
resolution 2254 (2015) and decisions based on the first
Geneva Convention, which call for the formation of a
transitional ruling body with full powers to meet the
aspirations of the Syrian people and maintain the unity
and sovereignty of Syria, on the basis of equal rights
for all citizens of Syria, without discrimination on the
basis of faith, creed, ethnicity or race.
revolution, exemplified at the beginning by the tossing
of flowers at soldiers, but after massacres claiming the
lives of hundreds of innocent people, mostly women
and children, the city was forced, like other cities, to
The Gulf region has strategic importance at both
regional and global levels. This region is undergoing
several crises that vary widely in character but are
defend itself more forcefully. Since then, Daraa has
similar at the core. Constructive dialogue must be
been reeling under non-stop shelling and a starvation
siege, despite the fact that it was never controlled by any
radical or takfiri organization, and its revolutionaries
have not committed any violations.
Why then are the inhabitants of Daraa being
undertaken if solutions to them are to be found. To
achieve the desired result, dialogue between countries
must be based on the principles of good-neighbourliness,
mutual respect and non-interference in the affairs of
others. The success of dialogue among parties within a
State, as we have seen in Iraq, requires giving priority
to political and social consensus and strengthening the
concept of full and equal citizenship before the law,
leaving aside all forms of sectarianism.
displaced while the international community does
nothing? Why was no warning issued before the regime
began its shelling and depopulation efforts, when
warnings have been issued elsewhere, for example, prior
to the recent bombing against forces in Al-Hasakah
province? We consider the latter warning to have been
an appropriate one, but no analogous action was taken
with respect to Daraa, Muadamiyat Al-Sham, Madaya,
With respect to Yemen, the State of Qatar renews
its support for the return of legitimacy as the only
way to ensure its security, unity and stability. There
is no doubt that the negligence of the international
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community in implementing resolutions of the Security
Council, especially resolution 2216 (2015), has given
some political forces in Yemen the opportunity to carry
out coup-related actions that have hampered reaching
the desired political solution that would satisfy the
Yemeni people’s yearning for unity and stability.
reached, but it is not impossible either, especially when
there is the political will to address the social roots of
this abhorrent phenomenon. We need to understand the
circumstances that, in an atmosphere of desperation and
deadlocked perspectives, give rise to radical ideologies.
We need to protect the young people who are
I take this opportunity to express our appreciation
targeted by extremist groups. Fighting terrorism is not
confined to the security dimension; rather, we need to
go a step further and promote the values of tolerance,
culture, plurality and dialogue, while taking into
account the right of people to resist occupation, which
is a right that has been enshrined in international laws,
covenants and norms.
for the efforts of my brother, His Highness Sheikh
Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State
of Kuwait, who has sponsored the Yemeni negotiations
hosted by his country. We will continue to support
the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen as
well as the international efforts undertaken to resume
political consultations among Yemeni parties in order
to reach a political settlement, in accordance with the
Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative, the outcomes of
the National Dialogue Conference and resolution 2216
(2015).
To restore our credibility, we must carefully define
Although the situation in Libya is still turbulent,
terrorism and diligently stand against it, if we are to
educate our young people and mobilize our communities
against this scourge. The definition we choose should
not vary according to the identity of the perpetrator or
the victim or because of a particular political interest.
We have seen cases, for example, where a certain
organization, misbranded as terrorist when it was
simply a political adversary, was later embraced as a
friend when it became a temporary ally.
we look forward to restoring stability through the
efforts of the Presidential Council and the present
Government backed by the international community.
We also look forward to confronting terrorism and
tackling its serious effects. The State of Qatar has
contributed to the success of the international political
solution. We reaffirm our support for all efforts aimed
at strengthening the Libyan national accord and warn
that instability could deal a glancing blow to what has
been achieved heretofore and undermine United Nations
efforts aimed at promoting national reconciliation and
led by the Security Council.
Distinctions should not be made about the lives of
We are surprised to note that some countries support
civilians, whether they be from Istanbul, Gaza, New
York or Aleppo. No life is more important or valuable
than any other life. The double standards used to address
this phenomenon, by linking terrorism to a certain faith
or culture or by absolving Governments that engage in
it from being described as terrorist, complicates efforts
to uproot the phenomenon and reinforces pretexts being
used by terrorists to justify their actions. In this context,
and as a natural consequence of our policy of rejecting
radicalism and terrorism based on our values and
forces in Libya that have rejected the international
solution and are acting to thwart resolution 1970 (2011)
by force, despite the fact that the resolution provides
culture and the teachings of the true Islamic religion,
for imposing sanctions on such forces. Certain forces
have placed themselves under the authority of the
Presidential Council and are engaged in combating
terrorism, but others have rejected the international
solution and sought to exploit the volatile situation by
occupying oil-export terminals while the world looks
on, silent. Is this a proper way to encourage Libyans to
fight terrorism?
we reiterate our support for the efforts to eradicate the
phenomenon of terrorism that are undertaken within
the framework of international legitimacy.
Respect for and the protection and promotion of
The terrorism we are facing is a threat to
human rights constitute one of the basic pillars of the
United Nations Charter’s stated purposes and principles
and are consistent with the Arab and Islamic principles
and values that treasure humankind and honour it as a
creation of almighty God. The State of Qatar is eager
to implement its obligations at both the national and
international levels to defend collective and individual
rights of people and promote human rights around
the world.
our peoples, countries and economic and social
achievements, thereby requiring that we intensify our
efforts to combat it. All of us are mindful that success
in countering this dangerous phenomenon is not easily
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Accordingly, one of the most important challenges
President Macri (spoke in Spanish): It is an honour
we must act upon today is that of protecting refugees.
This challenge requires cooperation and joint action
in order to uproot the causes of forced displacement.
We must urgently provide aid and assistance as a
humanitarian duty incumbent upon us all. Qatar’s
development and relief contribution has reached more
than 100 countries worldwide, and we continue to
coordinate with Governmental and non-governmental
agencies to provide even more development and relief
aid.
to be here today for the first time to represent the
Argentine Republic before the General Assembly.
We are living in a time of great global transformation,
where changes take place at an increasingly rapid pace
and provide us with new opportunities. In the twentyfirst
century
we
are
faced
with a
continuous
challenge,

namely,
that
of
adapting
to
the
new
realities
of
global

interdependency.
Building a
modern
international
order

is
an
ongoing
task
in
which
we
are
all
protagonists.
Qatar supports over 10 million children around the
The principles of the Organization guide us to
world and promotes the potential of some 1.2 million
Arab young people, so as to empower them to be active
and productive in their communities. Over the past five
years since 2011, the value of the economic assistance
provided by the State of Qatar has increased threefold
to reach 13 billion Qatari riyals.
The State of Qatar will continue to be a venue for
encourage dialogue and cooperation between our
countries in order to achieve development, peace and
international security. In the first 71 years of the United
Nations, important advances have been made. However,
there is still much to be done. The United Nations has
proposed a horizon towards which we should advance.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a
goal that we should approach collectively.
dialogue and conflict resolution by peaceful means.
It will also remain committed to international action,
cooperation and partnership within the framework of
the efforts of the international community to counter
shared humanitarian challenges.
I am proud to represent a country that has
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I wish to thank the Amir of the State of Qatar for the
statement he has just made.
contributed to the international legal framework,
driving advances in human rights, humanitarian rights
and the peaceful settlement of conflicts. With the
Sustainable Development Goals in mind, it makes us
proud that our Governmental priorities are in line with
those of the international community. In Argentina, we
have set ourselves three main objectives.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the
State of Qatar, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
Our first goal is to move towards zero poverty. That
Mr. El Haycen (Mauritania), Vice–President, took
the Chair.
means becoming a country with equal opportunities,
where our children can shape their future and where
every Argentinian is able to develop his or her potential.
A country like ours, which is a food–producing
powerhouse, cannot accept the fact that there are people
Address by Mr. Mauricio Macri, President of the
Argentine Republic
going hungry anywhere the world.
Our second goal is to defeat drug trafficking. The
The Acting President (spoke in French): The
Assembly will now hear an address by the President of
the Argentine Republic.
world drug problem, addiction and violence associated
with organized crime requires that we work together
towards a comprehensive agenda, based on human
rights and focused on both supply and demand.
Mr. Mauricio Macri, President of the Argentine
Republic, was escorted into the General Assembly
Hall.
Our third goal is to unite Argentinians through
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome
to the United Nations His Excellency Mr. Mauricio
Macri, President of the Argentine Republic, and to
invite him to address the Assembly.
dialogue, respect for the rule of law and the
strengthening of democracy. For in the twenty-first
century, the quality of political leadership is measured
by the ability to build bridges and create trust. These
are elements that every society needs to properly
function. Argentinians have chosen that path, namely,
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that of trusting one another, engaging in dialogue and
speaking honestly to each other.
continue building a system based on clear rules that
reflect diversity and plurality and that facilitate
consensus.
An important step in this direction was working
on the problems of the past in order to be able to
look towards the future. We have rebalanced the
macroeconomy and began to strengthen relations
with our neighbouring countries. We are establishing
mature links with other countries and multilateral
organizations, and we are already starting to see results.
We have returned to international credit markets, and
many companies have demonstrated that they trust
Argentina. New investments are announced every day,
which will lead to jobs and put the country on track
to expand its economy. Argentines are ready to enter
into the twenty-first century and assume our role in the
international community.
Climate change is the greatest, most important
challenge that humankind faces. Only if we are aware
of that fact will we be able to make progress without
jeopardizing our future and the future of future
generations. We in Argentina are betting ambitiously
on renewable energy to develop our potential in areas
such as solar, wind and biomass energy generation. We
signed the Paris Agreement and we are proud of being
one of the first countries to complete the ratification
process. That is why we call upon the international
community to put forth its greatest efforts so that we
can soon see the Agreement enter into force, which is
so important for our future.
However, we cannot achieve any of those goals
Another major challenge is the problem of
alone. We have to work together, starting with our
neighbours. I am from a region that thinks of itself as
a common neighbourhood with shared challenges. In
recent years, Latin America has made huge efforts to
reduce poverty, thanks to robust social policies and to
the very favourable international economic conditions.
But today the context is different. All of our countries
have experienced diminished growth, while global trade
has shown weak performance. At the regional level,
the balance of trade is less favourable and inflation
punishes those who have less.
But we in Argentina are optimistic. We know
that, in order to grow inclusively, Latin America must
count on a tremendous amount of human talent as well
as incomparable natural wealth. While in the world
there are trends that generate worry and uncertainty,
encouraging news is coming from our region, such
refugees. Although a year ago we made a commitment
to leave nobody behind, the images we see today hurt
and worry us. This reality calls for us to do more.
Our White Helmets are widely recognized for their
commitment to humanitarian matters, which is why,
last May, Argentina was present in the Syrian conflict
zone to offer assistance at a refugee camp in Lebanon. I
would like to announce that we are going to accept even
more refugees from Syria and from its neighbouring
countries, favouring families with children. We have
established a national cabinet of ministers charged with
broadening the existing humanitarian programme,
which coordinates ministries and Governmental
departments and addresses security measures and full
social integration. We will be able to gradually increase
our ability to receive more people to the extent that
financial support, technical assistance and international
logistical support allow us to do.
as the normalization of relations between Cuba and
the United States and the peacebuilding process in
Colombia. In addition, we see conditions for creating a
corridor of peace from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific
Ocean throughout the region, which will contribute to
regional stability and prosperity.
Gender equality is also a primary goal of ours,
But the challenges of global governance in the
upon which we have to work with conviction and
political determination. Argentina is making the full
empowerment of women its State policy. We have
established a national action plan for prevention and
assistance for women at risk in order to put an end
to violence against women in all of its forms. We are
working with a cross-cutting approach so that women
will have the same social, political, economic and
cultural opportunities in the country as men. In this
regard, we are grateful for the support that Susana
Malcorra, our Minister for Foreign Affairs, has received
as a candidate to be the next Secretary-General of the
United Nations. In the twenty-first century, having a
twenty-first century do not exclusively belong to some
countries or regions; they concern everyone. We must
cooperate, while thinking globally and acting locally
and without losing sight of the first principle of this
Organization, which is based on the sovereign equality
of all of its Members. A world with more voices is a
more just world. That is why it is important that we
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woman as the head of the Organization would be a very
encouraging example.
When the Organization was founded, countries
together will only strengthen us. Let us continue to
build networks and bridge gaps. The members of the
Assembly can count on Argentina. We have much to
say and to contribute.
assumed the commitment of maintaining international
peace and security. However, we live in a world that
is increasingly violent, where radical extremism
threatens innocent people and vulnerable populations.
It should be remembered that, in 1992 and in 1994,
Argentina was a victim of international terrorism,
with two attacks, for which we hope to receive greater
international cooperation in clarifying events and
punishing those responsible. My country condemns any
group that through its actions aims to promote terror in
any part of the planet.
Please allow me to extend my gratitude to
the Secretary-General for his work in leading the
Organization. His legacy has difficult challenges, which
is why we must continue with our efforts. Over the
years, the United Nations has shown us the importance
of pursuing a better world. Now it is time for us to put
forth all of our creativity and political will to make our
vision of a better world a reality.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On
In recent years, this phenomenon has worsened. To
behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the
President of the Argentine Republic for the statement
he has just made.
stop it, international cooperation is indispensable. We
have to promote development both inside and outside
of our countries because development does not stop
at the border. Growth with inclusion, dialogue and
tolerance — and the creation of opportunities — all
help to reduce the marginalization and humiliation that
fuels the recruitment of terrorists.
Mr. Mauricio Macri, President of the Argentine
Republic, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
Address by Mr. François Hollande, President of the
French Republic
Dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes
The Acting President (spoke in French): The
make up the cornerstone of the foreign policy of a
democratic Argentina. That is why I reiterate our call
for dialogue with the United Kingdom, as called for in
many resolutions of this Organization, so as to amicably
resolve the sovereignty dispute that we have had for
almost two centuries over the Malvinas Islands, South
Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands and the
surrounding maritime areas. We have shown interest
in advancing our bilateral relationship, which can and
should be mutually beneficial. That is why we trust that
it will be possible to find a definitive solution to this
Assembly will now hear an address by the President of
the French Republic.
Mr. François Hollande, President of the
French Republic, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome
to the United Nations His Excellency Mr. François
Hollande, President of the French Republic, and to
invite him to address the Assembly.
prolonged dispute.
President Hollande (spoken in French): It is always
I would like to conclude with a thought. Argentina,
an honour for me to address the General Assembly. It is
also a responsibility — above all given the serious and
worrying situation in the world. I stand before those
present on behalf of France to issue several appeals.
First, I would like to ask all members to do everything
possible to implement the historic Agreement that was
signed in Paris on 12 December 2015. The Agreement
was historic because the conference was held at a time
when Paris, the capital of France, had been struck
by terrorist attacks. The Agreement was historic
because, for the first time, the assembled international
which has just celebrated 200 years of independence,
is a country that has always opened its doors to men
and women from around the world seeking a better
life. There is a piece of each part of the world in my
country. We coexist peacefully — Christians, Jews
and Muslims. Diversity enriches our society, and we
embrace openness within a world where fragmentation
is burgeoning. Let us say to the world, we need not fear
interdependency. This world is our shared home, which
is why we must take care of it. We must learn to coexist
peacefully, just as Pope Francis has called upon on us
to do. Fostering a sense of integration and working
community agreed to make a commitment to reducing
global warming and mobilizing financing, while
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allowing the most vulnerable countries to make an
energy transition.
migration, which leads to the destabilization of both
countries of origin and destination.
And yet, standing before the Assembly, let me
That is why, at the Paris Conference, I launched
state once again that despite the momentous nature of
the Agreement, there is no time to lose. The past two
years have been the hottest known to humankind since
records began. Admittedly, in April 2016, right here
with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, an agreement
was signed with 175 countries. But everyone here
knows that it will come into force only if it is ratified
by 55 per cent of countries, representing 55 per cent
of greenhouse-gas emissions. The United States and
China have announced their decision to ratify, which
is very important. Nothing would have been possible
without the participation and the commitment of
those two countries, which are the largest emitters of
carbon dioxide. France itself will notify the United
Nations tomorrow that it has completed its ratification
procedure. I appeal to all members to speed up their
ratification procedures so that the goal is met by the
end of the year.
the African Renewable Energy Initiative. Ten
donors — and I want thank them here — pledged
to donate $10 billion by 2020. France has assumed
20 per cent of that amount, or €2 billion. Europe has
decided on an external investment plan, which could
reach — still with a view to providing Africans with
access to electricity — nearly €40 billion, and even
double that amount if European Union member States
contribute as well. I call on all countries to join that
effort. I am not just calling for solidarity here — for
this is a mutual investment that will benefit the whole
world — I call for this to happen as soon as possible.
But there will be no development in Africa unless
The twenty-first session of the Conference of the
Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (COP-21) was a conference of
decisions. The twenty-second session, to be held in
Marrakech, should be a conference of solutions. It is
a question of implementing the International Solar
Alliance, fighting desertification, protecting the seas
and also setting a carbon price.
the continent’s security is ensured. When I committed
France to acting in Mali, it did so with an awareness
of its responsibility. We had to prevent terrorist groups
from taking over an entire country and destabilizing
an entire region. Today, that threat has been rolled
back and Mali is regaining its territorial integrity. But
other groups, including Boko Haram and Al-Qaida, are
emerging to threaten the security of many countries in
West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad region. There
too, France is supporting military forces with training,
information-sharing and assistance in the fight against
terrorism. We are doing so, for instance, in the Niger,
Nigeria, Chad, Benin and Cameroon. We should
expand such efforts along with the United Nations and
the African Union.
However, the appeal I want to issue to the Assembly,
following this climate agreement, is an appeal for
Africa. Africa is a continent full of promise, but its
development could be hindered by climate change,
migration, conflict, war and terrorism. The continent
has a bright future; however, it may also be the one to
cause growing insecurity, and that insecurity targets,
first and foremost, Africans themselves.
Let us be clear — the security of Africans has to
come from Africans themselves if we want to avoid
external intrusion and interference. My appeal for
development and renewable energy is also a call for
the security of Africans, for equipping their armies
and giving them the means to respond, and for these
African nations to organize their own development in a
free and sovereign manner.
That is why, on behalf of France, I am proposing
a 2020 agenda for Africa. The plan should make it
possible for all Africans to gain access to electricity.
Two thirds of Africans today are deprived of it. That is
an injustice, but above all it impedes sustainable growth
in Africa. What is at stake, therefore, is responding to
the needs of 15 per cent of the world population. What
is at stake is enabling Africans to benefit from their
immense potential for development. What is at issue
here is reducing population displacements, that is,
The last call I wish to make here is perhaps the
saddest of all. It is for Syria. The Syrian tragedy will
go down in history as a disgrace for the international
community if we do not end it quickly. Aleppo is
today a martyred city, and this is how it shall remain
in historical memory. Thousands of children have
died in bombings, entire populations are starving,
humanitarian convoys are being attacked, and chemical
weapons are being used.
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I have one thing to say in this regard — enough
means once again allowing unjust, unfair and unacceptable
violence to take place. The objective, therefore, is to meet
here at the end of the year and hold a conference at which
Israelis and Palestinians can assume their responsibilities
to negotiate.
is enough. Just like in February, the ceasefire held for
only a few days. It ended practically the day after its
announcement, before its terms were even understood.
The regime is responsible for its failure and cannot be
exonerated for mistakes that could have been made
by others. I would say to its foreign supporters — and
we all know who they are — that they need to compel
the regime’s hand to peace. If they do not then they,
alongside the regime, shall bear responsibility for the
division and chaos in Syria.
This same spirit led me, along with Chancellor Merkel,
The Security Council must meet as soon as
to seek a solution in Ukraine. It led to the creation of the
Normandy format, which allowed us to come to an agreement
in Minsk. Today, we must do everything we can to ensure
that the agreement is implemented; if we do not, there will
be renewed violence and perhaps even the resumption of
war. I recall that this conflict has claimed more than 6,000
victims. I have therefore taken the initiative, along with
the Chancellor of Germany, to bring together the Russian
and Ukrainian Presidents in the weeks to come to promote
progress in the implementation of the Minsk accords.We
will not abandon that goal. We will renounce no initiative
that we think may be useful.
possible. It should not be a theatre of fools — in other
words, a place where responsibility can be evaded and
where some can impede its work in order to protect a
regime while they should be seeking a solution with us.
France has four demands. First, we must first impose
the ceasefire in line with the decisions that have been
taken. That is the precondition. Secondly, we need to
ensure the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to
Aleppo and other martyred cities. That is the priority.
Thirdly, we must ensure the resumption of political
negotiations along the lines of the transition established
in 2012. That is the solution. Fourthly, we must sanction
the use of chemical weapons. That is justice.
I have raised the issue of terrorism, which threatens
If we take these decisions and act now, there will
every country of the world. Long is the list of all those whom
it has impacted in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and
even Oceania. No country can claim to be immune to the
threat of Islamist terrorism, fundamentalism and fanaticism,
which have seduced and radicalized lost individuals within
our societies. There is no sea or wall that can protect a country
from this tragedy and the scourge of terrorist action, attacks
or aggressions. Terrorism thrives on open conflicts that have
remained unsolved for too long. It has provoked a wave of
refugees and undermined international order, borders that
we thought fixed, law that we thought we could maintain
and the collective security that was the very principle of the
United Nations.
be a solution for Syria. In fact, it will be more than
a solution; there will finally be hope for refugees and
displaced persons. There will finally be action that
will allow Syria to maintain its territorial integrity.
We are also determined to see an intervention in
Iraq that will help to free the entire country from the
Da’esh occupation of its territory. If we decide to act
effectively against terrorism, we can prevent further
terrorist attacks around the world. The risk is chaos
In the face of these dangers, France once again turns
to the United Nations. The United Nations has shown its
and division, and it exists beyond Syria. It also exists
effectiveness with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for
in Libya. Our priority must be to re-establish the State
around the Government of National Accord led by
Prime Minister Al-Sarraj — a goal for which France is
working with its partners and the United Nations.
Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on
Climate Change, which many thought was impossible.
United Nations peacekeeping operations have never been as
numerous as they are now.
We cannot sit back and do nothing. That would be
However, if we want to act to eradicate terrorism,
playing into the hands of the forces, terrorists in particular,
that aim to destabilize the world. France shall never resign
itself, even if it is difficult — especially if it is difficult — and
that is why it has taken the initiative to contribute to seeking
a solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Of
course, no one can impose a solution on the parties, but once
again, resigning ourselves to the status quo involves taking a
risk. It means allowing settlement to take place once again. It
we will need to make decisions and not merely talk of
solidarity when a friendly country is attacked or merely
express compassion for the victims. We must shoulder
responsibilities whenever that can be useful. That is
what France does. Not because it is attacked — today,
as I have said, every country is a target for terrorism.
No, France does it because it is a permanent member
of the Security Council and its role is about acting, not
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creating obstacles. France does it because it has one
great idea, the idea that it has upheld throughout its
history — bringing freedom, democracy and justice to
the world. It is because France puts its policies at the
service of a single goal — peace — and talks to everyone
involved. It is because France is an independent nation
that respects the law and has no enemies other than
the forces of hatred and intolerance that use a betrayed
religion to create fear. It is because we must fight
the populists who exploit distress in order to divide,
separate, stigmatize and pit religions against one
another, risking confrontations that would have terrible
consequences for cohesion in our societies. France is
a secular country that proclaims itself as such but that
speaks to every religion and guarantees freedom of
worship on its soil, because the only interests we have
in the world are stability, development and the future
of our planet.
Mr. François Hollande, President of the French
Republic, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
Address by Mr. Arthur Peter Mutharika, President
of the Republic of Malawi
The Acting President (spoke in French): The
Assembly will now hear an address by the President of
the Republic of Malawi.
Mr. Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the
Republic of Malawi, was escorted into the General
That is why France is so committed to the United
Nations and demonstrates it every day. I want to pay
tribute to the President of the General Assembly, to
all who dedicate themselves to the United Nations,
beginning with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who
for 10 years has led this difficult mission on behalf
of all of us and enabled us to advance its cause. And
that is also why, in the face of the major challenges I
have mentioned, especially Syria and the fight against
terrorism, I expect the United Nations, and particularly
the Security Council, to shoulder its responsibilities.
There comes a moment for every generation and public
official when the only question worth asking is whether
we have made decisions — and whether they are good
decisions. The countries here are all different sizes,
at different levels of development and with different
sensitivities and beliefs, but they should have only one
Assembly Hall.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome
to the United Nations His Excellency Mr. Arthur Peter
Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, and to
invite him to address the Assembly.
President Mutharika: I am delighted and happy
to be addressing the General Assembly today, and I
would like to join my fellow leaders in congratulating
the President on his election as its leader. The world has
shown its confidence in him, and we are confident that
he will steer the ship to the shore of our dreams. His
election also testifies to our belief in the equality of our
Member States, irrespective of their size.
I would also like to sincerely commend His
Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the
United Nations, for his exceptional leadership during
his tenure of office. We wish him every success in his
future endeavours. I believe we will find an equally
competent person to replace him. I have also noted with
appreciation that the process of selecting the SecretaryGeneral
has,
for
the
first
time
in
the
history
of
the
United

Nations,
begun
to
address
issues
of
transparency
and
goal and one demand, which is that the world should
democracy. If our job is to promote the political virtues
rise to the challenges facing the planet.
That is why I want to appeal to all those here — to call
for implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate
Change, for ensuring that Africa and all Africans have
electricity and better development, and for peace in
Syria, because it is so urgently needed. That is why
I believe in the United Nations, and that is why both
France and I are sending a universal message.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On
behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the
President of the French Republic for the statement he
has just made.
of transparency and democracy around the world, we
must indeed also be the first to show ourselves to be
transparent and democratic.
We have engaged in a unanimous drive to transform
our world. We have agreed that our road to a better
world must follow the signposts of the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), which show us the road
to ending poverty in the world. Today, we gather to
look back on the road of progress and to renew our
commitment to pursue those Goals to the end.
The mission of every generation should be to leave
our world a better place for subsequent generations.
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But our generation faces mountains of challenges. Our
world stands in great peril. Innocent souls continue
to suffer from the tragedy of wars. Many lives are
maimed, mutilated or cut short. Political instability
continues to shake the foundations of our dreams.
Conflicts have scattered communities and driven them
from their homes in endless migrations. We are caught
in unending cycles of suffering, violence, terrorism,
radicalization, extremism, abductions and human
trafficking. That is a story that we can have no pride
in recounting to the next generations. Our world is
living a story of indignity and shame. Our planet is in
great danger. Everywhere, global warming threatens
our existence with hurricanes, cyclones, earthquakes,
wildfires, extreme flooding and droughts, dangers
that threaten the fragile economies of Africa and the
Third World everywhere. Africa, and the rest of the
developing world, is suffering from dehumanizing
poverty, the pain of hunger, disease, inequalities and
gender imbalances.
outstanding. In that regard, we are committed to the
work of the United Nations. As a beacon of peace, we
also actively pursue the African Union’s (AU) Agenda
2063 project “Silencing the guns by 2020” — and
silence the guns we must.
On the economic front, Malawi continues to register
Most of these are tragedies and challenges of our
steady but considerable progress, despite the attendant
challenges. The country registered a gross domestic
product (GDP) growth rate of 3.2 per cent in 2015, as
compared with the global average of 3 per cent, and is
expected to reach 5 per cent in 2016. Although inflation
has been negatively affected by the food shortage, bulk
maize importation should help to reduce inflation and
consequently improve lending rates. Our domestic
and foreign debts are within sustainable levels. And
the economy is progressively generating much-needed
jobs, particularly among our youth. Moving forward,
the combination of robust fiscal and macroeconomic
reform programmes that the country is implementing
is projected to lead to further GDP growth, single-digit
inflation and low lending rates, which will in turn lead
to increased confidence, greater investment, more jobs
and improved incomes.
own creation. And the solutions lie in our hands. The
choices for human destiny around the world lie with us
in the Assembly. Those challenges must be resolved by
us, for nobody else can resolve them. It must be done
here, or nowhere else. It must be now, or never.
Our only major setback in the last two years was
We have risen to the occasion of our times and
begun the journey of conquest with the adoption of
the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. But we have
only just begun. The sustainability of our pursuit
and the attainment of our goals depend upon our
common understanding and our walking together as a
community of humankind. Malawi is doing its part and
will continue to do its part. We continue to guarantee
basic human rights because we can progress only with
people who are free. We offer every care to our brothers
the effects of climate change. In 2015, we experienced
terrible floods that affected over half of the country.
In 2016, we endured just the opposite, as yet again half
of the country was affected, this time by a scorching
drought. When we consider climate change, let us
remember that there are real souls out there suffering the
effects. We, as a country, will do our duty to humankind.
This afternoon, I will sign the Paris Agreement on
Climate Change here at Headquarters and commit my
Government to the ratification and implementation of
that crucial document. Malawi has already adopted a
climate change policy, which will guide our domestic
implementation of the Paris Agreement. We are taking
action on climate change.
and sisters who seek refuge in Malawi because we
have a duty to humankind. We ensure peace, stability,
security and tranquillity for everyone because we must
create an environment for progress. We govern with the
principles of democracy and the rule of law because
humankind is safe only when everybody is accountable.
And we pledge to continue living in peace with all of
our neighbours because we value peace and harmony.
Let me also put on record that Malawi is making
Malawi’s commitment to international peace
and security is on record. We have been sending
peacekeeping forces to various parts of Africa and
beyond for a long time. I am happy to report that
Malawi’s record in peacekeeping is illustrative and
exemplary progress in the health sector. We are
pioneering innovative approaches to the management
of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We are among the
few countries on the African continent that have
successfully rolled out the test-and-treat programme.
We are managing the pandemic. But we need concerted
efforts to manage non-communicable diseases such as
hypertension, diabetes and cancer.
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On gender equality, Malawi is taking proactive
beyond. I am delighted to report that the African Union
has adopted “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend”
as its theme for 2017. I wish, therefore, to call upon
global leaders to join the efforts of the African Union
and our global partners in prioritizing investments
in our youth, in order to accelerate socioeconomic
transformation and development at the global level.
measures to reduce the vulnerability of women and
adolescent girls to violence and abuse. Consequently,
we are focusing on addressing gender-based violence
and balancing reproductive and productive roles in order
to enhance women’s participation in decision-making.
This work entails collaboration with traditional leaders,
in order to tackle retrogressive traditional practices
that harm our women and the girl child. We have
also enhanced legal and policy reforms and improved
our law enforcement mechanism in that area. We are
adopting the Gender Equality Act: Implementation and
Monitoring Plan 2016-2020 as well as improved gendersensitive
data-collection
approaches.
On United Nations reform, the common African
position is the one espoused as the Ezulwini
Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. Our firm belief
is that the attainment of the SDGs cannot happen in an
environment that is devoid of representation, fairness,
On trade issues, investment and market access,
efficiency, transparency and accountability, such as at
the Security Council. My country therefore earnestly
supports all efforts and work currently under way to
find a suitable vehicle for the reform and revitalization
of the United Nations, and shall seek every possible way
to contribute to the appropriate solution on the matter.
Malawi continues to open up the economy and offer
numerous investment opportunities. We have opened up
to investors in the mining, manufacturing, agriculture
and adding value, tourism, transport, water, energy
and financial sectors. We are rapidly improving our
business climate. We are ready to do business with
the world. I therefore invite the global community to
patronize the annual Malawi Investment Forum, to be
held in Lilongwe on 10 and 11 October. It is imperative
that regional and global markets be free of distortions
such as subsidies, tariffs and non-tariff barriers. We
must live up to the aspirations of the World Trade
Organization Doha Development Agenda. The global
community must realize that it is only by taking such
steps that African countries will be able to produce
and add value to their commodities. That will generate
the necessary jobs to keep our young people in the
continent and propel our economies to sustainable
growth and prosperity.
Let me conclude by reiterating that Malawi is
making every effort to overcome the decades of
underdevelopment, disease and hunger that have
retarded the development of the country. That is our
quest for the dignity of our people and their place in
the world. Malawi is set to be a productive partner in
our collective push to transform our world. We are the
leaders of that transformation. We are the generation
that must transform the world. History demands our
collective leadership.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the President
of the Republic of Malawi for the statement he has
just made.
Without investments in those areas, it will continue
to be a challenge to prevent African youth from
Mr. Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the
Republic of Malawi, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
taking desperate and dangerous action by crossing the
seas and oceans to reach developed economies. Such
investments will also reduce the risk of our youth being
lured into radicalism and extremism, with the attendant
threat to domestic and international peace and security.
I must underline that poverty in African communities
is a danger to the global community because poverty
and the disenchantment of our youth can be an easy
source of radicalization.
Address by Mr. Tabaré Vázquez, President of the
Eastern Republic of Uruguay
The Acting President (spoke in French): The
Assembly will now hear an address by the President of
the Eastern Republic of Uruguay.
Mr. Tabaré Vázquez, President of the Eastern
Republic of Uruguay, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
Speaking in my capacity as United Nations Youth
Champion, I am fully committed to the promotion of
youth development and harnessing the demographic
dividend in Malawi, across the African Continent and
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome
to the United Nations His Excellency Mr. Tabaré
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Vázquez, President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay,
and to invite him to address the Assembly.
President Vázquez (spoke in Spanish): As a citizen
And these avoidable diseases are largely due to four risk
factors directly linked to supposedly typically modern
behaviours, that is, smoking, alcohol consumption,
unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.
and the President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay,
it is an honour for me to speak to the General Assembly
again from this rostrum. In this forum, which is the
largest and most representative of humankind today, I
offer the greetings of the citizens and the Government
of my country. Our greetings reflect the values
The primary effects of those risk factors are
of peace,
freedom, democracy, justice and solidarity, which
define our nation and the United Nations, which we
helped found in 1945, and today we are a non-permanent
member of the Security Council.
As this is not my first time here, I run the risk of
dramatically felt increasingly in middle- and low-income
countries, and the poorest people in every country,
strongly reflecting the underlying socioeconomic
determiners. Among these populations, the conditions
are ripe for creating a vicious cycle. Poverty exposes
people to the behavioural risk factors that lead to
non-communicable diseases and these, in turn, tend to
worsen the state of poverty of the affected individuals
and families. Health systems are also affected by the
impact of the high costs of the treatments that are
needed to treat chronic non-communicable diseases. To
give an idea of the financial implications, and without
being dramatic, I want to draw members’ attention to the
following statistics, which they certainly already know.
repeating what I said on previous occasions, and in
particular what I said on 29 September 2016 in the
General Assembly at its seventieth session (see A/70/
PV.16). But I am taking that risk because, with only a
few exceptions, all the issues that I raised a year ago
can be conveyed in the same terms and, in some cases,
even graver ones.
First, the direct cost of smoking on the national
Let us be clear: I do not say that as a reproach,
and even less so as self-praise. It is painfully obvious,
however, that despite the efforts of the United Nations
to fight terrorism, violence, intolerance, discrimination,
poverty, inequality, injustice and organized crime, these
scourges continue to plague much of humankind. For it
is our modest belief that the task of Governments and,
moreover, of rulers — that is to say, our task, which
has been entrusted to us by our citizens — cannot
be limited to making assessments and telling people
what is amiss. Our unconditional duty is to create the
conditions for our people to build their own lives in
society and to support them in that task. What I am
health-care systems of Latin America is estimated at
$33 billion. That is the equivalent to 0.5 per cent of the
gross domestic product of our region and 7 per cent
of what it spends annually on health care. And the tax
that our countries impose on tobacco products does not
amount to 50 per cent of the costs of illnesses directly
caused by smoking. Secondly, in 2009 the overall
estimated economic cost of cancer in Mexico, the
Caribbean and Central and South America amounted
to an estimated $286 billion in direct costs — for
example, doctors’ visits and medical analyses — and
indirect costs, including travel and lodging expenses
and lost workdays and productivity, among others.
Therefore, in our humble view, unless we vigorously
fight the epidemic of non-communicable diseases in
saying does not seem like much, but it is a lot.
countries and social groups that are most exposed or
Without ignoring the enormous importance of
affected, the impact of those diseases will grow. And
the plausible global goal of reducing poverty, which is
timely and adopted by the Assembly as the condition
sine qua non for sustainable development, rather than
drawing closer, dramatically, retreats more each day
beyond our reach.
other issues under consideration by the Assembly, let
me refer to one that perhaps is not in the news, but it
is certainly important because, as the data provided
by the World Health Organization shows it is the
primary cause of mortality throughout the world,
especially in low- and middle- income countries. I am
mainly talking about non-communicable diseases, in
particular cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and
chronic pulmonary diseases. Clearly, the consequent
terrible impact that these diseases have on humankind
fly under the radar of our Governments, but they
nevertheless tragically affect the lives of our peoples.
If we look at the statistics available, in a single
working day approximately 104,109 people worldwide
will die today as a result of the diseases I mentioned.
How then can we not design and implement strategies
to control alcohol and tobacco consumption and to
promote healthful lifestyles, such as a healthful diet and
physical exercise. No doubt what I am saying here is a
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far cry from what those who preceded me in addressing
the Assembly have said. While I hope I am mistaken,
if we do not take appropriate measures, our countries,
especially the poorest and most humble among them,
will suffer dramatic consequences due to those diseases,
which, I repeat, can be prevented. Of course, this is
not a medical panel or a scientific symposium. But as
a political leader who has not forgotten his medical
profession and continues to be involved in it, allow me
to tell the Assembly that not only is it possible to design
and implement such strategies, but that very positive
results can be achieved.
the claimants’ arguments were accepted and, more
important, the policies adopted by our country were
recognized as sovereign, legitimate and in line with the
international commitments Uruguay had undertaken
and in accord with international law. But things do
not happen by coincidence. In that regard, I would
like to thank the World Health Organization, many of
the countries represented here and all the institutions
and individuals who in one way or another supported
Uruguay’s cause in this dispute. I thank all of them
sincerely on behalf of the Uruguayan people. The
best way to return such support — and without being
Those are not easy or simply strategies, but they are
ignorant of the circumstances under which we live
today — we commit ourselves to continue working
hard, as our modest means allow — to help all the
people of the world succeed in meaningfully defending
their rights to health and life.
essential and can yield good results. Uruguayans know
this from our own real-life experiences. But more than
that, we have in place actual projects that we are working
on. As on this issue there is also no future without
solidarity, we call upon all countries, Governments and
peoples, non-governmental organizations, as well as
scientific, medical and international organizations, to
form an alliance under the United Nations against the
epidemic of non-communicable diseases — an alliance
for a healthy life and as broad, vigorous and dynamic
as possible. It is possible — not easy, but possible. In
many ways, more than financial resources, it requires
conviction and political will to go ahead.
Uruguay is not unaware of the circumstances in
other regions of the world. Again, we are not indifferent.
Allow me to address some of those issues.
First, we would like to congratulate the Government
of Colombia and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias
de Colombia. We reiterate to them our willingness and
readiness to continue cooperating with the parties in
the new and demanding stages of the peace process.
Uruguay is a world leader in the implementation
Secondly, in our address to the General Assembly
of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. But
there have been opponents to that leadership. Among
them, at the beginning of the year 2010, a claim was
brought before the International Centre for Settlement
of Investment Disputes by the tobacco firm Philip
Morris. That company was suing our country because
of its opposition to two regulations adopted by our
country in order to control tobacco. In addition to
in 2015 (see A/70/PV.16) we expressed our desire that
the seventieth session would be the last at which our
country had to call for an end to the economic, trade
and financial embargo so unfairly imposed by the
United States on Cuba. So long as the embargo remains
in place, Uruguay will continue to demand here its
definitive lifting.
the formal arguments brought by that tobacco firm,
Thirdly, we are not indifferent to the complex
the main reason for its action was to punish a small
country like Uruguay that had decided to control
tobacco consumption and to work hard for the health
and right to live of our people. The lawsuit was a
punishment, using our small country as an example, so
that all countries that were implementing or planning to
implement similar policies would learn from this lesson
not to go forward with them.
political and institutional situations that exist in several
brother nations. As good brothers, we hope that such
difficulties will sovereignly resolved on the basis of
democratic institutional frameworks and in a calm,
respectful and sincere dialogue among the parties
involved. The will of citizens, the will of the people,
must be thoroughly respected.
I very much appreciate the attention the Assembly
The proceedings were lenghthy, meandering
and costly. In the end, though, on 8 July, the arbitral
tribunal of the International Centre for Settlement of
Investment Disputes handed down its final ruling.
It was decisively favourable to Uruguay. None of
has given to me today. On behalf of the Uruguayan
people, a small country in South America’s Southern
Cone, I would like to reiterate that, within our modest
means, we will continue to work with members to
strive for a more fraternal world with more solidarity
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for more social justice, with peace, with respect and
with tolerance for all inhabitants of the planet.
They want to wipe out our achievements and those of
our ancestors, to erase them and drag us back to the
Dark Ages.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the President
of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay for the statement
he has just made.
The question we must ask ourselves as we face
Mr. Tabaré Vázquez, President of the Eastern
Republic of Uruguay, was escorted from the
General Assembly Hall.
Address by His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al
Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
The Acting President (spoke in French): The
the battle of our generation is what our legacy will be.
Will we pass on to our children a world dominated by
dread and division, where safety and security will be at
the forefront of their minds as they board an airplane,
attend a concert or football match, or stroll through
a mall? Most important, are we doing what must be
done to confront and decisively defeat this evil force,
so that our children can live in a world where fear and
suspicion are replaced by human comradery and hope,
so they can reach their fullest potential and add to the
stockpile of human achievement accrued over the ages?
Assembly will now hear an address by His Majesty
King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan.
As much as I wish it were otherwise, sadly the
King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, was escorted into
the General Assembly Hall.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
answer to those questions is no. How can we be
effective in this fight when we have not clearly defined
who the enemy is? Who are we fighting with, and who
are we fighting against? And I am struck today, after
several years of facing the global war on terror, by the
lack of understanding of the true nature of Islam that I
find among many Western officials, think tanks, media
leaders and policymakers. I find myself stating the
obvious again and again.
of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome
to the United Nations His Majesty King Abdullah II bin
Al Нussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,
and to invite him to address the Assembly.
False perceptions of Islam and of Muslims serve
King Abdullah II: Allow me to express today my
highest regard for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for
his dedication and tireless efforts to advance the cause
of peace and global harmony. I have deeply appreciated
our work together over the past 10 years.
As I stand here today, elections to Jordan’s national
Parliament are coming to a conclusion. It is one more
step on our country’s positive evolutionary path — a
to fuel the terrorists’ agenda of a global struggle
by polarizing and factionalizing societies East and
West — each side stigmatizing the other and each side
driven deeper into mistrust and intolerance. Muslims, a
quarter of the world’s population and citizens of every
country, have a central role in the future of our planet.
Muslim men and women bring the world a rich heritage
of civic responsibility, justice, generosity, family life,
and faith in God.
path to which we have insistently conformed despite
regional turbulence and a massive refugee burden. It
represents an achievement that can be credited largely to
our citizens, especially our youth, who have stubbornly
held to Jordan’s heritage of unity, strength and forwardlooking
spirit
in
spite
of
the
odds.
And
it
is
those
very

odds
that
make
the
elections a
true
triumph
of
progress

over
regression.
When some, out of prejudice or ignorance of what
As we gather here today, there are forces at play in
Islam is, seek to exclude Muslims from fulfilling their
role, or on the other hand, when the outlaws of Islam,
the khawarij, attempt to mislead some Muslims by
deforming our religion through false teachings, our
societies’ future is put at risk. When the outlaws of
Islams, the khawarij, murder, when they plunder, when
they exploit children and reject the equality of women
before God, they abuse Islam. When the khawarij
persecute minorities, when they deny freedom of
religion, they abuse Islam.
my region and beyond whose sole purpose is to stack
the odds against the core values that bind our common
humanity. I am referring, of course, to the network
of extremist terrorists who have dominated headlines
Islam teaches that all humanity is equal in dignity.
of late. And they seek global dominance as well.
There is no distinction among the various nations or
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religions or races. The Quran forbids coercion in religion.
Every citizen is guaranteed the State’s protection
for themselves, their families, their properties, their
honour, their privacy, and their freedom of religion and
thought. Muslims believe in the divine origins of the
Bible and the Torah. God says in the Koran:
The international community also faces a fight for
“Say Ye: ‘We believe in Allah, and the
revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ishmael
and Isaac and Jacob, and the tribes, and that given
to Moses and Jesus, and that given to the Prophets
from their Lord: We make no difference between
one and another of them: and we submit to Allah.’”
(The Holy Koran, II:136)
Indeed, the prophet mentioned most in the Koran is
the future. The war will not be fought on the battlefield
alone. Our adversary has brought the fight to every place
where humans live and interact: airports, cafes and city
streets. Security cooperation is imperative, but equally
important is a holistic approach. We need to open up
new channels between continents and nations, within
countries and among people. That means reforming the
way we communicate, share information and use our
technologies. The very same modern communication
tools used against us must be employed by us, and
we can do that while respecting the important issue
of privacy. Creative innovators in the private sector,
especially in the technology sector, are vital for our
future and must be brought on board.
Moses, named 136 times. Jesus, whom we call “Christ
Messiah,” is named 25 times. His mother, Mary, called
“best of all women in creation,” is named 35 times,
and there is a chapter in the Quran called Maryam.
The khawarij deliberately hide these truths about
Islam in order to drive Muslims and non-Muslims
apart. We cannot allow that to happen. Once we
understand that this is a battle that we must fight
together — all religions and all of us who believe in the
dignity, freedom, and well-being that is the birthright
of every individual — then we can turn towards our
common enemy and examine through a clear lens the
unique nature of our foe.
Ours is a global fight. The focus must not stop with
the Middle East, but must reach far beyond into West
and East Africa, South-East Asia and the Balkans. In
Syria, a military approach will leave no winners, but
only losers on every side and further civilian suffering.
Ending violence ultimately demands a political
process — one shepherded by a unified global vision
and led by all of the Syrian people. In Iraq, international
support remains critical as the Government and the
people continue to uproot the khawarij. However, key
to achieving and sustaining any success is an inclusive
approach that engages all components of the country in
the political process and in State institutions.
Let me state clearly that those radical outlaw groups
do not exist on the fringes of Islam. They are altogether
outside of it. Thus, we refer to them as khawarij:
outlaws of Islam. They declare the entire civilized
world as the enemy and all people, military or civilian,
as fair game. They aim to incubate satellite caliphates
in every country of the world in order to extend their
reach. They are also expanding fast and wide through
As we pursue those goals, the international
community must also take responsibility for those
whose lives have been crushed and who have been
impoverished. I am referring to the millions of refugees
and victims. We cannot decisively defeat the scourge of
terror and violence without decisively rooting out the
injustices that provide it with fertile ground. From the
their mastery and exploitation of modern technology,
Abu Ghraib prison to the streets of Kabul and schools in
including social media. To confront this non-traditional
enemy, we need non-traditional means, a new mindset,
new partnerships and reformed methodologies. For
Muslims, first and foremost this is a fight for our
future. All elements of our community have a role
to play, not only in mosques and religious centers,
but media, schools, and communities. Let no one be
misled: traditional Sunni Islam and all of its schools of
jurisprudence decisively reject the ideas and claims of
the takfiri jihadists. Muslims need to help identify and
counter the outlaws of Islam who pick and choose and
cut and paste religious texts in order to twist and distort
true Islamic teaching.
Aleppo, injustice and humiliation have left tremendous
human suffering in their wake.
No injustice has spread more bitter fruit than the
denial of a Palestinian State. I believe that peace is a
conscious decision. Israel has to embrace peace, or
eventually be engulfed in a sea of hatred in a region
of turmoil. Safeguarding Jerusalem is a key concern,
as the Holy City is a strategic linchpin not only for my
region but for the world.
That is a priority for me personally and for all
Muslims. We utterly reject attacks on Muslim and
Christian holy sites and any attempts to alter the historic
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Muslim, Christian and Arab identity of the Holy City.
As the Custodian of Islamic Holy Sites in Jerusalem,
I will continue my efforts to protect those places
and stand up against all violations of their sanctity,
including attempts to establish temporal and spatial
divisions restricting free use of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on
Haram Al-Sharif.
us that once again humankind is capable of the best
and the worst: excellence in innovation at the service
of the environment, but also powerlessness and a
certain inertia in the face of immense tragedy, born of
dictatorship, poverty and warfare.
The challenges facing the international community
Perhaps the central and most vital battleground for
this defining war of our generation is the mind. The
despicable, damaging ideology of hate, murder and selfdestruction
that
is
being
spread
in
crash
courses
online
and elsewhere must be confronted with a counter-
narrative of hope, tolerance and peace. Together, in the
General Assembly and in our regions, countries and
communities across the world, we have the power to
create that counter-narrative. Let us show that we also
have the will to act.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
are extensive. The situation in the Middle East and
in certain regions of Africa, as well as at the gates
of Europe, represent a tragic example of that. The
weakening of States, economies and societies fosters
the radicalization that can lead to terrorism and
armed conflict, which bring with them their corollary
victims — refugees and displaced persons. The
consequences affect us all. Additional threats remain,
such as natural disasters, climate change and its impacts
and, indeed, antimicrobial resistance. Economic crises
and the vicious cycle of unemployment, vulnerability
and social exclusion that accompanies them are of
concern to decision-makers around the world.
of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the King of
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for the statement he
has just made.
In the face of the scale of those challenges, a
King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, was escorted from
the General Assembly Hall.
Address by Mr. Johann Schneider-Ammann,
President of the Swiss Confederation
The Acting President (spoke in French): The
Assembly will now hear an address by the President of
the Swiss Confederation.
strong United Nations is more necessary than ever.
The Organization has already proved what it is capable
of. Its tireless efforts to mobilize the international
community within the framework of various action
plans have prolonged the all-important liberalization of
the global economy. Over the past 20 years, the United
Nations has helped to reduce extreme poverty rates by
half and increase average life expectancy. Thanks to
United Nations incentives, education for the world’s
populations has improved. The involvement of the
private sector and civil society in global governance is
constantly growing.
Mr. Johann Schneider-Ammann, President of the
Swiss Confederation, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
There is another signal of hope, namely, the
recent peace agreement in Colombia. Switzerland, the
The Acting President (spoke in French): On
depositary of the agreement, commends all the parties
behalf of the General Assembly, I have the honour
to welcome to the United Nations His Excellency
Mr. Johann Schneider-Ammann, President of the
Swiss Confederation, and to invite him to address the
Assembly.
President Schneider-Ammann (spoke in French):
involved for that breakthrough on the road to lasting
peace. Our generation is the first since the beginning of
the twentieth century not to have lived through a world
war. The United Nations has greatly contributed to that
outcome, even if we must admit that there are still too
many regional conflicts and that those conflicts have
resulted in too many victims.
On 26 July in Abu Dhabi, the Swiss solar-powered
plane, Solar Impulse, finished its world tour. On
the same day that the whole world commended that
technical feat, the International Organization for
Migration issued a statement saying that, since the
Because of its universality, the United Nations has
beginning of 2016, more than 3,000 migrants had
a unique legitimacy, which gives rise to a monumental
responsibility, with the number of its initiatives,
agreements and processes constantly multiplying. A
new global vision is taking shape, and all States are
involved. Among the cornerstones of that vision is the
lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea. That shows
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2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is the
common framework for the development of sustainable
solutions. It provides the basis for a renewed social
contract between leaders and populations.
The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which
A thriving economy is a primary objective, because
it is a essential tool for creating opportunities for all
citizens. A thriving economy makes it easier for young
people, women and older workers to enter the labour
market. I see that as absolutely consistent with the
commitments undertaken by the United Nations. For a
dynamic economy that provides jobs and opportunities
is an important factor in preventing terrorist abuses and
armed conflict.
seeks to limit global warming, is a strong sign of the
commitment of States. The recent decision of the United
States and China to ratify the Agreement is a very
important step towards ensuring its success. The first
World Humanitarian Summit, held in Istanbul, which
helped to develop solutions aimed at helping people
affected by crises and disasters, is further evidence of
international solidarity. Furthermore, the review of the
United Nations peace and security architecture, which
we recently completed, highlighted the importance of
conflict prevention.
In Switzerland, we have identified three key
elements that enable us to regularly be at the forefront
of innovation and competitiveness.
First, we have an effective training system that
Finally, this year we celebrate the tenth anniversary
reflects the needs of the real economy as well as those
of basic research. University courses and vocational
programmes in Switzerland benefit from the same
attention and the same care. Enterprise learning
enriched by theoretical training in vocational schools
plays a central role in the system.
of the Human Rights Council, which has substantially
contributed to the promotion and defence of human
rights. A further step is now needed to strengthen the
influence of its actions on the ground. The “Appeal of
13 June”, launched by Switzerland and supported today
by 70 States, rightly proposes to improve conflictprevention
activities
by
more
systematically
integrating

the
human
rights
dimension,
including
strengthening

the
links
between
the
Human
Rights
Council
and
the

Security
Council.
Secondly, our liberal labour laws allow companies
to evolve with the markets, participate in and contribute
to technological progress and easily adopt innovative
methods and products. The flexibility of our economy
becomes the best guarantee of employment.
Thirdly, we have in place an effective and respected
In recent years, we have provided ourselves with
social partnership that ensures industrial peace. Regular
negotiations between representatives of employers and
employees ensure that labour agreements are flexible
and accepted by all, and meet the needs of industries
and regions.
valuable tools to build a better world; now it is time
to use them. In that context, I would like to express
our gratitude to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,
who, during a decade of hard work, has enabled the
United Nations to make significant advances. We are
convinced that his successor will continue the work and
reform of the United Nations.
But those key elements cannot produce positive
Our approach in this crucial phase must be based
effects without international trade. Exchanges
stimulate competition, scientific and technological
progress and innovation. And we should never forget
that freedom expressed through democracy and framed
by the rule of law is the best guarantee in ensuring that
a company may realize its full economic, scientific and
cultural potential.
on principles that are dear to us, the Swiss, namely,
the principles of inclusion and participation. I am
convinced that by acting together we will succeed in
meeting all the Goals of the 2030 Agenda. Switzerland
was one of the first countries to introduce national
measures aimed at implementing the 2030 Agenda. We
are determined to follow through on that commitment.
It is also important to meet the challenges of
I hold the deep conviction that, in order to achieve
the goals that we have set, we must have a sound
economy. Promoting sustainable economic growth
means making commitments that favour societies that
offer equitable opportunities for all their members.
globalization in the digital domain, not only in terms
of transparency, data security and equal opportunities,
but also from the perspective of the opportunities of
technological, social, political and economic progress.
In an open and democratic society, it is certainly
vital that people be able to use digital technologies in
informed and safe ways. However, we must also do
everything possible to ensure that the new possibilities
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offered by digitization facilitate access to employment
rather than make employment more precarious.
Address by Mr. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Godard,
President of the Republic of Peru
It is easy to forecast that digitization will make
The Acting President (spoke in French): The
jobs disappear. But that is not what matters; the real
challenge is to identify the new jobs that it will create.
For it is only by making that effort that we can put in
place the training that will allow the greatest number of
people to find jobs in tomorrow’s world. In order succeed
in that effort, we need to engage in dialogue with the
most innovative companies. The United Nations and its
specialized agencies can help ensure that all countries
can take advantage of the opportunities offered by
technological progress.
Assembly will now hear an address by the President of
the Republic of Peru
Mr. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Godard, President of
the Republic of Peru, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome
to the United Nations His Excellency Mr. Pedro Pablo
Kuczynski Godard, President of the Republic of Peru,
and to invite him to address the Assembly.
Speaking of the challenges facing the United
Nations and the international community leads
us naturally to Geneva as an international city.
Switzerland is committed to prioritizing that city as
a centre of global governance. We are supporting the
modernization of the city’s real estate, but we are
also strengthening synergies between the various
stakeholders in international Geneva, whether in
the field of global health or of humanitarian action.
There have been a number of initiatives in Geneva in
recent months, namely, the Appeal of 13 June to Put
Human Rights at the Heart of Conflict Prevention, the
launch of a High-level Panel on Water and Peace, the
organization of a conference on the prevention of violent
extremism, and also various kinds of peace talks and
negotiations. They are all evidence of the importance
of Geneva as an international city and of Switzerland’s
commitment. It is a place that is useful for the world,
and we will continue to commit to ensuring that its role
is strengthened.
President Kuczynski Godard (spoke in Spanish):
It is an honour to address the General Assembly,
to congratulate the President on his election to the
presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy-first
session, and to express Peru’s willingness to contribute
to the success of his stewardship.
Two months ago, when I began my term as President
I am wholeheartedly convinced that the only viable
responses to the contemporary challenges that we
of the Republic of Peru, I expressed a commitment to the
goals set forth by the founders of our Republic. In 2021,
Peruvians will celebrate 200 years of our independent
life, thereby consolidating a sound democracy, one
that is socially functional and prosperous, with better
opportunities for jobs and equality and where human
rights are promoted. Our Government’s plans and public
policies coincide with the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals, which are enshrined in the 2030
Agenda. They include access to water, education, health
care for all Peruvians and other services that are vital
in order to drastically reduce poverty, in the context of
a full-scale battle against corruption, discrimination,
insecurity and drug trafficking.
face are to be found in collective and solidarity-based
solutions. To find such solutions, the international
community needs a strong United Nations that is also
modern and effective. That is the path we must take.
Together, we must now support the Organization with
vision and determination.
One key objective of my Government is to ensure
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the President
of the Swiss Confederation for the statement he has
just made.
Mr. Johann Schneider-Ammann, President of
the Swiss Confederation, was escorted from the
General Assembly Hall.
the efficient management of safe water and sanitation
for all. We will ensure access to drinking water and
sewerage systems for all those families that do not
now have such basic services, which accounts for
about 10 million inhabitants, or almost a third of our
people. We will make a significant investment that will
prioritize the Amazon and Andean regions. We will
work with non-traditional systems for potable water
for non-urban areas, and we will implement systems
for rainwater-harvesting in the Amazon and undertake
public works through the reforestation programme
known as “Blue Mountains”, aimed at harvesting water
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in the highlands of the Andean Mountains. I believe
that interaction with the United Nations in that regard
is a priority. I am therefore very honoured to have
participated in the High-level Panel on Water just a few
days ago.
In that context, it is imperative to mention our
Another very important issue for my Government
concern regarding the critical political, economic
and social situation that our friends in Venezuela are
currently experiencing. Full-fledged democracy requires
absolute respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms, as well as due process. It also requires fully
guaranteeing respect for the separation and balance of
powers. The situation in Venezuela has been impacted
by extreme violence, social and political confrontation
and severe shortages of food and medicine. In order to
address that multifaceted crisis, we call in solidarity
is to promote green growth, while coordinating the
use of land-based and marine ecosystems. The Paris
Agreement on Climate Change should serve as an
inspiration for us to implement those policies. Peru is a
country that is particularly vulnerable, and we see that
on a daily basis in the melting of our glaciers and in the
extreme cold that occurs in southern Peru sometimes,
both of which have compelled us to redirect our scarce
resources to meet those challenges.
for an internal political dialogue to begin as soon as
Peru is promoting such policies so as to become
possible, without conditions or restrictions and within
a context of full respect for the Constitution. Peru is
ready and willing to undertake all the necessary efforts
that might assist our Venezuelan friends in bringing
about a solution to their problems. We will work with
the countries of the Pacific Alliance in that endeavour,
especially with Venezuela’s neighbouring country of
Colombia, where we shall be in a few days to witness
the signing of the peace agreement with the Fuerzas
Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia.
a member, as quickly as possible, of the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development. My
Government’s Administration has a clear vision of
the new challenges and responsibilities that Peru must
grapple with, which leads us to deepen our agreements
with countries that have similar prospects, problems
and challenges. They include our partners in the Pacific
Alliance, namely, Colombia, Chile and Mexico. It would
also include Brazil and Argentina, which are important
neighbours, along with Ecuador. Together with them,
we are tackling, in a harmonious and coordinated
manner, the challenges of development in the twentyf
irst century.
In conclusion, I would like to convey to the General
Assembly that the Government that I lead in Peru is an
advocate of modernization, compatible with the efforts
promoted by the United Nations system, in a global,
interdependent context, which has, however, unfortunately
been affected by a series of grave conflicts that have been
mentioned here today and throughout all of our debates.
Various parts of the world are experiencing a crisis
Peru has a firm commitment to defending and
of confidence, setbacks in globalization, populist and
protectionist temptations and an almost unprecedented wave
of refugees, as the King of Jordan mentioned a moment ago.
Our aim in South America and Latin America is to create a
bridge of stability and cooperation between the Pacific and
the Atlantic that seeks to promote the gradual restoration of
peace and prosperity in the western hemisphere.
definitively strengthening representative democracy,
human rights and the rule of law. That commitment
was clearly enshrined in the democratic Charter of
the Organization of American States. In that context,
fundamental freedoms, the right to participate freely
in political life and the separation of, and respect for,
the balance of powers are the cornerstones for the
governability of our region and can ensure a future with
hope.
Finally, I wish to congratulate the Secretary-General on
his decade of service to the international community in such
an important role.
We also respect the principle of non-intervention
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
in the internal affairs of other States, something that
was established and introduced by the Latin American
countries as a norm of international law a century ago.
However, respect for that principle cannot, and should
not, go against defence interests and the promotion
of democracy and human rights, which consitute an
irrevovable heritage for future generations.
of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the President
of the Republic of Peru for the statement he has just
made.
Mr. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Godard, President
of the Republic of Peru, was escorted from the
General Assembly Hall.
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Address by Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President
of the Republic of Turkey
while peoples in countries throughout the world struggle
with hunger, epidemics, poverty and illiteracy.
The Acting President (spoke in French): The
That is the disgraceful side of our world, damaging
Assembly will now hear an address by the President of
the Republic of Turkey.
Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the
Republic of Turkey, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
human dignity and disturbing the human conscience. What
is even more distressing is that many of those crises and
problems could easily be resolved. Peace, prosperity and
security for future generations greatly depend on the
steps and measures that we take today. Now is the
moment to show leadership with a sense of responsibility
in addressing the problems before us decisively.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome
to the United Nations His Excellency Mr. Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Turkey, and to
invite him to address the Assembly.
Today, terrorist organizations are able to employ a
President Erdoğan
(spoke in Turkish,
interpretation provided by the delegation): I greet the
General Assembly on behalf of myself, my country and
my nation with the utmost respect. I hope the seventyfirst
session
of
the
General
Assembly will succeed in its

purposes and will
lead
to favourable
results for all
countries

and
nations.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate His
variety of methods. On the night of 15 July, we in Turkey
suffered a malicious coup attempt initiated by the
Fethullah terrorist organization, also know as Fethull.
That terrorist organization murdered 241 citizens and
injured 2,194 people. Our Parliament building, the
presidential complex and many security organizations
and law-enforcement units were bombed by the
terrorist organization, using F-16 fighter jets. Tanks
rolled through the streets and over people. Helicopters
and military vehicles opened fire on civilians. The coup
attempt was successfully repelled by our nation, which
heroically preserved its democracy, Government,
freedoms and future and the constitutional order.
Excellency Mr. Peter Thomson on assuming the presidency
of the General Assembly at its seventy-first session, and I
thank His Excellency Mr. Mogens Lykketoft for his work
during his presidency during the previous session, while
wishing him luck in his future endeavours.
I therefore take pride in my nation’s people, which
I would also like to thank His Excellency Mr. Ban
Ki-moon for his valuable contributions as he ends his 10year
tenure
as Secretary-General,
during which he served in

a time of global
challenges.
Within the first quarter of the twenty-first century,
defeated that heinous coup attempt at the risk of
their lives. For a period of 29 days the people never
abandoned the city squares of Turkey, remaining on call
to protect our democracy. They threw their bodies in
the way of tanks so as to repel the coup attempt. They
took a very noble stand. If I am standing here before
the Assembly today, it is because of our nation’s brave
and noble reaction. It should never be forgotten that
the coup attempt in Turkey was aimed at democracy
humankind has reached a peak in achievements in science,
technology, economic development and health. However,
such brilliance has also a very dark and disgraceful side. In
Syria, in Iraq and in many countries suffering in the grip
of terrorism and war, hundreds of thousands of women and
children, the young and the elderly, are being killed. Refugees
fleeing death, tyranny and oppression are, unfortunately, also
facing degrading treatment in many European cities.
throughout the world as well. Our nation taught a
historical lesson to those intending to carry out coup
attempts and became a source of inspiration for all
nations committed to protecting democracy.
The new generation of terrorist organizations poses
Terrorist organizations, such as Da’esh and the Al-Nusra
Front and the Democratic Union Party and Kurdish People’s
Protection Units, continue their attacks and actions in the
region. There is also great potential for the disputes in the
Caucasus region to unfold into a full-fledged conflict. Many
problems, from Yemen to Ukraine, are of particular urgency,
a security threat, not only for Turkey but also for all 170
countries around the world in which such organizations
exist. In other words, today the majority of the countries
represented here in the General Assembly are currently
under the threat of such clandestine structures. The
terrorist organizations work on the premise of a
deep-rooted psychological heresy aimed at subduing
the whole world far beyond the borders of Turkey.
The members are deviant in their actions. The basic
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strategy of the terrorist organizations is to infiltrate
State institutions, influencing society and dominating
economic resources under the disguise of education,
dialogue, tolerance, non-governmental organizations
and the best of intentions.
From this rostrum, I would like to call on all our
to non-governmental organizations and municipalities.
Members might ask: what has Turkey received from
the rest of the world? From the United Nations, we
have received only $525 million in aid and nothing
else. Have we received anything from the European
Union (EU)? The EU made certain promises, which
have, unfortunately, not been kept. It has allocated
$178 million to UNICEF. That is all. Turkey itself has not
directly received any aid whatsoever in financial terms.
friends to take the necessary measures against the
Fethullahist terrorist organization in their own countries
in order to protect the future of their own people and
their well-being. Based on our experience, it is evident
that, if you do not fight against the Fethullahist terrorist
organization now, tomorrow may be too late. I would
also like to take this opportunity to say that attributions
such as “Turkish” or “Turkey” and all other similar
labels used by that terrorist organization and the
persons associated with it have no relation with Turkey.
Since the beginning of the conflict, we have claimed
The humanitarian crisis in Syria has reached its
that the problem was a common question for the rest
of the world. We have been establishing close contacts
in solidarity with influential international figures. The
Syrians are our neighbours and brothers and sisters. We
could not remain silent in the face of such tragedy and
carnage. We have never remained silent and never will.
Currently, 2.7 million refugees are being housed in our
country, along with 300,000 Iraqis. A total number of
3 million refugees have never been subjected to any
ethnic or religious discrimination in Turkey. We have
opened our arms wide.
sixth year. To date, 600,000 people have reportedly
lost their lives, and, because of the war, 12 million
people have had to leave their country, 5 million of
whom have taken refuge in other countries. There
are now 2.7 million such people in our country. They
were forced to leave their homes behind and have been
welcomed in Turkey. We have never asked why they
ended up in Turkey. Our doors are wide open. We have
not shut our doors in their faces, because they were
fleeing barrel bombs and fighter jets. For those people,
we have had to assume our responsibilities and do what
was expected of us.
In addition to the tent and container cities in which
While the West and the rest of the world might not
we accommodate the refugees in Turkey, we will
continue to provide all forms of support commensurate
with our capabilities. We expect the EU and all other
organizations that have pledged financial support
to rise to the occasion. We expect them to keep their
promises. Similarly, we expect the United Nations to
keep its promises. I hope and pray that the General
Assembly at its seventy-first session will loudly convey
that message to the rest of the world, because the
contributions of the international community should
not be limited $512 million s. What is one to think?
do so, we will continue to welcome them, because we
are human beings. In the face of such an atrocity, we
are obliged to keep our doors open to all those fleeing
tyranny and oppression. We have opened our doors
and kept them open. And we will continue to open our
From this rostrum, I call upon the rest of the world,
doors in the future. The international community has,
unfortunately, remained indifferent to the suffering of
people in conflict zones. The numbers that we have
mentioned correspond to human beings.
The Syrian people are in a state of exhaustion
in the grip of proxy wars that have been shaped by a
cruel Administration, merciless terrorist organizations
and global and regional competition. In that process,
unfortunately, the international community has failed
to live up to its humanitarian values and its collective
conscience.
To date, Turkey has spent approximately
$25 billion on the refugees, including money directed
including my European friends who believe that the
Syrian refugees represent a threat and clear danger to
them. Barbed wire and high walls will never provide
them with the safety, security or peace of mind that
they are seeking. That effort is in vain. The problems of
the Syrian refugees should be immediately solved once
and for all. Otherwise, we will never be able to prevent
the irregular migration, social issues and security risks
embedded within that problem. We must not lose any
more time in ending the conflict, the terrorism and the
environment of persecution, which are the sources of
the problem in Syria. We must urgently implement a
political settlement process.
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We attach great importance to protecting Syria’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have no claims
whatsoever on Syrian territory. Syria belongs to the
Syrian people. No one should ever have any plans
whatsoever with regard to the territory of Syria.
will be constructed in the near future. In order to make
that possible, the areas officially designated as safe
zones should also be declared as no-fly zones. We must
maintain a firm stand so as to ensure that a no-fly zone
will be established for the protection and security of the
region’s inhabitants.
Starting with our support for the Syrian opposition,
what is known as Operation Euphrates Shield was
launched, which is critical to re-establishing stability,
peace and prosperity in a region of despair. It became
clear that, with the launching of that operation, the
priority of the terrorist organization Kurdish Workers
Party, or of the Kurdish Democratic Party, is in not
fighting against Da’esh. The operation — or offensive,
as some prefer to call it — has also boosted the
self-confidence of the moderate Syrian opposition
forces. Furthermore, that development has provided
encouragement to the local forces in Iraq that are eager
to cleanse Mosul of the terror sowed by Da’esh.
It is unfortunate that the ceasefire, a process that
has received enormous investment, has failed. As is
clear, a ceasefire is no longer possible. Yesterday, a
United Nations convoy was attacked by the regime’s
forces, resulting in the death of one person and many
others injured.
The Syrian regime has not allowed aid deliveries
As those who are present here are probably aware,
supervised by the United Nations to reach the people of
Aleppo, who are in dire need. They are also attacking
United Nations convoys. The regime is condemning
people to famine and suffering, in order to encourage
them to surrender or to die. The United Nations and the
Security Council should no longer tolerate the regime’s
policies.
for a long time I have appealed for the establishment of
a safe zone along our border with Syria, which at more
than 900 kilometres is the longest border with Syria.
Along that border, Turkey has been continuously under
threat. We have been extremely patient. However, on
24 August, in the city of Gaziantep, next to the Syrian
border, a wedding party was attacked by a 14-year-old
suicide bomber, a boy sent there by Da’esh terrorists.
The blast killed 56 people and injured more than 100.
We were patient until that critical moment. That was
the precise time when we said, enough is enough.
In Iraq it is clear that it will not be easy to establish
Along with the moderate opposition, we initiated the
a political system to effectively protect its ethnic
and sectarian diversity, which makes up the greatest
underlying strength of the country. Within that context,
the Mosul operation should be conducted by taking into
consideration the sensitivities of the people of the region.
Otherwise, a new humanitarian crisis will emerge,
leading to the influx of yet another 1 million people
seeking refuge in other countries. We cannot leave the
Iraqi people alone at this critical juncture, when they
need the support of the international community now
more than ever.
offensive. Primarily in Jarabulus, we have eliminated
Da’esh and extended operations all the way to Al-Rai,
where Da’esh was repelled. The local inhabitants of
Allowing the Palestinian people to live in an
Jarabulus were resettled, as were those from Al-Rai.
independent Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its
capital, based on the two-State solution, is an obligation
of the international community to Palestinian children,
if nothing else. Israel, especially, should respect
the sanctity of the Temple Mount and put an end to
violations of its status.
From A’zaz to the Euphrates, the entire region was
saved from becoming a belt of terrorism. Instead, it was
converted into a belt of peace. The operation we are
conducting today has the eventual goal of protecting
that safe zone and ensuring that it is in fact safe.
We will try to benefit from our normalized relations
The people of Jarabulus were saved from the grip
with Israel to facilitate the peace process and resolve
the economic and humanitarian challenges faced by our
Palestinian brothers and sisters through every possible
effort. In that vein, we will continue our efforts to
deliver humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip.
of the terrorists and are confident in returning to their
homes. The electrical and water infrastructure will
be made operational immediately. The Turkish Red
Crescent, Turkish humanitarian aid organizations and
all of the other non-governmental organizations have
mobilized to meet the needs of the local inhabitants.
All of the civil facilities needed by the local inhabitants
That brings me to a very important point. The World
Humanitarian Summit was held in May, in Turkey, for
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the first time in history. We consider that Summit to
have provided an important opportunity to explore new
ways of more effective crisis intervention around the
world. In that connection, I would like to be clear in
my remarks. With respect to providing support to the
least developed countries around the world, Turkey, the
United Kingdom and the United States rank among the
top three donors. But in the ratio comparing the amount
of humanitarian aid to gross domestic product, Turkey
is ranked number one in the world.
We are the country housing the most significant
Council say. There are five permanent seat-holders and
10 non-permanent seat-holders in the Security Council.
That is not a proper Security Council. A Council that
does not represent the entire world can never serve to
re-establish peace and justice around the world. That is
something that we need to revisit over and over again.
Can everyone think about that — three European
countries, one country in Asia and one country, the
United States of America, of course — five countries
as the permanent seat-holders? What about the rest of
the world? What about the other countries around the
world? They have remained on the sidelines. We ignore
them.
number of refugees around the world, and we are doing
everything within our ability to stop irregular migration.
Upon Turkey’s initiative, the subject of Syrian refugees
was addressed by the General Assembly last year for
the first time. Similarly, migration and terrorism were
incorporated into the Group of 20 agenda, thanks
to Turkey’s efforts. We are cooperating with the
European Union on the refugee crisis to the greatest
extent possible.
Instead, why not have 20 countries as permanent
seat-holders in the Security Council, under a rotational
system? In that system, each country would, deservedly,
be represented on the Security Council every year
or every two years. That is the only way to establish
fairness and justice. The representative nature of the
Security Council should be established so that the
organ will be much more effective, more just.
Based on the goal of preventing deaths in the
Aegean Sea, we have succeeded in reducing the
irregular migration number to 50 people per day;
whereas, in October 2015, that number had reached
7,000 per day. That shows that Turkey has successfully
fulfilled its commitments under the framework of the
refugee agreement with the EU. However, we regret
that the promises made by the EU in the context of
the agreement of 18 March have been forgotten, while
ongoing false pretexts prevail and excuses are all that
we hear.
In order for that to be possible, the General
Assembly has to reach complete consensus. Please do
not even consider remaining silent, or else we cannot
achieve anything. We cannot succeed in our policies.
We have to engage in spying, so to say. We have to
be strong. We have to stand on our two feet, and talk
about the truth and nothing but the truth. We have to
stand behind the truth. We are the politicians. Only in
that way can the world attain the level of justice that it
yearns for. This is the only way to achieve democracy.
The Security Council must be reformed to improve
Islamophobia is an alternate name for racism
the effectiveness of peacekeeping and peacebuilding.
We fully appreciate Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s
and discrimination. We see it prevailing in countries
with a large Muslim population. About a decade ago,
progress in that respect. Furthermore, it is obvious
along with the then Prime Minister of Spain, we
that, unless the Security Council, as the main organ
responsible for the maintenance of international peace
and security, is reformed, such efforts will be in vain
and the task will remain unfulfilled.
That is why we say that the world is greater than the
co-chaired the initiative of the United Nations Alliance
of Civilizations project that aimed to find permanent
solutions to such dangerous movements that threaten
our prosperity around the world. Similarly, we are also
glad that interest in the Mediation for Peace Initiative
that we pioneered along with Finland in 2010 under the
auspices of the United Nations has increased.
five permanent members. We have been reminding the
international community of that fact over and over again
with every chance we get. The Security Council was
established in the aftermath of the Second World War.
One cannot preserve the same structure of the Council
under the circumstances of modern times. One cannot
condemn the fate of the rest of the world to depend
on what the five permanent members in the Security
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
which we have jointly developed, includes ambitious
and transformative goals for us all. Official development
assistance makes up the most important resource
for supporting development efforts, notably for the
least developed countries (LDCs). Turkey’s official
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development assistance reached $3.9 billion in 2015. As I
have previously mentioned, the 0.54 per cent of our gross
domestic product, which is the ratio of humanitarian
aid that we provide, is beyond the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development average and
helps us approach the United Nations target, which is
0.7 per cent. Turkey has surpassed its commitment to
provide $200 million annually to LDCs in 2011, and
has delivered more than $1.5 billion to LDCs in a mere
five-year period.
friends among the Pacific small island developing
States. I also thank Mr. Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark
for his leadership during the seventieth session.
Fiji fully supports the agenda that you, Sir, have
Before concluding my remarks, I hope and pray
that the seventy-first session of the General Assembly
will be the beginning of a new age to alleviate the pain
and suffering of people around the world, and that it
will help us change our world.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the President
of Turkey for the statement he has just made.
outlined for the coming session, which seeks to
persuade the world to begin implementing the 2030
Sustainable Development Goals that the 193 Member
States adopted last year. As you rightly stated, Sir, when
you took your oath of office last week, the seventyfirst
session
must,
for
integrity’s
sake,
be
the
year
that

we
witness
the
wheels
turning.
We
have
collectively

pledged
to
mobilize
the
global
community
to
end
all

forms
of
poverty,
fight
inequality
and
tackle
climate

change.
And
we
have
pledged
that,
as
we
do
so,
we
will

leave
no
one
behind,
wherever
they
live
on
the
planet.

That
is
our
promise
to
the
7.5
billion
people
across
the

world,
whose
interests
we
represent.
It
is a
promise

that
must
be
kept
—
a
“universal
push
to
transform
our

world”,
as
the
theme
of
this
session
puts
it.
His Excellency Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,
President of the Republic of Turkey, was escorted
from the General Assembly Hall.
A centrepiece of the seventy-first session and one
of our most critical priorities is the high-level United
Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of
Sustainable Development Goal 14, which is to be held
in New York next June on the theme “Conserve and
sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for
sustainable development”. Fiji is proud to be co-hosting
that gathering with Sweden, and I ask everyone to give
that initiative their full support. The world must act
quickly and decisively to reverse the environmental
degradation of our oceans and seas, and the reckless
and irresponsible use of those precious resources.
The President took the Chair.
Address by His Excellency Mr. Josaia Voreqe
Bainimarama, Prime Minister of the Republic
of Fiji
The President: The Assembly will now hear
an address by His Excellency Mr. Josaia Voreqe
Bainimarama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji.
Mr. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister of
the Republic of Fiji, was escorted to the rostrum.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have great pleasure in welcoming His Excellency
For a small island developing State such as Fiji,
that is as pressing as the need to address the challenges
of climate change and deal with the extreme weather
events and rising seas that pose such a threat to our way
Mr. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister
of the Republic of Fiji, and inviting him to address
the Assembly.
Mr. Bainimarama (Fiji): This is a special moment
of life in the small island developing States and other
vulnerable parts of the world. Many millions of people
in maritime and coastal communities the world over are
looking to us for decisive action to address the growing
crisis of population, pollution, overfishing and the loss
of marine habitats.We must not fail them.
for Fiji as you, Sir, assume the presidency of the General
Assembly at its seventy-first session — the first Fijian
and the first Pacific Islander to attain this high Office at
the United Nations. Your nation is honoured and proud.
On behalf of every Fijian, I offer you, Mr. President, my
warmest congratulations and wish you every success as
you guide our deliberations over the next 12 months.
Fiji also comes to the seventy-first session with a
I want to thank those nations that supported Fiji’s
plea to all nations that have yet to do so to ratify the
Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We are proud
to have been the first nation in the world to ratify the
Agreement and launch the ratification instruments.
But we also come with the message that Paris must
be merely the first step. We are alarmed by scientific
bid for the presidency, including our neighbours and
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predictions that the 2°C cap on global warming over
pre-industrial levels agreed to in Paris is not enough to
save us.
sacrifices to fulfil our solemn duty to the Fijian people
to preserve their surroundings.
Article 40, paragraph 1, of our Constitution gives
Seven months ago, the Fijian people were given
every Fijian the right to
“a clean and healthy environment, which includes
the right to have the natural world protected for the
benefit of present and future generations”.
I make a solemn pledge to my own people and to the
wider global community that, while my Government
remains in office, Fiji will never be among the ranks
a terrifying glimpse into the future that the experts
say awaits us when we were struck by the biggest
tropical cyclone ever to make landfall in the southern
hemisphere, Cyclone Winston. Packing winds of more
than 300 kilometres an hour, it killed 44 of our people
and left many thousands homeless. Mercifully, it
spared our main tourism areas — our principal source
of income — so our wider community and our wider
economy remained intact. But if this is what awaits
us as global warming triggers weather events that are
more frequent and more extreme, then God help us.
of those nations that have compromised their futures
In common with other small island developing
for short-term financial gain. We intend to raise our
living standards by other means, especially by making
things that other people want to buy and by providing
services they want to access. We are taking the Fijianmade
brand
of
quality
products
and
services
to
the

four
corners
of
the
Earth
and
managing
our
economy

responsibly
in
accordance
with
international
best

practices,
with a
particular
emphasis
on
infrastructure

development,
service
delivery
and
providing
for
the

less
fortunate.
States, we face a nightmare scenario in which a single
event scoring a direct hit could wipe out our economy,
set us back for decades and make it impossible for us to
meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Our message
from the Pacific therefore is this: the 2°C cap is not
enough. We need the world to go one better and embrace
the 1.5°C cap that we, members of the Pacific Islands
Development Forum, called for in the Suva Declaration
on Sustainable Human Development in the Pacific.
Of prime importance is our education revolution,
We also need deeper cuts in carbon emissions and
more decisive global action than what we are currently
witnessing. But as a first step, I appeal to all Member
States to ratify the Paris Agreement and to turn
away from what I have termed “the coalition of the
selfish” — those countries that would see vulnerable
nations battered and submerged rather than alter their
pampered, carbon-driven lifestyles.
I am proud to report that Fiji is heeding the
by which we are equipping Fijian young people with
the knowledge and skills to have satisfying, sustainable
livelihoods and contribute to our nation’s progress.
We are providing free schooling for the first time and
have established our first tertiary loan scheme and
more scholarships for gifted students in order to open
up a gateway of unprecedented opportunity to our
universities and a new network of technical colleges.
We have set our sights higher than ever before to
become a smarter, more dynamic country at the hub
of the Pacific, the crossroads of our region, and to
evolve into a modern nation State that is a beacon to
our neighbours and respected around the world.
President’s call to implement the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development. First and foremost, we have
placed sustainable development at the core of our
national agenda. The Green Growth Framework for Fiji,
which I launched in 2015, is a blueprint for the future
direction of our nation. It has been incorporated into
our new five-year and 20-year national development
plans that we will be unveiling in the coming months.
These plans stipulate that no development whatsoever
in Fiji will be permitted unless it can be conclusively
demonstrated to be sustainable. We regard the
preservation of our natural environment on land and at
sea as our number-one priority. We are willing to make
I am pleased to report that we have made a strong
start as a nation on the long but determined journey to
achieve that goal. Not only are our people being given
more opportunity than at any time in our history, not
only are we creating a more equitable society, which
includes targeted assistance for the vulnerable and the
country’s first pension scheme, but Fiji is also currently
experiencing a record period of economic growth, with
seven straight years of expansion.
Even in the wake of Cyclone Winston, we expect to
see growth of nearly 3 per cent this year. Our message
to the world is simple: Fiji is open for business. Fiji
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has attractive incentives for investment and some
of the most favourable corporate and personal tax
rates in the Pacific region. We have state-of-the-art
communications and an educated, English-speaking
work force. We are investing in new roads, airports and
other infrastructure and have dramatically improved
the efficiency of our ports. We also have our pristine
environment, spectacular islands, coastlines and
waters. In addition, our standard of hospitality has
made the Fijian people famous the world over.
We intend to immediately boost the level of
collaboration between our Foreign Ministry and our
Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, which have
too often operated in isolation. Our diplomats and trade
commissioners will be instructed to make it a priority
to work more closely with Fijian exporters to promote
the Fijian-made brand, as well as to access goods and
services of international standards from new and old
trading partners that benefit Fijian consumers.
More broadly, we are rethinking some of our
We market ourselves to the world as a holiday
foreign policy positions and objectives. This includes
a re-evaluation of the central principle of Fijian foreign
policy for some years of being “friends to all and
enemies to none”.
destination with the slogan “Fiji — where happiness
finds you”. Whatever the challenges of Cyclone
Winston, I can confidently say that the Fijian people
have never been happier. The joy that erupted when our
world-champion rugby sevens team won the gold medal
at the Rio Olympics was shared by every Fijian. It has
brought us together in celebration and seen us more
unified in recent weeks than at any other time in our
history. It has also inspired us to imagine what else our
small nation can do if we put our minds to it.
Of course, we seek friendly relations with all nations
As many in the Assembly are aware, we have had
and are certainly not in the business of making enemies.
But we intend, in future, to choose our friends in a more
discerning manner and to align ourselves more closely
with those countries that share our underlying values
and principles. These include, above all, adherence to
international law and adherence to human rights and
human dignity, along with other shared values such as
mutual respect, respect for sovereignty and territorial
integrity, the resolving of disputes by peaceful means
and non-interference in one another’s internal affairs.
considerable challenges through the years in forging
a common identity and producing an equal and just
society for every citizen, but I am here to say that those
days are over. As Fiji approaches its first half-century
as an independent nation in 2020, we are finally one
nation, one people, with a great sense of national
optimism and a great deal to look forward to.
This change of direction will not be sudden. It is
To reflect our new-found confidence, we are also
in the process of re-evaluating our relationships with
the rest of the world. Last week, I assumed the position
of Foreign Minister as well as Prime Minister, and I
intend to steadily reform this Ministry and to refine
certainly not going to produce a dramatic change in
the international company that Fiji keeps. But we are
definitely seeking closer relations with nations that
share our values and basic outlook, especially those
nations that respect human life and the rights and
dignity of their citizens, adhere to the principle of social
justice, uphold the rule of law and insist on equality and
certain aspects of our foreign policy to give it a new
respect for all human beings, as we in Fiji do.
direction and a renewed sense of purpose.
First and foremost, we are going to place trade at the
centre of our foreign-policy effort, with the promotion
of the impressive collection of quality products and
services under the Fijian-made brand. Some of these
products and services are already making a global
impact, but we believe we can do a lot more — whether
it is our water, our cosmetics, foodstuffs and other
manufactured goods, the more efficient marketing of
Fiji as a prime holiday destination, or by spreading the
wings of our boutique national airline, Fiji Airways,
flying to other destinations in the Asia-Pacific region
and beyond.
As part of our wider commitment to human rights,
we are seeking membership in the Human Rights
Council for the two-year term that commences in 2018.
We would be the first Pacific nation to serve on the
Council, and I ask all member States to support our bid.
Fiji will continue to play a disproportionate role
in the international community in relation to its size,
whether it be our continuing commitment to United
Nations peacekeeping and sending our men and women
in uniform to protect ordinary people in troubled parts
of the world, or our lead role in drawing global attention
to the urgent need for action on climate change.
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It is certainly a proud moment for me, as the leader
The United Kingdom will be a confident, strong and
dependable partner internationally, true to the universal
values that we share together. We will continue to honour
our commitment to spend 0.7 of our gross national
income on development, building on the achievements
that we have already made to reduce poverty, deal
with instability and increase prosperity the world over,
and we will drive forward the implementation of the
Sustainable Development Goals.
of our small nation, to stand here before the nations
of the world with you, Sir, behind me, as President of
the General Assembly. Congratulations again on your
appointment. I thank you for bringing such honour
to our nation. Every Fijian — indeed, the entire
community of nations — wishes you well as you preside
over the deliberations of this seventy-first session and
the great issues of our time on which the future of the
world depends.
We will continue to champion the rights of women
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I wish to thank the Prime Minister of the Republic of
and girls, making sure that all girls get the education
they deserve and tackling horrific abuses such as female
genital mutilation and the use of sexual violence in
conflict. We will continue to be a steadfast permanent
member of the Security Council, meeting our NATO
commitment to spend 2 per cent of gross domestic
product on defence and making a leading contribution
to United Nations peacekeeping efforts, where we have
doubled our commitment, including new deployments
to Somalia and South Sudan.
Fiji for the statement he has just made.
Mr. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister of
the Republic of Fiji, was escorted from the rostrum.
Address by Mrs. Theresa May, Prime Minister
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
address by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Mrs. Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
was escorted to the rostrum.
The President: I have great pleasure in welcoming
Her Excellency Mrs. Theresa May, Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
and inviting her to address the General Assembly.
Mrs. May (United Kingdom): It is a great honour
for me to address the General Assembly for the first
time and to do so as Prime Minister of a country that
has always been a proud and proactive member at the
very heart of the United Nations.
The United Nations was formed because leaders
across the world knew that they could deliver security
for their citizens at home only if they could cooperate
as a community of nations to deliver security across the
globe. Some of the threats that we face together today
are familiar to those founding leaders: war, political
instability, abuses of human rights and poverty.
Others are new: global terrorism, climate change and
unprecedented mass movements of people.
We gather here today because we know that such
challenges do not respect the borders of our individual
nations and that only by working together shall we
We will continue to stand up for the rules-based
international system and for international law, and I join
other leaders in condemning the outrageous bombing of
the aid convoy in Syria yesterday. We will continue to
play our part in the international effort against climate
change, and, in a demonstration of our commitment to
the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the United
Kingdom will start its domestic procedures to enable
ratification of the Paris Agreement and complete these
before the end of the year. And we will continue to
strengthen our existing partnerships, from the United
Nations to the Commonwealth and to NATO, seeking
to resolve conflict in countries across the world, from
Colombia and Cyprus to Somalia and Yemen.
But we must never forget that we stand here at
the United Nations as servants of the men and women
that we represent back at home. As we do so, we must
recognize that for too many of these men and women,
the increasing pace of globalization has left them
feeling left behind. The challenge for those of us in
this Hall is to ensure that our Governments and our
global institutions such as the United Nations remain
responsive to the people we serve, and that we are
capable of adapting our institutions to the demands of
the twenty-first century and of ensuring that they do
not become irrelevant.
overcome them. As a new Prime Minister to the United
So when it comes the big security and human
Kingdom, my pledge to the United Nations is simple.
rights challenges of our time, we need this, our United
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Nations, to forge a bold new multilateralism, because,
as we have seen even in the past week, no country is
untouched by the threat of global terrorism, and when
extremists anywhere in the world can transmit their
poisonous ideologies directly into the bedrooms of
people vulnerable to radicalization, we need not just
work together to prevent conflict and instability in
nation States, but to act globally to disrupt the networks
that terrorist groups use to finance operations and
recruit to their ranks.
technological capabilities to get ahead of them. They
are targeting our airlines, exploiting the fact that no one
country can keep its citizens safe when they are flying
between multiple jurisdictions. That is why this week
the United Nations will vote on a United Kingdomled
draft
resolution
on
aviation
security
so
that
every

country
implements
the
standards
we
need
to
ensure

that
no
country
is
the
weak
link.
They are exploiting the Internet and social media
When we see the mass displacement of people on a
scale unprecedented in recent history, we must ensure
that we are implementing the policies that are fit for the
challenges we face today. And when criminal gangs do
not respect our national borders, trafficking our fellow
citizens into lives of slavery and servitude, we cannot
let those borders act as a barrier to bringing such
criminals to justice.
In each of these areas, it is the convening power of
to spread an ideology that is recruiting people to their
cause all over the world. We therefore need to tackle
this ideology head-on. That is why the United Kingdom
has championed the work that the Secretary-General
has led to develop a strategy for preventing violent
extremism. Now, as an international community, we
must work together to adopt and implement the most
comprehensive national action plans to tackle both the
causes and the symptoms of all extremism. It is not
enough merely to focus on violent extremism. We need
to address the whole spectrum of extremism — violent
extremism and non-violent extremism, Islamist and
neo-Nazi, hate and fear in all their forms.
our United Nations that gives us a unique opportunity
to respond. But we can do so only if we modernize and
adapt to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
As a United Nations we have shown how we can
Just as we need the United Nations to modernize
work together to reduce the threat of international
terrorism by preventing conflict and instability from
developing. For example, as a permanent member of the
Security Council, Britain has played a leading role in the
fight against Al-Shabaab in Somalia. Since 2010, with
huge support from across the region and, critically, the
commitment of Somalis themselves, Al-Shabaab has
been driven from all the major cities it used to control.
to meet the challenges of terrorism in the twenty-first
century, so too must we adapt if we are to fashion a
truly global response to the mass movements of people
across the world and its implications for security and
human rights. The 1951 Convention relating to the
Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol must remain
the bedrock of our response, but the context in which
they must be applied has dramatically changed.
It is vital that as an international community we
Across the world today, there are 65 million
continue to support countries in the region that are
contributing thousands of troops, and that we continue
people who have been forcibly displaced. That is
the equivalent of the entire population of the United
to build the capacity of Somali security forces. That
Kingdom. It is an unprecedented figure, one that has
is why the United Kingdom is now going to increase
further our security support, and we will be calling
on others to do the same, hosting an international
conference on Somalia in 2017, to maintain this vital
momentum. Missions like this must remain central to
the work of the United Nations, but on their own they
are not enough, because the terrorist threats we face
today do not come from one country but rather exist
in a different space. The global networks they exploit
require a different kind of global response.
almost doubled in a decade. And yet United Nations
appeals are underfunded, host countries are not getting
enough support and refugees are not getting the aid,
education and economic opportunities they need. We
must do more. As the second-largest bilateral provider
of assistance, the United Kingdom remains fully
committed to playing a leading role.
In the past five years, the United Kingdom has
These organizations are using our own modern
invested over $9 billion in humanitarian assistance,
saving millions of lives every year. The London
Conference on Syria in February raised $12 billion
in pledges, the largest amount ever raised in one day
in response to a humanitarian crisis. And that money
banking networks against us. We therefore need to look
at our regulations and information-sharing and use our
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is being used to combine both urgent humanitarian
assistance and vital economic development, benefiting
both refugees and the communities and countries
hosting them. Clearly, we need to continue our efforts to
bring an end to the conflict and the appalling slaughter
in Syria and to get aid through to those who need it.
to managing migration that is in the interests of all
those involved.
First of all, we must help ensure that refugees claim
While these efforts continue inside Syria, we
asylum in the first safe country they reach. The current
trend of onward movements, where refugees reach a
safe country but then press on with their journey, can
only benefit criminal gangs and expose refugees to
grave danger. We must therefore all do more to support
countries where the refugees first arrive, to provide the
necessary protection and assistance for refugees safely
and swiftly and to help countries adapt to the huge
economic impact that refugees can have — including
on their existing population.
also need new efforts to support refugees and host
communities in neighbouring countries, including
through education and opportunities to work. These
efforts are complemented by loans from international
financial institutions and access to European markets.
Through our trading relationships and direct engagement
with businesses, we are mobilizing the private sector to
create new jobs in the region for everyone. While there
is more to be done, it is this approach to financing both
humanitarian support and economic development that I
will be championing when I announce a further United
Kingdom financial contribution at President Obama’s
leaders’ summit on the global refugee crisis later today.
As we are seeing in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey,
when the right assistance is provided, solutions that
provide sanctuary and opportunity to refugees, and
opportunities for those hosting them, can be found.
This is also good for the refugees and the countries they
come from — because the closer they stay to home, the
easier it will be for them to return and rebuild after
the conflict.
But in addition to refugees and displaced people
fleeing conflict and persecution, we are also seeing
an unprecedented movement of people in search of
greater economic opportunities through the same
unmanaged channels. That affects all of us, and it is the
responsibility of us all to take action. We cannot ignore
the challenge or allow it to continue unmanaged. We
need to do better — for the countries people leave, for
the countries they move through, for the countries they
try to get to — and most of all, better for the migrants
and refugees themselves.
Secondly, we need to improve the ways we
distinguish between refugees fleeing persecution and
economic migrants. I believe we must ensure that
the existing Convention and Protocol are properly
applied to provide protection to refugees and reduce
the incentives for economic migrants to use illegal
routes. This in turn will help us target support for those
refugees who need it most and retain the support of our
populations for doing so.
Thirdly, we need a better overall approach to
Despite the huge increase in international efforts,
more migrants have died attempting hazardous journeys
across borders this year than any other. I believe we
managing economic migration — one that recognizes
that all countries have the right to control their
borders — and that we must all commit to accepting
have to use the opportunity afforded by this session of
the return of our own nationals when they have no
the General Assembly for an honest global debate to
address this global challenge.
In doing so, we should be clear that there is nothing
right to remain elsewhere. By ensuring a managed
and controlled international migration response while
simultaneously investing to tackle the underlying
drivers of displacement and migration at source, we can
reject isolationism and xenophobia, thereby achieving
better outcomes for all of our citizens, particularly for
the most vulnerable.
wrong with the desire to migrate for a better life and
that controlled, legal, safe, economic migration brings
benefits to our economies. But countries have to be able
to exercise control over their borders. The failure to do
so erodes public confidence, fuels international crime,
damages economies and reduces the resources for those
who genuinely need protection and whose rights under
the Refugee Convention should always be fulfilled. I
believe there are three fundamental principles that we
now need to establish at the heart of a new approach
Finally, as we gather here today to bring the
founding values of the United Nations to bear on some
of the most pressing global problems, the likes of which
we have never seen before, we must also face up to
the fact that some of the worst human rights abuses,
which we thought we had consigned to the history
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A /71/ PV. 8
20/09/2016
books, have re-emerged in new, pernicious forms. The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by
the General Assembly, stated that all human beings are
born free and equal in dignity and rights, that no one
should be held in slavery and servitude and that slavery
and the slave trade should be prohibited in all their
forms. Yet, nearly 70 years on, we are presented with
a new form of slavery — modern slavery. Organized
crime groups, which are largely behind this modern
slavery, lure, dupe and force innocent men, women and
children into extreme forms of exploitation. Trafficked
and sold across borders, victims are forced into living
the kind of inhumane existence that is almost too much
for our imagination.
intelligence-sharing, but we do not have a similar
relationship for the fight against modern slavery. We
therefore need our law-enforcement agencies to work
together, with joint investigation teams working across
multiple countries. Victims will find freedom only if
we cultivate a radically new, global and coordinated
approach to defeating this vile crime. Together, we
must work tirelessly to preserve the freedoms and
values that have defined our United Nations from its
inception. Together, we must work tirelessly to restore
these freedoms and values to the lives of the men,
women and children who are exploited for profit and
held captive with little or no chance of escape.
From the Declaration of St. James’s Palace and
Such criminals have global networks to help them
make money out of some of the world’s most vulnerable
people. Victims are held captive in squalid conditions,
under the constant shadow of violence and forced into
sex and labour exploitation. If we are going to succeed
in stamping out this abhorrent crime and bring the
perpetrators to justice, we need to confront the reality
of what were are dealing with. These organizedcrime
groups
work
across
borders
and
jurisdictions.

They
often
use
the
Internet
and
modern
technology
to

recruit,
transport,
control
and
exploit
their
victims,
all

the
while
staying
ahead
of
legal
systems
that
are
often

constrained
by
traditional
geographical
boundaries.
the Atlantic Charter forged by Winston Churchill and
President Roosevelt to the first meeting of the General
Assembly in London in 1946, the United Kingdom
has always been an outward-looking, global partner at
the heart of international efforts to secure peace and
prosperity for all our peoples. And that is how we will
remain. For when the British people voted to leave the
European Union, they did not vote to turn inwards or
walk away from any of our partners in the world. Faced
with challenges like migration, a desire for greater
control of their country and a mounting sense that
globalization is leaving working people behind, they
demanded a politics that is more in touch with their
concerns and bold action to address them.
We must therefore take action. We must use our
international law-enforcement networks to track down
these criminals wherever they are in the world and put
them behind bars, where they belong. We need to be
smarter and even more coordinated than the criminal
gangs in our efforts to stop them. In the United
Kingdom, I am setting up the first-ever Government
task force for modern slavery, bringing together every
But that action must be more global, not less, because
the biggest threats to our prosperity and security do not
recognize or respect international borders. And if we
focus only on what we do at home, the job is barely
half done. This is not the time to turn away from our
United Nations. It is the time to turn towards it. Only
we, as members of this community of nations, can act
relevant department to coordinate and drive all our
to ensure that this great institution becomes as relevant
efforts in the battle against this cruel exploitation.
We are also using our aid budget to create a dedicated
fund focused on high-risk countries where we know
victims are regularly trafficked to the United Kingdom.
Yesterday, I committed the first £5 million from that
fund to work in Nigeria, to reduce the vulnerability of
potential victims and step up the fight against those
who seek to profit from this crime.
But if we are to meet the Sustainable Development
for our future as it has been in our past.
Let us therefore come together, true to our founding
values but responsive to the challenges of today, and let
us work together to build a safer, more prosperous and
more humane world for generations to come.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I wish to thank the Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the
statement she has just made.
Mrs. Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
was escorted from the rostrum.
Goal to eradicate modern slavery, we need to go much
further. Security relationships have developed between
many countries for dealing with such issues as counterterrorism,
cybersecurity,
drug
trafficking
and
wider
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A /71/ PV. 8
Address by Mr. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister
of Canada
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
banks. Over the past few years, I have had far too many
disturbing conversations with Canadians, but they
made something clear to me. Canadians still believe
in progress, or, at least, that progress is possible. But
that optimism is mixed with great concern. It is clear
that Canadians are not the only ones who feel that way;
those feelings are present everywhere. That anxiety is
a fact of life.
address by the Prime Minister of Canada.
Mr. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada,
was escorted to the rostrum.
The President: I have great pleasure in welcoming
His Excellency Mr. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of
Canada, and inviting him to address the Assembly.
(spoke in English)
When leaders are faced with citizens’ anxiety, we
Mr. Trudeau (Canada): It is an honour to be
have a choice to make. Do we exploit that anxiety or do
present at the General Assembly today. It is wonderful
to be here in the great city of New York. Once again this
week, New Yorkers showed us how to be resilient and
resolute in the face of violent extremism. On behalf of
everyone in this Hall, let me directly say to the people
of New York that they are a model to the rest of the
world, and we thank them.
Exactly one year ago, Canada was in the middle
we allay it? Exploiting it is easy, but in order to allay
it we need to be prepared to answer some very direct
questions. What will create the good, well-paying jobs
that people want and need and deserve? What will
strengthen and grow the middle class and help those
working hard to join it? What will build an economy
that works for everyone? What will help to make the
world a safer, more peaceful place?
of a long — 78 days on the road, and I can assure the
Assembly that, in Canada, there are 78 days’ worth of
roads — and closely fought election campaign. It is the
responsibility of a leader to spend time with the people
they are elected to serve. To get the real stories, it is
important to go where people live: coffee shops and
church basements, mosques and synagogues, farmers’
markets and public parks. It was in those places that I got
the best sense of what Canadians were thinking and how
they were doing and, through the politeness — because
we Canadians are always polite even when we are
complaining — I learned a few things.
To allay people’s anxiety, we need to create
economic growth that is broadly shared, because a fair
and successful world is a peaceful one. We need to
focus on what brings us together, not on what divides
us. For Canada, that means re-engaging in global affairs
through institutions like the United Nations. It does not
serve our interests — or the world’s — to pretend that
we are not deeply affected by what happens beyond
our borders.
I talked with people my age who were trying to be
(spoke in French)
Earlier this year, we helped negotiate the Paris
Agreement on Climate Change. As part of our
commitment to implementing that Agreement, we
hopeful about their future but found it tough to make
ends meet, even when they were working full-time. I
announced that Canada would invest $2.65 billion
heard from young Canadians who were frustrated, who
told me that they could not get a job because they do
not have work experience but they cannot get work
experience because they do not have a job. I heard
from women and girls who still face inequality in the
workplace and violence just because they are women,
even in a progressive country like Canada.
(spoke in French)
I met parents who were working hard to give
their children every opportunity to succeed but who
feared that their efforts would not be sufficient. I had
the chance share a meal with elderly retirees who had
over five years to fund clean, low-carbon growth
in developing countries. In order to help promote
peace and security in areas affected by instability,
we reaffirmed our support for NATO and committed
ourselves to expanding Canada’s role in United
Nations peacekeeping operations. We hosted the fifth
Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, where we increased
our contribution by 20 per cent by giving more than
$800 million to the Global Fund. We also encouraged
our partners to increase their contributions, making it
possible to raise $13 billion in support of ending AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria by 2030.
toiled all their lives but who now have to go to food
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Annex 106
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(spoke in English)
We have done all this — and will do much
more — because we believe we should confront anxiety
with a clear plan to deal with its root causes. We believe
we should bring people together around shared purposes
such as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. What
is the alternative? Is it to exploit anxiety? Is it to turn it
into fear and blame? Is it to reject others because they
look or speak or pray differently than we do?
In Canada we got a very important thing right — not
perfect, but right. In Canada, we see diversity as a
source of strength, not weakness. Our country is strong
not in spite of our differences, but because of them.
We must make no mistake: we have had many failures,
from the internment of Ukrainian, Japanese and Italian
Canadians during the World Wars, to our turning
away of boats of Jewish and Punjabi refugees, to the
shamefully continuing marginalization of indigenous
peoples. What matters is that we learn from our mistakes
and recommit ourselves to doing better. To that end, in
recent months, Canadians have opened their hearts and
their arms to families fleeing the ongoing conflict in
Syria, and from the moment they arrived, those 31,000
refugees were welcomed — not as burdens, but as
neighbours and friends — as new Canadians.
(spoke in French)
That effort has brought Canadians together. In an
almost unprecedented fashion, the Government has
worked with the business community, engaged citizens
and civil society to help the newcomers adapt to their
new country. But our efforts will not truly be successful
until those refugees have become established, fullfledged
members
of
the
Canadian
middle
class. I
want

the
General
Assembly
to
know
that
this
objective
is

within
our
grasp
—
not
because
of
what
we
have
done,

but
because
of
what
they
are
themselves.
(spoke
in
English)
Refugees
are
people
with
the
same
hopes
and

dreams
as
our
own
citizens.
But
while
our
people
have

felt
anxiety,
Syrians
faced
catastrophe.
We
all
know

where
Syria’s
middle
class
is:
they
are
living
in
refugee

camps
in
Turkey,
Lebanon
and
Jordan.
They
are
moving

across
Europe,
looking
for a
place
to
set
down
roots,

to
get
their
kids
back
into
school,
to
find
steady
work

and
to
become
productive
citizens.
Refugee
camps
are

teeming
with
Syria’s
middle
class:
doctors
and
lawyers,
They work hard. They care about their families. They
want a better life — a safer and more secure future for
their kids — as we all do. When I say, therefore, that I
hope that the Syrian refugees we welcomed will soon
be able to join our middle class, I am confident that we
can make that happen, and we will do it by offering to
them the same things we offer to all our citizens — a
real and fair chance at success for everyone.
(spoke in French)
We are going to do all we can to build a strong
middle class in Canada. We are going to invest in
education, because it gives the next generation the
tools they need to contribute to the world economy and
to succeed. We are going to invest in infrastructure
because it creates good, well-paying jobs for the middle
class and helps to make our communities better places
to live, work and invest. We are determined to build
an economy that works for everyone — not just the
wealthiest 1 per cent — so that every person benefits
from economic growth. And we are going to refuse to
give in to the pressure of trading our cherished values
for easy votes. The world expects better from us, and
we expect better from ourselves.
(spoke in English)
In the end, there is a choice to be made. Strong,
diverse, resilient countries like Canada did not happen
by accident, and they will not continue without effort.
Every single day, we need to choose hope over fear
and diversity over division. Fear has never created a
single job or fed a single family, and those who exploit
it will never solve the problems that have created such
anxiety. Our citizens, the nearly 7.5 billion people
we collectively serve, are better than the cynics and
pessimists think they are. People want their problems
solved, not exploited.
Canada is a modest country. We know we cannot
solve these problems alone. We know we need to do this
all together. We know it will be hard work. But we are
Canadian, and we are here to help.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I wish to thank the Prime Minister of Canada for the
statement he has just made.
Mr. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada,
was escorted from the rostrum.
teachers and entrepreneurs. They are well educated.
The meeting rose at 3.50 p.m.
56/56
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Annex 107
Note Verbale from the Ministry of People’s Power for External Relations of the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of
Guyana, No. 02013 (8 Nov. 2016)
Annex 107
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs

DM No. 02013
The Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela presents its compliments to the Honourable Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and hereby rejects the information
published in Navigation Notice No.12 of 29 June 2016, in which notice is given that
the company Esso Exploration & Production Guyana (EEPGL) will expand a drilling
programme planned to take place over a six-month period in the area referred to as
the Stabroek Block by the Government of Guyana.
The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela rejects erga omnes and in
the strong possible terms the unilateral work done without consultations which the
drilling activities that the company Esso Exploration & Production Guyana (EEPGL)
is proposing to carry out with the approval of the Government of Guyana within
the so called Stabroek Block would constitute. On this question, and as the
Honourable Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana well knows, a significant portion
of the so-called Stabroek Block is located within the maritime frontage of the
territory of the Essequibo, a zone that is claimed by Venezuela. Moreover, another
sector of the aforementioned “Stabroek Block” is located on the continental shelf of
the Orinoco Delta, an area over which Venezuela exercises full sovereignty.
The Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela again wishes to express its concern at the violation of the provisions of
the 1966 Geneva Agreement that such acts will represent. In this regard, the
Government of the sister Cooperative Republic of Guyana is urged to show full
respect for public international law and for the provisions of the applicable
bilateral Agreement, article 5, paragraph 2 of which states that: “(2) No acts or
activities taking place while this Agreement is in force shall constitute a basis for
asserting, supporting or denying a claim to territorial sovereignty ….”
In this regard, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela wishes to reiterate the
principle that governs its foreign policy, which is peace through diplomacy,
rejecting any action that could undermine bilateral dialogue between countries and
become an obstacle to finding a practical, peaceful and satisfactory solution to the
territorial controversy. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela therefore appeals to
its sister Cooperative Republic of Guyana to abide fully by the international legal
rules by which we are bound and avoid any type of action that creates unnecessary
tensions between our two countries.
The Ministry of the People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela avails itself of this opportunity to reiterate its concern to the
Honourable Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
Translations of Venezuelan notes
Page 16 of 26
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Annex 107
R:PÚB_JCA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
MINISTERIO DEL PODER POPU LAR PARA
ACLACIONES
!:XTERIOR!::S
DM Nº 0{2013
El Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores de la
Repúbl ica Bolivaria na de Venezuela, saluda al Honorable Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de
la República Cooperativa de Guyana, en la oportunidad de rechazar la información publicada por
medio del aviso a los Navegantes Nº12, de fecha 29 de junio de 2016, en donde se señala que
la empresa Esso Exploration & Production Guyana (EEPGL) amp liará un program~ de
perforación previsto para un periodo de seis (6) meses dentro del denominado por el Gobierno
de Guyana "Bloque Stabroek".
El Gobierno de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, debe expresar su más
energice rechazo - de efecto erga omnes - por los trabajos inconsultos y unilaterales que
comportarían el programa de perforación que pretende llevar a cabo la empresa Esso
Exploration & Production Guyana (EEPGL), con el aval del gobierno de Guyana, dentro del
llamado "Bloque Stabroek". Sobre el particular, y como es del conocimiento del Honorable
Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de Guyana. parte importante del "denominado Bloque
Stabroek", se encuentra ubicado en la fachada marítima del Esequibo, zona objeto de
reclamación por parte de Venezuela. Además, otro sector del mencionado Bloque se ubicaría
sobre la plataforma continental del Delta del Orinoco, área donde Venezuela eJerce su plena
soberanía.
El Mi nisterio del Pode r Popular para Relaciones Exterio res de la Republic a
Boliv ariana de Venezuela, expresa nuevamente su preocupación, en vista de que tales
acciones violentarían lo pautado en el Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966. Al respecto se insta,
nuevamente. al Gobierno de la hermana República Cooperativa de Guyana, a mantenerse
apegado al Derecho Internacional Público, y bajo el cumplimento de lo establecido en dicho
Acuerdo bilateral, en su Artículo 5, párrafo 2, el cual expresa que: " . . 2) Ningún acto o actividad
que se lleve a cabo mientras se halle en vigencia este Acuerdo constituirá fundamento para
hacer valer, apoyar o negar una reclamación de soberanía territorial ... •.
En este sentido, la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, reitera el principio que
nge su política exterior, la Diplomacia de Paz, rechazando cualquier acción que perjudique el
diálogo constructivo bilateral entre naciones, e impida encontrar una solución, práctica, pacífica y
satisfactoria de la controversia territorial. En este sentido, la República Bolivariana de Venezuela
exhorta al Gobierno de la hermana República Cooperativa de Guyana, a mantenerse apegado a
les reglas jurídicas internacionales que nos convocan, evitando asi la puesta en marcha de
z::cciones que crean tensiones innecesarias entre ambas naciones.
El Ministerio del Poder Popular p,tra Relaciones Exteriores de la República
Bolivariana de Venezuela, hace propicia la oc.á§.(&ii/para reiterar su preocupación aJ Honorable
llllinisterio de Relaciones-Exteriores de la R:{~.filra-t.o'fp;~r,:3tiva de Guyana.
1;t;·Sl
<-;'1/
~-=-
•
,p p -~--:···
Í' '
· ¡.--i" ·< :, . -, ;,-·¡Caracas, 08 de n::::e
2016
1.· -~ .... ,·'. b
.~.i ?;·/
Al Honorable
;r ~
--(,, \ \>)
Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores
República C-Ooperativa de Guyana
\:2). ' /!::.?}
Georgetown.-
<~(;~~:c.-
._,, :f1;}1~1
Annex 108
Note Verbale from the Ministry of People’s Power for External Relations of the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of
Guyana, No. 02014 (8 Nov. 2016)
Annex 108
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs

DM No. 02014
The Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela presents its compliments to the Honourable Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and wishes to refer to the content of its
Note No. 096/2016, dated 21 July 2016, in which mention is made of the
announcement by the Government of Venezuela of a mineral resources mapping
project to prepare a new atlas of Venezuela.
On this question, and after consulting with the Simon Bolivar Geographic Institute
of Venezuela (IGVSB), the Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela wishes to inform the Honourable Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana that the aforementioned
project by the Institute is for the updating of a map and will be undertaken in the
territory and other geographic spaces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela wishes to state that the techniques used by the Simon Bolivar
Geographic Institute of Venezuela (IGVSB) for updating the map do not violate
public international law or the provisions of the 1966 Geneva Agreement.
In this connection, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela wishes to reiterate its
commitment to peace through diplomacy, and therefore rejects any action that
could undermine bilateral dialogue between countries and constitute an obstacle to
a practical, peaceful and satisfactory solution to the territorial controversy. For
these reasons and in conformity with public international law, the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela wishes to reiterate that the territorial controversy between
Venezuela and Guyana is governed by the 1966 Geneva Agreement and is subject
to the peaceful settlement of disputes to which the aforementioned bilateral
international instrument refers.
The Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela avails itself of this opportunity to reiterate its concern to the
Honourable Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Caracas, 8 November 2016
Honourable Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Cooperative Republic of Guyan
Georgetown

Translations of Venezuelan notes
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Annex 108
REPUBLl::A BOLIVARIANA Dé VENEZUELA
tJ.INISTERIO DEL PODER POPULAR PARA
RELACI ONES EXTERIOR ES
f" ):1
, 4
DM Nº
V1-.,Vl.
El Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores
de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela saluda al Honorable Ministerio de
Asuntos Exteriores de la República Cooperativa de Guyana, en la oportunidad de
en la oportunidad de hacer referencia al contenido de su Nota N°096/2016, de'
fecha 21 de julio de 2016, en donde se menciona el anuncio del Gobierno de
Venezuela sobre un proyecto de cartografía de recursos minerales para elaborar
un nuevo Atlas de Venezuela.
Sobre el particular, y luego de haber realizado consultas con el
Instituto Geográfico Venezolano Simón Bolívar (IGVSB), el Ministerio del Poder
Popular para Relaciones Exteriores de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela.
informa al Honorable Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de la República Cooperativa
de Guyana, que el mencionado proyecto corresponde a una actualización
cartográfica realizada por dicho Instituto, la cual se desarrollará en el territo io y
dernás espacios geográficos de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela.
El Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores
de la Repúbli ca Bo livar iana de Venezuela, debe expresar que las técnicas
utilizadas para la actualización cartográfica del Instituto Geográfico Venezolano
Simón Bolívar (IGVSB), no violentan el Derecho Internacional Público, ni los
términos establecidos en el Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966.
En ese sentido, la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, reitera su compromiso con
la Diplomacia de Paz, con lo cual rechaza cualquier acción que perjudique el
diálogo bilateral entre naciones, e impida encontrar una solución, práctica, pacífica
y satisfactoria de la controversia territorial. Por tal razón, en concordancia con el
Derecho Internacional Público, se ratifica que la controversia territorial entre
Venezuela y Guyana se encuentra regida por el Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966, y
está sujeta a la solución pacífica de conflictos a que se alude en el referido
instrumento bilateral internacional..
El Min iste rio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores
de la República Boliva riana de Venezuela~~ p.mpic1a la ocasión para reiterar
su preocupación al Honorable Ministerio def~~aC )OJles,Exteriores de la R~a
Cooperativa de Guyana.
,~1_'.S...,,
<'~"'¿\F
., ''Y • Garat~~ ... oa de noviembre e
, ' . t.!,,
Al Honorable
:~J'~li
-~ ~
~
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Ministe rio de Asuntos Exteriores
Repúbl ica Cooperativa de Guyana
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Annex 109
Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations (9 Nov. 2016)
Annex 109
Minist ry of Foreign Affa irs
254 South Road & Shiv Chanderpaul Dr.,
Georgetown, Guyana
Telephone: 592-226-9080 Fax: 592-223-5241
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.minfor.gov.gy
November 9, 2016
His Excellency Ban Ki Moon
Secretary General of the United Nations
Office of the Secretary General
United Nations Headquarters
New York
Dear Secretary-General,
I have the honour herewith to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 31 October 2016,
informing us that you are no longer able to appoint a Personal Representative for
continuation of the good offices process, and that you will now proceed to take stock of
the progress achieved in the resolution of the controversy with a view to making a
decision on how to proceed before the end of your mandate.
With a view to assisting that stocktaking exercise, Guyana wishes to share some brief
observations regarding the current situation.
Twelve months ago in "The Way Forward" you expressed your intention that if no
solution could be found through the good offices process by the stocktaking in November
2016, the controversy regarding the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award would be
submitted to the International Court of Justice for a final and binding decision. This two
­
stage procedure was a compromise solution. It followed extensive consultations at the
highest levels between the Parties and your Chef de Cabinet at that time, Ms. Susana
Malcorra, including a significant number of meetings. Notwithstanding its serious
reservations, Guyana made every effort to give the good offices process a final
opportunity.
1
Annex 109
Guyana takes note of your recognition that it is no longer possible to continue the good
offices process. Guyana considers that further progress can only be obtained by referring
the matter to a "means of settlement" that can result in a final and binding decision. At
this stage, five decades since the Geneva Agreement was adopted, recourse to the Court
offers the only solution that is compatible with Article IV of the Geneva Agreement.
Secretary-General, following your meeting in Quito with Venezuelan President Nicholas
Maduro on 17 October 2016, a Venezuelan Communique asserted that the Geneva
Agreement "exclude[s] a settlement in a legal forum". This assertion is not consistent
with the express powers conferred upon you in Article IV to choose any of the means of
settlement under Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations, including judicial
settlement. We note that President Maduro' s statement contradicts Venezuela's own
admission in the First Interim Report of the Mixed Commission, established pursuant to
Article I of the Geneva Agreement as the initial means of settlement. The Report, signed
in Caracas by the Venezuelan Commissioners Luis Loreto and G Garcia Bustillos on 30
December 1966, indicated Venezuela's position that "the juridical examination of the
question [i.e. the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award] would if necessary, be proceeded
with, in time, by some international tribunal in accordance with article IV of the Geneva
Agreement. " Having recognised the suitability of judicial settlement then, it is difficult
to see how Venezuela might now be in a position to preclude the exercise by you of a
power both parties granted to you, namely to refer the matter to the Court as the means of
settlement. To the extent that there is a dispute concerning jurisdiction or the
interpretation of the Geneva Agreement, it will be for the Court itself to determine the
matter.
Secretary-General, the need for a final and binding decision on the controversy grows
more important each day. For over five decades there has been no progress, and we now
find ourselves in a situation of significant and alarming deterioration. On 4 October 2016
for instance, in a statement on the 11 th anniversary of the 1899 Arbitral Award,
Venezuela reportedly expressed its "deepest outrage", and accused Guyana of being
motivated by "dark transnational interests and imperial favour for corporate centres".
2
Annex 109
Guyana was even accused of "aggression" acting together with "imperial forces". For a
small nation such as ours, such assertions are a cause for serious concern. In view of the
multiple reports of incursions by the Venezuelan military on Guyana's territory in recent
months, the need for an immediate move to settle this controversy is more pressing than
ever.
Without a clear signal that a final and binding decision will soon resolve this controversy,
there is a serious risk of destabilization in the region. In the view of Guyana, inaction
now can only serve to exacerbate the difficulties. A referral to the Court would have the
effect of calming the situation, causing both parties to exercise restraint in their words
and actions: such a consequence has been the experience where other controversial
matters have been put before the Court. In fact, the primary judicial organ of the UN was
intended exactly for such circumstances.
Guyana trusts that bringing this unjust and volatile situation to an end, and ensuring that a
final solution is reached, would be a part of your enduring legacy as you enter the final
days of your tenure.
We are grateful for the cooperation of your Chef de Cabinet in keeping us informed of
progress in this matter. We appreciate that you see a need to consult on your decision
with your successor, as on other matters, and we support that approach. In that context,
and having regard to the calls made on him by President Maduro and Foreign Minister
Rodriguez, I am endeavouring to do likewise shortly. It would be an honour to meet with
you when I come, to offer a personal expression of my appreciation for all your efforts.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
I
J,~~ ~
Carl B. Greenidge
Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
3
Annex 110
Ministry of the People’s Power for External Relations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
Communiqué (12 Nov. 2016)
Annex 110
UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Ministry of the People’s Power for External Relations
Communiqué

The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, on behalf of the
Government and people of Venezuela, commemorated the 54th anniversary of the masterly show by
Foreign Minister Marcos Falcon Briceño at the United Nations General Assembly in defence of the rights
of Venezuela over the Guayana Essequibo.
On November 12, 1962 Foreign Minister Marcos Falcon Briceño presented to the international community
the historical and legal arguments which showed that the Guayana Essequibo had always been, is and will
be Venezuela’s. Marcos Falcon Briceño left Venezuela with an important testimony for its diplomatic
history and for the defence of our legitimate rights over the Essequibo territory.
Foreign Minister Marcos Falcon Briceño declared before the United Nations Organisation the nonconformity
of
Venezuela
with
the
1899
Arbitral
Award.
A
ruling
by
which
Imperialist
Britain
distorted,

through
blackmail and
usurpation,
the
rules
of
law
previously
established
by
the
1897
Treaty
of
Arbitration.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela claims, as it has always done, its legitimate and legal rights over the
territory of the Guayana Essequibo. Also, Venezuela reiterates the national position of Foreign Minister
Marcos Falcon Briceño to search for a friendly, practical and satisfactory solution to the territorial
controversy with the sister Cooperative Republic of Guyana, as envisaged in the 1966 Geneva Agreement,
the existing legal instrument deposited legally in the United Nations Organisation, and which governs this
territorial controversy as the law between the Parties.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela affirms that it is the wish of the Venezuelan people that the
conversations with the fraternal people of Guyana take place in the most fervent atmosphere of friendship
and harmony. We will move forward along the paths of peace and Latin American integration as was the
dream of the Liberator Simon Bolivar and our Eternal Commandante Hugo Chavez.
Caracas, November 12, 2016

1

Annex 110
REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
MINISTERIO DEL PODER POPULAR PARA RELACIONES EXTERIORES
COMUNICADO
El Presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela , Nicolás Maduro Moro_s, en f\Ombre del
Gobierno y el Pueblo venezolano, conmemora el 54 aniversario de la magistral · exposición del
Canciller Marcos Falcón Briceño ante la Asamblea General de las Naciones) !ínidas en defensa de
los derechos de Venezuela sobre la Guayana Esequiba.
El 12 de noviembre de 1962 el Canciller Marcos Falcón Briceño presentó ante la comunidad
internacional los argumentos históricos y jurídicos que demuestran que la Guayana Esequiba
siempre ha sido, es y será de Venezuela. Marcos Falcón Briceño, le dejó a Venezuela un importante
testimonio para su historia diplomática y para la defensa de nuestros legítimos derechos sobre el
territorio Esequibo.
El Canciller Marcos Falcón Briceño manifestó ante la Organización de las Naciones Unidas la
inconformidad de Venezuela por el Laudo Arbitral de 1899. Sentencia en donde el Imperio
Británico violentó, a través del chantaje y la usurpación , las normas de derecho previamente
establecidas en el Tratado de Arbitraje de 1897.
La República Bolivariana de Venezuela reivindica, como siempre lo ha hecho, sus legítimos y
legales derechos sobre el territorio de la Guayana Esequiba. Asimismo , Venezuela reitera la
posición nacional del Canciller Marcos Falcón Briceño de encontrar una solución amistosa ,
práctica y satisfactoria de la controversia territorial con la hermana República Cooperativa de
Guyana, tal como está contemplado en el Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1.966, instrumento jurídico
vigente depositado legalmente en la Organización de las Naciones Unidas, y que rige esta
controversia territorial como Ley entre Las Partes.
La República Bolivariana de Venezuela afirma que es un deseo del pueblo venezolano que las
conversaciones con el fraterno pueblo de Guyana tengan el más ferviente ambiente de amistad y
armonía. Avancemos por las sendas de la paz y la integración latinoamericana , tal como lo soñaron
el Libertador Simón Bolívar y nuestro comandante eterno Hugo Chávez.
Caracas, 12 de noviembre de 2016
Annex 111
U.N. Secretary-General, Note to Correspondents: The Controversy between Guyana and
Venezuela (16 Dec. 2016)
Annex 111
12/16/2016 Note to Correspondents: The Controversy between Guyana and Venezuela [scroll down for Spanish version] I United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki. ..
•
United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Kl-moon
New York
16 December 2016
Note to Correspondents: The Controversy between Guyana and Venezuela [scroll down for Spanish version]
Fifty years ago, shortly before Guyana's independence in 1966, the Geneva Agreement was signed with the aim of amicably resolving the controversy that had arisen as the result of
the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between Venezuela and what is now Guyana is null and void . The 1966 Geneva Agreement confers on the
Secretary-General of the United Nations the power to choose means of settlement of the controversy from among those that are contemplated In Article 33 of the United Nations
Charter.
Within the framework of the Geneva Agreement, a Good Offices Process under the Secretary-General has been in place for the last 25 years in order to find a solution to the
controversy. This process has so far Involved three Personal Representatives of the Secretary-General (PRSG). Jn spite of these efforts, it has not been possible to bridge the
differences between the parties.
The Secretary-General has engaged in intensive efforts to find a way forward that would be most conducive to finding a solution. To that end, the Secretary-General held a trilateral
meeting with President David Granger of Guyana and President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela in the margins of the 7oth General Assembly. The Secretary-General has subsequently
dispatched several high-level missions to both capitals and held meetings at the highest level with both parties In November of this year, he conducted an extensive stocktaking of the
Good Offices Process .
On the basis of that stocktaking, the Secretary-General has reached the conclusion that the Good Offices Process will continue for one final year, with a new PRSG with a strengthened
mandate of mediation, who will be appointed by the Secretary-General-<lesignate shortly after he takes office If, by the end of 2017, the Secretary-General concludes that significant
progress has not been made toward arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he will choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement,
unless both parties jointly request that he refrain from doing so.
The Secretary-General has discussed these conclusions with the Secretary-General-<lesignate. who has expressed his concurrence with them.
The Secretary-General and the Secretary-General-designate applaud Guyana and Venezuela for addressing the controversy through peaceful means. The Secretary-General and the
Secretary-Genera~designate are committed to see the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela resolved.
Nota a Corresponsales sobre la Controversia Fronteriza entre Guyana y Venezuela
Hace cincuenta anos, poco antes de la lndependencia de Guyana en 1966, se firm6 el Acuerdo de Ginebra con el objetivo de resolver amistosamente la controversia que surgi6 coma
resultado de la contenci6n de Venezuela que el Laudo Arbitral del 1899 sobre la frontera entre Venezuela y lo que hoy es Guyana era nulo y sin efecto. El Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966
otorg6 al Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas el poder de elegir entre los medios de soluci6n pacifica contemplados en el Artfculo 33 de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas.
En el marco del Acuerdo de Ginebra, durante los ultlmos 25 aiios se ha llevado a cabo un Proceso de Buenos Oflcios bajo el Secretario General para encontrar una soluci6n a la
controversia. Hasta la fecha, este proceso ha contado con la participaci6n de tres Representantes Personales de) Secretario General. A pesar de estos esfuerzos, no ha sido posible
superar las diferencias sustantivas entre las partes .
El Secretario General se ha esforzado par encontrar un camino a seguir que sea el mas propicio para encontrar una soluci6n . Con este fin. el Secretario General celebr6 una reuni6n
trilateral con el Presidente David Granger de Guyana y el Presidente Nicolas Maduro de Venezuela al margen de la 70' Asamblea General. Desde entonces, el Secretario General ha
enviado varias misiones de alto nivel a ambas capitales y ha celebrado reuniones al mas alto nivel con am bas partes. En noviembre de este aiio, realiz6 un extenso balance del
Proceso de Buenos Oficios.
Basa do en este balance, el Secretario General ha concluido que el Proceso de Buenos Of1cios continuara por un ultimo aiio , con un o una Representante Personal del Secretario
General con un mandato reforzado de mediaci6n, nombrado o nombrada por el Secretario General designado poco despues de que el asuma funciones . Si, a finales de 2017 el
Secretario General concluyera que nose ha logrado un avance signlficativo hacia un acuerdo completo para la soluci6n de la controversia, elegira la Corte 111ternacional de Justicia
coma el siguiente medio de soluci6n, al menos de que ambas partes conjuntamente le pidan que no lo haga.
El Secretario General ha discutido estas conclusiones con el Secretario General designado, quien ha expresado su concurrencla con estas_
El Secretario General y el Secretario General deslgnado felicitan a Guyana y a Venezuela per dirimir la controversia a traves de medlos paciflcos . El Secretario General y el Secretario
General designado manifiestan su cornpromiso con encontrar una soluci6n mutuamente aceptable a la controversia entre Guyana y Venezuela.
https://www.un.org/sg/erv'content'sg/note-correspondents/2016-12-16/not…
1/1
Annex 112
Ministry of the People’s Power for External Relations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
Press Release: Venezuela celebrates UN decision to continue Good Offices to resolve dispute
with Guyana over the Essequibo (16 Dec. 2016)
Annex 112
Venezuela responses to SG letter December 2016 (unofficial translations):

16 December 2016, MFA tweets:

1. It is a victory for the Bolivarian diplomacy of peace conducted by President Maduro
who firmly maintained the position of Venezuela over Good Offices

2. Venezuela reaffirmed its commitment to a negotiated solution to this dispute, y
demands Guyana act in good faith in the Good Offices

3. The Geneva Agreement, that settles this dispute, promotes a practical and friendly
solution satisfactory to both sides through a process of negotiation

4. In the next hours we will confirm to the UNSG the repeated position of Venezuela
rejecting recourse to the International Court

5. Venezuela celebrates and thanks the announcement made by the UNSG, Ban Kimoon,
over
the
continuation
of
the
Good
Offices
process
over
the
Essequibo

dispute.

Caracas, 16 December 2016 (MFA). Press Release.

This Friday, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela celebrated the conclusions of the UN
Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, over the continuation of the Good Offices process over the
Essequibo dispute.

This is how the Minister of Popular Power for External Relations, Delcy Rodriguez, explained
it, adding through her account on Twitter, that ‘in the next hours we will confirm to the
UNSG the repeated position of Venezuela rejecting recourse to the International Court’.

The Chancellor emphasised that Venezuela reaffirmed its commitment to a negotiated
resolution of this dispute, and demanded that Guyana comply with the Good Offices
process in good faith, which the UNSG has decided will continue for one final year, until the
end of 2017, with a reinforced mandate of mediation.

“It is a victory for the Bolivarian diplomacy of peace conducted by President Maduro who
firmly maintained the position of Venezuela over Good Offices” added the Venezuelan Head
of External Affairs.

In this context, she stressed that the Geneva Agreement, which grants to the Secretary
Generla of the United Nations the power to choose the means of pacific settlement of
disputes within Article 33 of the United Nations Charter, promotes a practical and friendly
resolution acceptable to both parties through a process of negotiation.

1
Annex 112
This Friday, Ban Ki-moon informed the presidents of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro and of
Guyana, David Granger, his conclusions over what the next most appropriate steps should
be to resolve the dispute between the two countries over their borders.

He recalled that under the Geneva Agreement, over the last 25 years there has been a Good
Offices Process under the Secretary General to find a resolution to the dispute. To this date,
the process has involved the participation of three Personal Representatives of the
Secretary General. In spite of these efforts, it has not been possible to overcome the
substantive differences between the parties.

As such, Ban Ki-moon concluded that the current Good Offices Process, which has been
running since 1990, will continue in 2017.

2
Annex 112
17 December 2016, MFA tweet: [“This is how the British Empire usurped the Essequibo. Our
peaceful claim is 200 years old!”
ASÍ EL
IMPERIO BRITÁ ~ICO USURPÓ EL ESEQUIBO
Y!NEZWA OCSll( 1A l!llCl'CNOO<CIA lÍNEASCHOMIIUll(;
K DE 1835 USIIRPA
WSV,IJWIQk(llifll.fM tll,\l,00Qll'itl.UIWl\iil 4.920 DUDE tlRRIJOli'IO \'e€ZOl.AhO
-
-
ÚN!A SCHO'
llll.illl( ll lMO USURPA
ML 9301(111 DE TERRITORIO
l'!lllOIANO
Oelcy Rodríguez DrodrigJezVen • 17 Feb 2016
v
Así el imperio británico usurpó el Esequibo. ¡Nuestro reclamo
pacífico tiene 200 años!
~
10
t."' 364
• 64

3
Annex 112
Por tanto, Ban Ki-Moon concluyó que el presente Proceso de Buenos Oficios, que ha sido llevado a cabo
desde 1990, continuará en 2017. LO
Delcy Rodríguez D odriguez\ren • 16 Dec 2016
v
Es victoria dla Diplomacia Bolivariana d Paz conducida x Pdte @NicolasMaduro
q mantuvo firme la posición d Venezue a sobre Buenos Oficios
93
735
261
Delcy Rodríguez DrodriguezVen • 16 Dec 20 6
v
Venezuela ratifica su compromiso con la solución negociada de esta
controversia.y exige a Guyana cumplimiento de buena fe en Buenos Oficios
23
149
Delcy Rodríguez DrodriguezVen • 16 Dec 2016
Acuerdo de Ginebra,q dirime esta controversla,promueve la solución práctica,
amistosa y satisfactoria para ambas partes mediante negociación
14
463
120
Delcy Rodríguez D odriguezVen • 16 Dec 2016
En las próximas horas haremos llegar al Secretario ONU la posic ión reiterada de
Venezuela de rechazar et recurso a la Corte Internacional
17
478
132
Delcy Rodríguez DrodriguezVen • 16 Dec 2016
Venezuela celebra y agradece anuncio realizado hoy x Sec. Gral ONU, Ban Ki­
moon,sobre prosecución de Buenos Ofic ios en controversia Esequibo
42
742
247
4
Annex 112
Venezuela celebra decisión de la ONU de continuar Buenos Oficios para dirimir controversia con
Guyana sobre el Esequibo
Share
Twittear
Share
2
46
LikeLike Share
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Caracas, 16 de diciembre de 2016 (MPPRE).- La República Bolivariana de Venezuela celebró este
viernes las conclusiones del secretario general de la Organización de Naciones Unidas (ONU), Ban Kimoon, sobre prosecución de Buenos Oficios en controversia por
el
Esequibo.
Así lo dio a conocer la ministra del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores, Delcy Rodríguez, quien
agregó, mediante su cuenta en Twitter, que "en las próximas horas haremos llegar al Secretario de la
ONU la posición reiterada de Venezuela de rechazar el recurso a la Corte Internacional".
La Canciller destacó que Venezuela ratifica su compromiso con la solución negociada de esta
controversia, y exige a Guyana el cumplimiento de buena fe en Buenos Oficios que, por decisión del
Secretariado General de las Naciones Unidas, continuará por un último año, hasta el fin de 2017, con un
mandato reforzado de mediación.
"Es victoria de la Diplomacia Bolivariana de Paz conducida por el presidente Nicolás Maduro que
mantuvo firme la posición de Venezuela sobre Buenos Oficios", agregó la Titular de Exteriores
venezolana.
En este contexto, enfatizó que el Acuerdo de Ginebra; que otorga al Secretario General de las Naciones
Unidas el poder de elegir entre los medios de solución pacífica contemplados en el Artículo 33 de la
Carta de las Naciones Unidas; promueve la solución práctica, amistosa y satisfactoria para ambas partes
mediante negociación.
Ban Ki-moon, informó este viernes a los presidentes de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro y de Guyana, David
Granger, sus conclusiones sobre cuáles son los pasos a seguir más apropiados para la solución de la
controversia entre los dos países sobre sus fronteras.
Recordó que en el ámbito del Acuerdo de Ginebra, durante los últimos 25 años se ha llevado a cabo un
Proceso de Buenos Oficios bajo el Secretario General para encontrar una solución a la controversia.
Hasta la fecha, este proceso ha contado con la participación de tres Representantes Personales del
Secretario General. A pesar de estos esfuerzos, no ha sido posible superar las diferencias sustantivas entre
las partes.
5
Annex 113
Government of Guyana, Statement on the Decision by the United Nations Secretary-General
(16 Dec. 2016)
Annex 113
(http://www.minfor.gov.gy/demo/)
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NEWS
16
dec

Statement by the
Government of
Guyana on the
Decision by the United
Nations Secretary
General
We are pleased to be able to convey to the people of
Guyana that a new point of promise in our relations with
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been reached.
It has long been the accepted position of all Governments
in Guyana that the best means of settlement of our
controversy with Venezuela should be a reference of it to
the International Court of Justice. We consider that
controversy to be essentially a legal question and one
eminently susceptible to a legal process of settlement.
1
Annex 113
There can be no higher tribunal for this purpose than the
International Court of Justice (on which once sat our own
distinguished son Mohammed Shahabuddeen) to
determine this matter on a de�nite basis. The Secretary
General of the United Nations acting under the 1966
Geneva Agreement has informed the President of his
decision to give the ‘good o�ces’ process one last period
of twelve months, that is to the end of 2017.
If, at the end of that period, the Secretary-General
concludes that signi�cant progress has not been made
towards arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the
controversy, he will choose the International Court of
Justice as the next means of settlement, unless the
Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly request that
he refrain from doing so.
The Government of Guyana accepts the decision of the
Secretary General. We stand committed to using our best
endeavours to ful�ll its highest expectations. The
Government will be writing formally to him as well as to the
President of Venezuela to indicate our acceptance of this
decision.
We believe that, in taking this decision, the Secretary
General has remained loyal to the sacred mission of the
United Nations to uphold the law and maintain the peace
between nations – small and large. Guyana will do
everything in its power to ensure that his expectations, and
those of his successor to whom the mandate of
implementation now falls – as well as our expectations are
ful�lled. The Government calls upon all Guyanese to
support the process that now lies ahead in the con�dence
that it will lead to a just and binding resolution of the
discords that have plagued our development for so long. It
is a �tting advance in this �ftieth year of our
independence.
May God continue to bless our nation in this noble cause.
2
Annex 114
“One hand can’t clap’ to resolve border controversy – Greenidge”, i News Guyana
(20 Dec. 2016)
Annex 114
‘One hand can’t clap’ to resolve border controversy –
Greenidge
December 20, 2016
Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge said that Government had lost faith in the ‘good office’ process,
essentially because of Venezuela’s non-cooperation with it, but that Government is now willing to give it
one last try with the United Nation’s Secretary General’s (SG’s) nominee.
Minister Greenidge was this morning addressing the National Assembly in light of the decision communicated to
the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela by the outgoing, SG, Ban Ki-moon on Friday, December 16, 2016,
on the way forward on the border controversy.
1
Annex 114
In the communiqué, the SG had stated that the way forward on the border
controversy between Guyana and Venezuela is for the ‘good office’ to occupy
the forthcoming 12- month period. Further, if by the end of 2017, no
significant process is made towards arriving at a full agreement for the solution
of the controversy, he will choose the International Court of Justice as the next
means of settlement, unless the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly
request that he refrain from doing so.
Foreign Affairs Minister reports to
the House on the latest update
from the United Nations Secretary
on the Guyana – Venezuela border
controversy
The SG also informed the Governments that the new SG, Antonio Gutterres
who succeeds him, would be naming a Personal Representative, who will lead
the parties in the 12 months of ‘good office.’ Guyana has since assured the SG
of the country’s acceptance of his decision, and the Government’s commitment
to every effort to making it a success.
But, addressing the House, this morning, Minister Greenidge warned that the ‘good office’ process can only
produce mutually satisfactory results if Venezuela cooperates fully to that end.
“As we say in Guyana “one hand can’t clap. Guyana will cooperate in resolving the controversy that has arisen as
a result of Venezuela’s contention that the 1899 Arbitral Award is null and void…we hope Venezuela will do
likewise. If they do not, we will have readied ourselves for the International Court of Justice,” Minister Greenidge
said.
In conveying his decision to Guyana and Venezuela, the SG had also promised ‘Good Offices’ with a
‘strengthened mandate of mediation.’
Minister Greenidge said the SG’s communiqué was “a most significant moment in our relations with Venezuela.”
He noted that, “it promises one way or another,” the resolution of the country’s controversy with Venezuela.
The Minister expressed hope that the announcement brings satisfaction to all parties in the House, in light of the
fact that “it has been the objective of all Governments of Guyana, since the early days of the Mixed Commission
to resolve this matter with finality through a judicial process, particularly given our disappointment with the
process through dialogue.”
2
Annex 115
Letter from the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the President of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (21 Dec. 2016)
Annex 115
•
MINISTRY OF THE PRESIDENCY
Vlissenge n Road,
Bourda, Georgetow n,
Guyana
2016.12 .21
His Excellency Nicolas Maduro Moros
President
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Miraflores Palace
Caracas
Venezuela.
Dear Mr. President,
It is my sincere pleasure to extend my greetings and those of the people of the Co­
operative Republic of Guyana to you and to the people of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela at this important juncture in the relations between our two nations.
I write to inform you of our full acceptance of the 15 December 2016 decision of the
Secretary-General of the United Nations on the 'Way Forward ', pursuant to the
authority conferred upon him by the signatories under Article IV (2) of the 1966 Geneva
Agreement. This Agreement requires him to choose the means of settlement of the
controversy that has arisen as a result of Venezuela's contention that the 1899 Arbitral
Award about the land frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is "null and void".
Guyana assures you of its commitment to fulfilling the highest expectations of the 'Good
Office' process in tlie coming twelve-month period in accordance with the decision of
the Secretary General, to conclude a full settlement of the controversy and, should it
become necessary, to thereafter resolve it by recourse to the International Court of
Justice.
Guyana considers the 'Way Forward ' a unique opportunity to finally resolve the
controversy and usher in a new and promising chapter in our bilateral relations.
Accordingly, I have conveyed to the Secretary-General, Guyana's determination to do all
in its power to ensure that the means of settlement that he has chosen will lead to a
successful outcome .
I have assured the Secretary General, further, with regard to his urgings for possible
confidence-building measures to create a positive environment for bilateral dialogue,
1
Annex 115
that Guyana accepts both the spirit and the letter of his proposal and will explore every
avenue to reach agreement on them.
Guyana stands ready to cooperate with the Government of Venezuela on these matters
and we have so assured the Secretary-General.
I have thanked the Secretary-General and his devoted staff, finally for their
steadfastness to the sacred mission of the United Nations of upholding international law
and maintaining peace and justice between nations large and small.
The Venezuelan people are our brothers and sisters. It will be our earnest endeavour to
resolve all the issues that have stood between us in furtherance of fraternal relations and
mutual prosperity in the years ahead.
Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Yours sincerely,
David Granger
President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
2
Annex 116
Letter from the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the Secretary-General of the
United Nations (22 Dec. 2016)
Annex 116
• ·
MINISTRY OF THE PRESIDENCY
Vli engen R ad,
· Bourda , Georgetown,
Guyana
2016-12-22
His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Office of the Secretary General
United Nations Headquarters
United States of America
Dear Secretary General,
I write without delay to acknowledge your letter of 15 December 2016, conveying your
decision under Article IV (2) of the 1966 Gen~va Agreement regarding the controversy
arising from the contention of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela that the 1899
Arbitral Award about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is null and
void.
Secretary General, _ I convey to you, Guyana's full acceptance of the decision and our
determination to do all in our power to f~lfill its objectives. We accept your Good
Offices proposal for a final period of twelve months and that, if by the end of 2017 the
Secretary General concludes that there has not been "s~gnificant progress " on a "full
agreement" for the solution of the c~ntroversy, the Secretary General will choose the
International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement under the Geneva
Agreement.
Secretary General, as you are aware, we had lost confidence in the Good Offices Process
as a result of Venezuela's actions over the last twenty-five years, and especially in the
past twelve months that was envisaged as a final attempt at mediation. We
nevertheless, in deference to you, and in the hope that Venezuela will cooperate more
fully in making the Good Offices Process work on this second 'final' attempt at a
negotiated settlement, we commit ourselves to 'giving it the best opportunity of success.
We accept that the Secretary General will identify his Personal Representative for that
process and we pledge our full cooper~tion with them both.
Annex 116
We are pleased, of course, at your commitment to choose the International Court of
Justice, pursuant to your powers under Article IV(2) of the Geneva Agreement in the
event that, despite our best endea vours, the final one year Good Offices Process does not
make significant progress for concluding a full agreement for the solution of the
controversy.
I give you my assurance that, with regard to your indication that as a first step the
Personal Representative will discuss with both Parties possible confidence-building
measures to create a positive environment for bilateral dialogue, Guyana accepts both
the spirit and the letter of your proposal and will explore every avenue to reach
agreement on them.
I am writing to President Maduro to extend a hand of friendship and to assure him of
Guyana 's readiness to cooperate in the areas you have indicated and more generally in
the time-bound Good Offices process.
I wish to thank you, Secretary General, for devoting so much time to our affairs and for
the steadfastness of both you and your devoted staff to the sacred mission of the United
Natio ns of upholding the law and maintaining the peace between nations - small and
large alike.
I take this opportunity to send you my very b~st wishes for yourself and your family in
the very many years that lie ahead.
Yours sincerely,
David Grar;iger
President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
'·
Annex 117
Letter from the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the President of the Cooperative
Republic of Guyana (23 Feb. 2017)
Annex 117
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
23 February 2017
Excellency,
I would like to thank you for your letters of 22 December 2016 and
5 January 201 7, reaffirming the commitment of your Government to resolving
the border controversy with Venezuela. I hope that with the full engagement
of both your Government and that of Venezuela, it will be possible to reach a
mutually satisfactory agreement on the controversy.
Following the decision communicated to you by Secretary-General
BAN Ki-moon in a letter dated 15 December 2016 to continue the good offices
process during 201 7, and after a thorough consideration of potential candidates, it is
my pleasure to inform you that I have selected His Excellency Mr. Dag Halvor Nylander
as my Personal Representative for the Border Controversy between your country and
Venezuela.
As you may be aware, Mr. Nylander is a distinguished diplomat who was the
Special Envoy of the Government of Norway to the Peace Process in Colombia. He is
a lawyer with degrees from the Universities of Oslo and Aix-Marseille and has a deep
knowledge of the region, having served at the Norwegian Embassies in Bogota and
Buenos Aires. Attached please find the curriculum vitae of Mr. Nylander and the
terms of reference for his work.
Let me underscore, Excellency, my strong commitment to seeing the
controversy between your country and Venezuela resolved.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
His Excellency
Mr. David Arthur Granger
President of the Republic of Guyana
Georgetown
Annex 117
Dag Halvor Nylander
PROFILE
♦
Mr. Nylander was the Norwegian Special Envoy to the Peace Process in Colombia
from 2012 to 2016. As head of the Norwegian diplomatic team, he played a central
role in securing the Colombian peace agreement.
♦
From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Nylander was Special Envoy of the Norwegian Foreign
Ministry.
♦
He served as Charge d' Affaires of the Norwegian Embassy in Bogota, Colombia,
from 2006 to 2008.
♦
From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Nylander was First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of
Norway to the United Nations in New York. From 1999 until 2001, he served as
Second Secretary at the Norwegian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
♦
Mr. Nylander has worked as a lawyer for various firms and as an assistant judge.
♦
He has studied at the University of Oslo and the Universite d' Aix-Marseille. He is
fluent in English, Spanish and Norwegian.
February 201 7
Annex 117
Terms of Reference
Personal Representative of the Secretary-General
on the Border Controversy between Guyana and Venezuela
1. Background
Pursuant to the Geneva Agreement of 17 February 1966, Guyana and Venezuela
have referred to the Secretary-General the decision as to the means of settlement of the
controversy that arose as the result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award
of 1899 about the frontier between Venezuela and what is now Guyana is "null and
void". A Good Offices Process has been conducted by the Secretary-General since 1990
with the aim of finding a mutually satisfactory solution to the controversy.
On 15 December 2016, the Secretary-General informed the Governments of
Guyana and Venezuela of his conclusions on what constituted the most appropriate next
steps for the solution of the border controversy between the two countries. The
Secretary-General decided that the Good Offices Process will continue for one final year,
until the end of 2017, with a strengthened mandate of mediation. He also decided that, if
by the end of 2017, the Secretary-General concludes that no significant progress has been
made toward arriving at a full agreement of the solution of the controversy, he will
choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement, unless the
Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly request that he refrain from doing so.
The Secretary-General decided to appoint a new Personal Representative to
conduct the Good Offices Process on his behalf.
2. Mandate
In coordination with the Department of Political Affairs, the Personal
Representative of the Secretary-General will be responsible for the following functions,
amongst others:
• Exploring with the parties possible confidence building measures (CBMs) that
could be implemented in the short term, in order to promote a positive
environment for dialogue.
• Engaging intensively with the Governments of Guyana and of Venezuela ("the
parties") and exploring and proposing options for the solution of the outstanding
border controversy between the two countries. These options should address not
only the controversy that arose as the result of the Venezuelan contention that the
Arbitral Award of 1899 about the border between Venezuela and what is now
Guyana is "null and void", but also othenelevant aspects of the bilateral relations
between the parties, including maritime, environmental and cooperation issues.
Annex 117
• Analyzing the political impact of the proposed CBMs and options, assessing
trends that might affect the Good Offices Process and recommending
solutions/possible actions by the parties, the UN system, regional and sub­
regionaJ organisations or the International Community.
• Keeping the Secretary-General and, the UN Department of Political Affairs
(DP A) fully abreast of progress in the Good Offices Process.
• Maintaining communication with the UN Country Teams in Guyana and
Venezuela about the Good Office Process and relevant trends and events.
• Engaging, where relevant, with diplomatic and donor representatives, academics,
press, technical experts and other civil society representatives, in both Guyana
and Venezuela, in support of the Good Offices Process.
In carrying out these functions, the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General will:
• Liaise closely with DP A to provide up-to-date information and early warning on
substantive political aspects of the Good Offices Process and on political
developments that may affect the resolution of the controversy.
• Liaise closely with DPA in developing strategic approaches for resolving the
differences between the parties, particularly with regard to the involvement of
neighbouring states and regional/sub-regional organizations.
• Handle sensitive documentation and information with complete confidentiality
and full awareness of cyber-security risks.
• Keep a complete record of all proposals made to or by the parties and meetings
held and contacts had with them; manage and retain all records generated or
received in the course of the Good Offices Process; and transfer all these records
to DP A upon completion of his or her assignment.
3. Plan of Action
The mediator will carry out the following plan of action until the end of 2017:
• Undertake a preliminary assessment ( e.g. contact with the parties, familiarization
with legal and political background) of the controversy and formulate, in
consultation with DP A, a strategic plan for mediation, detailing short, medium
and long-term actions and objectives (1 month);
• In consultation with the parties, explore CBMs that could be implemented in the
short term (2 months);
2
Annex 117
• Carry out the short-term and relevant medium-long-term actions detailed in the
strategic plan described below (until the end of November 2017).
4. Reporting
The Personal Representative of the Secretary-General will report to the Secretary­
General, through the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
The first report (to be submitted after one month of the Personal Representative's
appointment) will contain a preliminary assessment and a strategic plan.
The second report (to be submitted after the second month) will include possible
CBMs.
The third report (to be submitted by the end of November 2017) will focus on
progress made during the Good Offices Process and include recommendations for
moving forward. In this last report, the mediator will take into account the decision of
the Secretary-General, communicated to the parties on 15 December 2016, that he will
choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement of the
controversy if significant progress is not achieved by the end of 2017 (unless the two
parties jointly request that he refrain from doing so).
The Personal Representative of the Secretary-General is also encouraged to
submit any further reports that he or she might consider relevant (mission reports,
meeting notes and/or other updates) through DPA on a regular basis in order to keep the
Secretary-General informed of developments.
3
Annex 118
Letter from the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the Secretary-General of the
United Nations (1 Mar. 2017)
Annex 118
•
Ministry of t he Presidency
Vlissengen Road, Bourda, Georgetown
Cooperative Republic of Guyana
2017-03-01 .
His Excellency Antonio Guterres
Secretary General of the United Nations
Office of the Secretary General
United Nations Headquarters
New York, United States of America
Dear Secretary General ,
Thank you for your letter of 23 February 2017, on the matter of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela's controversy with the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. I thank you also, for the
care you have given to it following on your predecessor's letter of 15 December 2016.
We have just marked the 51
st
anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Agreement in February
1966, on the eve of Guyana's independence . The practical step you have taken in the way
forward toward the full resolution of this controversy is vital to our future.
I reassure you, again, of our full cooperation in furtherance of all aspects of the processes ahead.
I welcome your selection of His Excellency Mr. Dag Halvor Nylander as your Personal
Representative in the 'good offices' process as defined in his "Terms of Reference ".
I assure you, and I will assure him directly, that the Government of Guyana will do all it can that
is consistent with our sovereignty and territorial integrity to facilitate his mission as set out in
those "Terms of Reference " following your predecessor's decision .
We look forward to hearing from Mr. Nylander in the near future.
Please accept , Secretary General, the assurances of my highest consideration.
David Granger
President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Annex 119
Letter from the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the Secretary-General of the
United Nations (11 Apr. 2017)
Annex 119
•
Ministry of the Presidenc)
\ 'lis,en)\en Road, Boun
(;1 ,r;; town
Coopera tiw Repuhlk ,!(Gtl\ana
April 11, 2017
His Excellency Antonio Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Office of the Secretary General
United Nations Headquarters
760 United Nations Plaza
New York, New York 10017
United States of America
Dear Secretary General,
I am writing to acknowledge your letter of 27 March 2017. I am pleased to advise that
the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is preparing to receive H.E. Dag Halvor Nylander,
your Personal Representative in the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela for
discussions later this week.
I wish to iterate my Government 's commitment to cooperate with Ambassador Nylander
in the execution of his mandate. I express again my appreciation for your efforts
towards the resolution of the controversy.
Please accept, Secretary General, the assurances of my highest consideration.
David Granger
President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
Annex 120
Note Verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Guyana, No. 01021/2017 (30 June 2017)
Annex 120
,•
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
254 South Road & Shiv Chanderpaul Dr.,
'
'
Georgetown, Guyana
Telephone: 592-226-9080 Fax: 592-223-5241
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.minfor.gov.gy
Note: 01021/2017
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana presents its compliments
to the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and has the honour to refer to ote
Verbale 11.2.G l 2.El.P.60.3/141 dated June 26, 2017 and its attachment from the Hon. Marleny
Josefina Contreras Hernandez, Minister of People 's Power for Tourism, under the subject: "XXVII
Reunion Del Comite Especial De Turismo Sostenible (CETS-28) Isla de Margarita (Porlamar),
Venezuela de! I 0 al 11 de Julio de 2017."
The Ministry wishes to register its strong protest and rejection of the map depicted at page 6 under
section I 0 of the referenced attachment. The map purports to include Guyana's sovereign territory
as that of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and is wholly inconsistent with the 1899 Arbitral
Award that constituted a full and final settlement of the land boundary. The Mini stry is compelled
to remind the Government of Venezuela about the sanctity of treaties under international law, and
to emphasize that unilateral acts and unlawful assertions of sovereignty over Guyana ' s territory do
not in any way affect the permanence of the boundar y as establis hed by the 1899 Award. In view
of the offensive and unlawful nature of this map, the Ministry is compelled to return this document
to Venezuela. The Ministry further reque sts that the document in which this map is included , be
withdrawn from circulation.
Further, the Ministry wishes to signal its intention to bring this matter to the attention of the
Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana avails itself of this
opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela the assurances of
its highest consideratiy
GEORGETOWN
JUNE 30, 2017
Annex 121
Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to Personal
Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (29 July 2017)
Annex 121
Ministry of Foreign Aff airs
254 South Road & Shiv Chanderpaul Dr.,
Georgetown, Guyana
Telephone: 592-226-9080 Fax: 592-223-5241
Email: [email protected]
Website : www.minfor .gov.gy
July 29, 2017
H.E Ambassador Dag Nylander
Personal Representative of the
Secretary General of the United Nations
United Nations Headquarters
New York.
Dear Dag,
I was on the verge of sending you the attached letter pursuant to our conversations in
Georgetown, when your letter of the 26th arrived. Since it is pertinent to that letter as
well, I am sending it to you along with these additional comments. Please treat it as my
principal response along with these additional comments.
A word about CBMs. I think we need to be careful with words. CBMs, as we said from the
beginning, are relevant to improving the atmosphere in which efforts are pursued to
resolve the core issue. They have no other relevance in relation to 'progress' in resolving
the 'controversy' and that could be misleading if they do not in fact improve that
atmosphere; they are not a substitute for 'progress'. Guyana has had 51 years of what
looked like confidence building measures only to find that they were a smoke screen for
sustaining, not resolving, the 'core issue'. I urge you to be mindful of the distinction -
Guyana will be.
We are therefore surprised about your statement "I have not said that the institution of
confidence-building measures is "not a measure of'significant progress"' towards arriving
at a full agreement for the solution of th e controversy". This matter was clearly discussed
at our last meeting and we fully appreciate that it is the Secretary-General who will decide
whether significant progress has been made, but that he will make th at determination
Page 1 of 2
Annex 121
taking into account your third and final repo1t at the end of November 2017. It is a cause
for concern that this has once again become a question as we move forward with this final
stage of the mediation process. As previously indicated, Guyana cannot accept the CB Ms
as a measure of "significant progress" towards, or their inclusion as "other elements"
for, resolution of the controversy. Nonetheless, Guyana remains willing to consider CB Ms
consistent with your Terms of Reference.
With reference to paragraph four of your letter under reference , which relates to the role
of CB Ms, you will recall of course that we had submitted to you proposals for sustainable
forestry management within the context of CBMs. We have not had thus far any reaction
to these proposals. The mandate as far as this deals with CBMs qualifies their import "to
promote a positive environment for dialogue". We have said many times that we have on
several occasions engaged Venezuela on a number of cooperation measures over the
years.
I look forward to receiving your "refined dialogue proposal" for the first bilateral dialogue,
mindful that in order to give the mediation process a meaningful chance during the four
months that remain, the agenda must focus first and foremost on resolution on the core
issue of the "controversy" on the nullity of the Award rather than secondary issues.
I, too, hope we can move forward with the clarity I hope I have provided in these
exchanges.
With every good wish .
Yours sincerely,
c----{ £ ~
rl B Greenidge Q
/
e President and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Attch:
Page 2 of 2
Annex 121
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
254 South Road & Shiv Chanderpaul Dr.,
Georgetown, Guyana
Telephone: 592-226-9080 Fax: 592-223-5241
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.minfor.gov.gy
July 25, 2017
H.E Ambassador Dag Nylander
Personal Representative of the
Secretary General of the United Nations
United Nations Headquarters
New York.
Dear Dag,
I write to express my appreciation for the conversations which we shared during your visit
to Georgetown for th e July 24
th
meeting. As I indicat ed, there are some matters on which
I would be writing.
We have noted that Venezuela has sought to engage the Secretary General directly on
issues of the Guyana-Venezuela controversy outside of the bounds of the mediation
process committed to you. Whilst we are not surprised that Venezuela has selectively
rejected the Secretary General 's decision as to the means of settlement, there is now - as
you put it - a "twin track approach" on the part of Venezuela. We are profoundl y
disturbed about this behaviour. It is fundamentally inconsistent with equality among the
Parties and undermines Guyana's confidenc e in the mediation process . We do hope that
the UN would seek to ensure that both Parties are held to the same stand ard and not
facilitate any further departure from the process.
I would like to restate what I had put to you in my letter of June 30, 2017 namely:
"2 . I also repeat our proposal to convene as soon as practicable a bilateral
Ministerial Meeting under your chairmans hip in Port of Spain to explore views
on the 'core' issue of the controv ersy, viz. Venezuela's contention that the Arbitral
Award of 1899 is 'null and void '."
Page 1 of3
Annex 121
After all, that is the 'controversy' as defined again in the first paragraph of your Terms of
Reference - and of course by both Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Secretary General
Guterres - and the process has not engaged it yet. I know that there are some necessary
steps preceding it, one being guidelines for such a substantial discussion. You have sent
us comprehensive guidelines; we have given them careful consideration and provided our
response to you. We would expect that the amendments made would be taken into
account and hope that both sides would be held accountable to them .
And, beyond the guidelines, is the agenda. I want to make it abundantly clear that this
meeting is about the 'controversy' and it has to be clearly defined. I have to say this
insistently, because it has been Venezuela's constant ruse over more than fifty years to
insist on its contention of nullity but never to discuss it, only to seek diversion from it.
The agenda must not allow this; after all, it is whether there is 'significant progress ' in
relation to this 'controversy' that is the essential issue.
One further matter. As we had noted during the meeting, your Terms of Reference as set
out in the 23 February 2017 letter of the Secretary -General, make clear that the mediation
process and potential judicial process are inextricably linked. In particular, in regard to
your third and final report to be submitted by the end of November 2017, the following is
clearly indicated :
"In this last -report, the mediator will take into account the decision of the
Secretary General, communicated to the parties on 15 December 2016, that he
will choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement of
the controversy if significant progress is not achieved by the end of 2017 (unless
the two parties jointly request that he refrain from doing so.)"
However, the reality is that Venezuela has not accepted your Terms of Reference, yet
Guyana is being asked to cooperate with the mediation process. In this process one Party
has arrogated to itself the right to pick and choose what is convenient to its interests while
rejecting the rest of the Secretary General's decision. While Guyana still supports the
Page 2 of 3
Annex 121
expeditious meeting of the parties with a view to addressing the 'core issue ' of the
controversy, it cannot but be troubled when the other Party does not respect the Secretary
General's decision and your Terms of Reference, let alone accept the definition of the
controversy to be resolved.
Guyana must thus repeat its entirely reasonable insistence that the guidelines and any
prospective agenda for a bilateral meeting make expressly clear the exact framework
within which the Parties are under an obligation to engage in good faith. It surely cannot
be demanded of Guyana to engage in an open-ended mediation process where acceptance
of the guidelines is not mutual and even the question to be discussed is not settled .
Finally, we remain committed to continuing cooperation with your mandate and await
your proposals on next steps within your Terms of Reference consistent with the views
above.
Yours sincerely,
~:a.r ~
/ Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Page 3 of 3
Annex 122
Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the
Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (19 Sept. 2017)
Annex 122
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
254 South Road & Shiv Chanderpaul Dr.,
Georgetown, Guyana
Telephone: 592-226-9080 Fax: 592-223-5941
19 September, 2017
H.E. Ambassador Dag Nylander
Personal Representative of the
Secretary General of the United Nations
United Nations Secretariat
Dear Dag,
I write to register my distress at our exchange yesterday afternoon at the
UN. Nothing prepared me for the loss of confidence induced by it. I am
particularly disturbed that at this very late stage the Parties could be
expected to "agree to disagree" on the relevance of the definition of the
controversy and instead address only the issue of the consequences of the
controversy. Furthermore, this redefinition lends itself to a necessary
prolongation of the mediation process despite its manifest failure to achieve
any progress whatsoever. I remind you of the care with which the two
Secretaries General had defined the controversy.
Your mandate is to resolve the controversy arising from Venezuela's
contention of nullity; there is no other controversy to be resolved. There is
no question that the Parties must discuss "the controversy between
Guyana and Venezuela which has arisen as a result of the Venezuelan
contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between
British Guiana and Venezuela is null and void". Guyana is within its rights
to insist that Venezuela fully respects the decision of the Secretary-General
and that you stay within your Terms of Reference.
Annex 122
2.
I am also disturbed that what you initially proposed as a brief informal
meeting between myself and the Venezuelan Foreign Minister in the
corridors of the General Assembly without negotiating teams is now
suddenly transformed into a full-fledged bilateral meeting. There can be no
doubt that Guyana has cooperated fully with your mandate throughout
2017. But now, at the eleventh hour, we are suddenly told that there has
been progress and that we should participate in a substantive bilateral
meeting.
But that progress to which you speak is not progress between the parties.
You speak of progress as if it were a generalized condition devoid of context.
However, this progress of which we are only now being made aware has
emanated from some undefined proposal by Venezuela made without our
knowledge, and without our input, and which presumably does not address
the question of nullity, this being the controversy to be resolved.
Your meeting with me yesterday has put me on notice. Guyana remains
committed to a bilateral meeting for the full discussion of the core issue of
the controversy, but insisting on such a meeting without Venezuela's
acceptance of the Secretary-General's decision is, with the greatest respect,
in excess of your mandate.
The Secretaries General have been meticulous and unambiguous in defining
what they mean by 'progress'. It has to be 'significant progress toward
arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy'. It seems
that this clear decision is being conveniently ignored. In all the months of
mediation not once have these high standards of"significant progress" or the
specifics of a "full agreement" or the contention of nullity which is the "core
issue" been explored. It is as if these defining requirements were
encumbrances to the mandate, better ignored and left unexplored. This
approach avoids the specific decision of the Secretaries General and
prolongs the same failed good offices process that has been used to pressure
Guyana and prevent her development for the past fifty years.
Annex 122
3.
I am quite happy to greet my opposite number from Venezuela; I have done
so frequently. But there can be no bilateral meeting in the context of your
mandate without an agreed agenda, and unconditional acceptance by
Venezuela of the Secretary-General's decision, including the definition of the
controversy to be discussed. Guyana is fully within its rights to insist that
you respect that decision which is the sole basis of your mandate. Should
these basic requirements be satisfied, Guyana would be ready to participate
in a bilateral meeting subject to being given sufficient time to assemble its
negotiating team.
Yours sincerely,
ar!B.Green:g
r-?
Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs
I
Annex 123
Address of the President of the Republic of Guyana to the U.N. General Assembly, 72nd Session,
U.N. Doc A/72/PV.7 (20 Sept. 2017)
Annex 123
United Nations
A/72 / PV.7
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-second session
7th plenary meeting
Wednesday, 20 September 2017, 9 a.m.
New York
President: Mr. Lajčák ........................................... (Slovakia)
The meeting was called to order at 9.10 a.m.
of our people, who have taken to the streets and to the
more than 50 areas affected by the quake, where we
need everyone’s help.
Expression of sympathy in connection with the
earthquakes in Mexico
I particularly wish to thank Secretary-General
The President: Before we begin this morning’s
meeting, I wish to express, on behalf of the General
Assembly, our sincere condolences to the Government
and people of Mexico in the light of the tragic earthquake
that rocked Mexico City yesterday. We regret the loss of
life and stand with Mexico at this time of grief.
António Guterres, who called me personally, and the
Secretariat, which has been in contact with us from the
outset, providing us with advice, support and help in
identifying the specific aid we need. Special thanks
also go to the United Nations Disaster Assessment
and Coordination system for helping us to identify the
countries that have the specialized teams and equipment
we need for rescue operations. We have contacted them
and they are already sending assistance. Support for the
rescue efforts is currently under way in Mexico City.
I thank the President and all of the countries that are
generously supporting Mexico at this very difficult time.
Agenda item 8 (continued)
General debate
The President: I give the floor to His Excellency
Mr. Luis Videgaray Caso, Minister for Foreign Affairs
of the United States of Mexico.
Mr. Videgaray Caso (Mexico) (spoke in Spanish):
I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of
the Government and the people of Mexico, to thank
the Assembly from the bottom of our hearts for the
countless expressions of international solidarity from
our fellow members of the United Nations.
Yesterday a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck
Mexico City and various areas in the centre of the
country. The death toll currently stands at 219, with
hundreds injured and still more whose whereabouts are
unknown. Our current priority is carrying out rescue
work and caring for the injured. It has been a harsh
blow to Mexico, but we will be able to recover, thanks
primarily to the extraordinary solidarity and generosity
Address by Mr. Sauli Niinistö, President of the
Republic of Finland
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
address by the President of the Republic of Finland.
Mr. Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic
of Finland, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations His
Excellency Mr. Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic
of Finland, and to invite him to address the Assembly.
President Niinistö: Our thoughts today are with
the people of Mexico and the Caribbean.
This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches
delivered in other languages. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only.
They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member
of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506
([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official
Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org).
17-29389 (E)
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I congratulate you, Sir, on your election to preside
The grave situation in the Democratic People’s
over the General Assembly at its seventy-second
session. Finland fully supports your six priorities
and we appreciate the focus on people as your
mandate’s centrepiece.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt
Republic of Korea is an urgent concern. The North
Korean nuclear-weapon programme is a threat to global
peace and must be stopped. The Security Council’s
cooperation on North Korea has been successful, and
it is important to ensure that unity can prevail. At the
same time, North Korea has continued its provocations,
and such behaviour cannot be tolerated. Finland, as
part of the European Union, stands firmly behind the
sanctions and urges everyone to do the same. We will
be able to find a solution only through negotiations,
and the North Korean Government must participate
without preconditions.
congratulations to Secretary-General António Guterres.
His determination to reform the United Nations is
laudable. Transparency, accountability, efficiency and
gender balance should be the guiding principles of the
United Nations system. I also welcome his focus on
conflict prevention, which, when successful, saves lives
and financial resources. Finland continues to advocate
the use of mediation in conflict resolution, which can
prevent conflicts and decrease human suffering. Those
who are marginalized must be given a voice in peace
processes. Women, children and young people often
pay the highest price in conflicts, but they can also
help to find a way out of crises. Finland has helped to
establish a Nordic network of women mediators that
aims to sustain peace through women’s inclusive and
meaningful participation in every phase of a peace
process.
Nuclear weapons represent a severe threat to
Peacekeeping and special political missions are
humankind. As long as they exist there is a risk of a
catastrophe. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons remains the cornerstone of global
non-proliferation and the foundation for nuclear
disarmament. Finland’s approach to the issue is resultoriented
and
pragmatic.
It
is
crucial
to
ensure
that
the

countries
possessing
nuclear
weapons
are
on
board
for

any
negotiations. I
call
on
all
nuclear-weapon
States

and
countries
possessing
such
weapons
to
take
concrete

action
on
disarmament
as
soon
as
possible.
It
is
also

important
to
ensure
that
the
nuclear
deal
on
Iran
is

honoured
by
all
parties,
and I
welcome
the
recent
talks

on
strategic
stability
between
the
United
States
and
the

Russian
Federation.
We
hope
that
they
will
re-start
the

arms-control
talks
in
Europe
and
globally.
at the core of the United Nations mandate. With
experience of United Nations operations since 1956,
Finland supports the Secretary-General in his efforts
to reform and make United Nations peacekeeping
more effective. Following the pledge we made in 2015,
Finland has significantly increased its participation
in United Nations police missions. Finnish police
officers, including a specialized team for sexual and
gender-based violence, are now deployed in seven
United Nations peacekeeping operations. It is my firm
view that no United Nations peacekeeper or any other
United Nations personnel should be associated with
misconduct in any shape or form. There must be zero
tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse, and the
Secretary-General’s initiative for a circle of leadership
is timely and welcome.
We must also pay closer attention to other threats,
of which I would like to focus on two examples.
First, countering terrorism and preventing violent
extremism is a shared priority. As a global body, the
United Nations is well placed to promote the fight
against terrorism. I look forward to the leadership of
In wars, there are no winners, and yet conflicts
the new United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism
in that area. Secondly, we must take health security
more seriously. Diseases travel across borders rapidly
and synthetic biology is an emerging threat. We need
better prevention and national preparedness, and a
global, multi-partner collaboration. The Global Health
Security Agenda is an important forum in this area, and
Finland and Australia are co-chairing an alliance in
support of health-security capacity-building. We must
take action before the next pandemic arrives.
continue. In 2016, 157,000 lives were lost in violent
conflicts globally. There are almost 68 million refugees
in the world today. The conflicts in the Middle East,
Africa and eastern Ukraine are all examples of untold
human suffering, and they are not the only ones.
The international community has not succeeded in
maintaining peace and security.
Population dynamics are of great importance.
Although the most rapid phase of global population
growth is receding, in many places populations are still
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growing. That is particularly the case in some African
countries, where the potential exists for a four-fold
increase by the end of the century. Growing populations
often result in rapid urbanization. Cities offer people
many possibilities, and urbanization’s positive potential
is huge. But if it is mismanaged it can also increase
rootlessness, hopelessness and even radicalization. One
antidote is to ensure that all individuals can reach their
potential. Economic opportunities and human rights
are vital. People must have a positive stake in their
own societies. That will require dedicated efforts to
empower individuals, including ensuring their access
to education and basic services.
the whole of humankind. Finland currently chairs the
Arctic Council, and combating climate change is one
of our priorities.
Mr. Djani (Indonesia), Vice-President, took
the Chair.
Finland celebrates 100 years of independence this
year, and the theme of our centennial is “Together”.
Since our independence began, Finland has supported
and respected the rules-based international order. In
our interconnected world, promoting national interests
also requires international efforts. I strongly believe
Gender equality is a key priority in Finnish foreign
that global challenges and threats must be addressed
not by individual action alone but by the international
community. Peace and security, human rights and
development belong to all of us. Only together can we
make this world a better place.
policy. As a HeForShe IMPACT Champion, I attach
great personal importance to this. Universal access
to sexual and reproductive health and ensuring sexual
rights and comprehensive sexuality education for
all are key factors in sustainable development. As a
candidate for the UNESCO Executive Board, Finland
also considers gender equality, high-quality education
and fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development to be priorities.
The Acting President: On behalf of the General
Assembly, I wish to thank the President of the Republic
of Finland for the statement he has just made.
Mr. Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic
of Finland, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
Climate change binds the South and the North
together. None of us will be spared its destructive
effects. Besides the direct environmental impact, it
affects security and is a cause of forced migration.
The rapid implementation of the Paris Climate Change
Agreement is even more urgent than it was a year ago.
The Agreement has a clear goal — keeping rising
temperatures below 2°C. At the moment we are not on
that path, and we must speed up our efforts, because the
window for action is closing. Our transition from fossil
fuels to renewables and energy efficiency must be much
faster than what we are seeing right now. Everyone’s
Address by Mr. Almazbek Atambaev, President of
the Kyrgyz Republic
The Acting President: The Assembly will now
efforts are needed.
The Arctic is at the forefront of climate change.
hear an address by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Mr. Almazbek Atambaev, President of the
Kyrgyz Republic, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
The Acting President: On behalf of the General
Assembly, I have the honour to welcome to the United
Nations His Excellency Mr. Almazbek Atambaev,
President of the Kyrgyz Republic, and to invite him to
address the Assembly.
President Atambaev (spoke in Russian): At the
outset, I would like to express my sincere condolences
to the people of Mexico following the catastrophic
earthquake there.
My ancient people have gone through a long
and difficult journey of historical development and
formation. Centuries ago, we developed our own
written language and established our own multi-ethnic
State known to history as the Great Kyrgyz Khanate.
It is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. If
we lose it, we will lose the whole world. We must find
effective ways to slow down the warming of the Arctic.
One of those is reducing emissions of black carbon and
methane and their impact on the Arctic. The sources
of black carbon are well known and solutions exist.
What we need is shared willingness and determined
steps to deal with the issue. The emissions should be
reduced in the Arctic area first and foremost, but global
action is also needed, as much of the black carbon is
transported in from outside the area. I firmly believe
that tackling this issue will be a genuine win-win for
Unfortunately, subsequent historical events led to the
loss of the Khanate and the destruction of the greater part
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of our people. We used to be referred to as a vanishing
ethnic group. Accordingly, freedom, independence and
a sovereign State became our national ideals and an
impassioned driving force for our people throughout
their historic journey. That journey culminated in 1991
in our achievement of sovereignty.
corruption, in particular at the top levels of power. In
our country, the privileged circles and untouchables of
six or seven years ago no longer exist.
We are engaged in dialogue today on equal terms
However, our struggle for freedom, democracy
with all our international partners. As we build our
independence in foreign policy, we base it exclusively
on protecting our national interests, with special
priority for regional integration. The borders that we
share with our neighbours are becoming gateways to
friendship and good neighbourliness.
and justice continue. I am proud of my freedom-loving
people, who in the past 12 years have executed two
popular revolutions against a dictatorial regime and
have shown that the only true source of power in the
Our main achievements in recent years have
Kyrgyz Republic is the people.
“In other countries similar events could have
led to the destruction of democracy and entailed
significant strife, but the Kyrgyz people underwent
difficult circumstances and preserved their
democracy, which I hope will serve as a model for
other countries.”
been peace, consensus and stability. The country is
changing before our eyes. The Kyrgyz Republic is the
first and only country in the post-Soviet Central Asian
region with a parliamentary democracy. International
organizations, including the United Nations, recognize
the Kyrgyz Republic as one of the most free and stable
States with a strong civil society in Eurasia.
Those are the words of the Secretary-General, and
we are eternally grateful to Mr. António Guterres for
his balanced assessment of historic events during our
country’s most recent past.
One achievement of particular note is the
Like all other countries that have chosen the path
introduction of a new electoral model using biometric
technologies to identify voters and count votes
electronically. We successfully used that system in the
2015 parliamentary elections and in a referendum held
last year. The democratic process and openness that
characterized the electoral campaign in the Kyrgyz
Republic were validated by international observers
and, most important, by the country’s political parties’
acceptance of their outcome. Campaigning is now in
full gear for the presidential elections to be held on
15 October. In our view, fair and transparent elections
are crucial to our country’s stability, and we are
determined to achieve that. I firmly believe that our
newly elected Government will continue to advance its
development as a democratic and open State.
of sustainable development, the Kyrgyz Republic is
committed to achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals. The well-being and prosperity of humankind is
our main goal. Despite the impact of the global economic
and financial crisis, the decline in energy prices and
the sanctions-based standoff of the global Powers, the
gross domestic product of the Kyrgyz Republic has
been steadily growing for the past few years, and our
currency, the Kyrgyzstan som, is one of the most stable
of the countries that make up the Commonwealth of
Independent States.
Kyrgyzstan is currently developing a long-term
We are embarking on several major projects,
including the improvement of our infrastructure. We
have achieved energy independence and a stable energy
sector. The Kyrgyz Republic, a country that once went
nowhere, has reinvented itself as a country of transit.
We are meeting all of our commitments with
national strategy for sustainable development through
2040. Our strategic goals for future sustainable
development include accelerated economic development
that provides people with decent jobs; ensuring
economic and social well-being; public security and
a high quality of life; and developing a parliamentary
democracy and a strong civil society.
respect to the social fabric of the country. Salaries for
teachers and doctors are on the rise, and pensions and
other social benefits are also gradually increasing. Over
the past five years, the rate of extreme poverty among
the population has decreased by a factor of 4.5.
One of the key initiatives of that strategy is the
We have begun a meaningful and systematic
“Clean Society” Taza Koom initiative, designed to
develop and promote the principles of electronic
Government and open society in our country. During
his visit to my country, Secretary-General Guterres
noted that the Kyrgyz Republic is not only a pioneer
campaign to rid the Government of the scourge of
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of democracy in Central Asia, it is also becoming a
pioneer in building a digital environment as well as a
digital economy.
Based on all the steps that we have taken, I believe
2013, we initiated and conducted the Global Snow
Leopard Forum, marking the start of a noble mission:
to make preserving that species and its ecosystem a
single strategic nature environmental task. Only three
weeks ago in Bishkek, we held the second International
Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Forum. One of its main
outcomes was a proposal by the Kyrgyz Republic to
initiate a multi-country project at the regional level,
with an emphasis on preserving our national and, no
less important, global biodiversity.
that in the near future the Kyrgyz Republic will become
an economically developed, socially prosperous and
secure country with a developed agro-industrial
complex and manufacturing potential. It will be a secure
country that will be safe to live and visit in a framework
of sustainable tourism, supported by its membership
in the Mountain Partnership, with its unique natural,
In the modern world, mankind is forgetting
historical and cultural monuments along the great
Silk Road. It will be a country of healthy, educated,
cultured, free and prosperous people governed by a fair
and accountable leadership.
The year 2040 will mark 1,200 years since the
advent of the Kyrgyz Khanate in the tenth century,
when Kyrgyz statehood reached its apex. We owe it
to both our history and our future to reach 2040 as a
strong, self-reliant and highly developed State.
The consequences of climate change now threaten
its origins. In a chaotically fragmented world with
increasing divisions, all nations need unifying factors
and ideas rather than political ideas that divide peoples
over religious beliefs or language. In that regard, our
country has come up with a whole range of international
projects and measures. In particular, to showcase the
greatness of the nomadic civilization to the international
community, the Kyrgyz Republic has launched a
unique project, the World Nomad Games. The General
Assembly provided international recognition for this
project for its contribution to intercultural dialogue.
Next year, we will be hosting the third Nomad Games,
and we invite everyone to participate in them.
all of us to some degree, and mountainous countries such
as the Kyrgyz Republic are on the front lines, owing to
the complex ecosystems associated with such terrain.
The problems of climate change are having an impact
on every sector of the Kyrgyz Republic’s economy
and are causing significant damage from increasingly
frequent natural disasters in mountainous areas,
including mudflows, landslides, floods and avalanches.
In July, we held an international forum on
“Altai civilization and related peoples of the Altaic
language family”. Its main goal was the development
and popularization of common heritage and cultural
exchange between peoples having common Altai roots,
strengthening and expanding cooperation among the
States belonging to the Altaic language family.
We are particularly concerned about the accelerated
melting of Kyrgyz glaciers, which are natural reservoirs
and a source of fresh water not only for Central Asia
but for the whole world. According to forecasts, by
2025 the total glacier area in the Kyrgyz Republic
could decrease by 30 to 40 percent, which could lead
to a drop in the water levels of Central Asian rivers. By
2100 the glaciers of the Kyrgyz Republic could vanish
altogether. Our country is therefore promoting the
implementation of joint projects to preserve glaciers in
mountain ecosystems of upstream countries.
The international conference initiated by my
country on the theme “Islam and the modern secular
State” is dedicated to the strengthening of peace and
the development of intercultural dialogue. It will be
held on 28 and 29 September in Bishkek. We believe
it is important to study experiences and exchange
information on the interaction of the State and religious
institutions and civil societies in secular countries.
All those initiatives represent a contribution by
The basic essence of the transition to sustainable
the Kyrgyz Republic to the preservation of peace and
stability and the development of cultural diversity and
tolerance as a counterweight to contemporary threats of
terrorism and radicalism, and we believe that they will
have fruitful results.
development is a matter of the survival of humankind
and the preservation of the biosphere. Due to climate
change, various rare animals and the biodiversity of our
mountain ecosystems are threatened with extinction.
One of the key factors in good living standards
In particular, since the nineties, the global
in Central Asia is our mutually beneficial use of
water and energy resources. The Kyrgyz Republic
population of snow leopards has fallen by half. In
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has consistently advocated the development and
introduction in the region of economic mechanisms
for water use. The world’s limited water resources will
sooner or later lead to an understanding that water is
an economic resource that requires reasonable use. I
wish to emphasize in particular that water-use issues
in Central Asia can and should be solved only by the
States of the region through an open and constructive
dialogue, taking into account the interests and needs
of all countries. It is unacceptable for international and
regional organizations to impose their own approaches
and ways of developing cooperation in this area on the
countries of Central Asia.
I should not omit to mention the current situation
in Myanmar and the plight of the Muslims there.
Kyrgyzstan resolutely condemns the violence being
perpetrated against the ethnic minority in Myanmar,
and we earnestly call on all parties to the conflict to
engage in peaceful negotiations.
We also urge all countries around the globe to
uphold their commitment to the provisions of the
international conventions on the non-proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction.
It is encouraging to see the increasing role that the
I would be remiss if I did not mention the problem of
United Nations is playing in our collective efforts to
confront the challenges and threats that we face today.
But as that role increases, so does its accountability. It
is the 15 members of the Security Council that currently
decide the fate of the world. The consensus they reach
determines matters of war and peace, security and
stability in various parts of our planet. Moreover, the
five permanent members of the Council can always
block any decision. Kyrgyzstan therefore advocates the
adoption of urgent measures to improve the Security
Council that will enable it to take into consideration the
interests of a majority of States.
managing the numerous uranium tailings in the Kyrgyz
Republic that we inherited from the Soviet Union. They
pose a threat to the entire region. We all know that a
number of large uranium-tailing dump sites are located
in close proximity to rivers and water sources. In the
event of an accidents at a tailing site, pollution of the
region’s rivers with highly toxic waste could lead to
large-scale ecological and humanitarian consequences
and would imperil the lives and health of millions of
people and even socioeconomic development in every
Central Asian country.
Our world will continue to develop and change. It
That is why, in 2012, the Kyrgyz Republic initiated
will continue to confront difficulties and crises, make
breakthroughs and have successes in development. But
all of us are united by the desire to preserve peace and
concord on Earth. For that to happen, we need to provide
equitable conditions and possibilities for development
in every country, so that no one is left behind or left to
cope with troubles and problems alone.
a proposal to adopt a special resolution on the matter
of the uranium legacy in Central Asia, and the General
Assembly adopted that text as resolution 68/218 in 2013.
In the past five years we have made significant progress
in solving problems of radiation and environmental
safety. Now we see that it is time for a new Assembly
resolution that takes account of the results that have been
achieved. Today, here in New York, we will be having
a special meeting on the issue, initiated by the Kyrgyz
Implementing the Sustainable Development
Republic and others. We believe that the meeting will
enable us to come up with new programmes and joint
measures aimed at recultivating uranium-tailing sites.
With regard to matters of peace and security and
Goals, the Paris Climate Change Agreement and other
agreements on the international agenda must remain
the main priority of our joint action as an international
community. Only together can we build a world based
on cultural diversity; on dialogue, not sanctions; on
preventive measures and greater accountability; a
world where no one will be forgotten or left behind.
So let us unite our efforts and help all people on Earth
to live better and attain even a little more joy. Together
we can build a world that provides a dignified life for
everyone on our planet Earth.
the sustainable development of all countries on the
planet, I also want to mention the problem of terrorism.
The international community must step up its efforts to
fight terrorism, extremism and related problems such as
illegal drug trafficking, trafficking in humans and arms,
and money laundering. Unfortunately, the international
community’s measures have been inadequate and have
sometimes led to confrontation between States, while it
is only by joint action and efforts that we can effectively
counter the threats of terrorism and extremism.
(spoke in Kyrgyz; translation provided by the delegation)
As I end my speech, I would now like to address
my beloved Kyrgyz people, my dear compatriots, in
Kyrgyz. A thousand years later, the Kyrgyz nomads
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have found their way again. For us to find that way,
thousands of our forefathers had to sacrifice their lives
and thousands of our mothers were left blinded by grief.
Are there any mountains where no Kyrgyz bones are
buried? Are there any valleys where no Kyrgyz blood
has flowed?
against Azerbaijanis in Armenia, in Nagorno Karabakh
and seven other regions of Azerbaijan.
Armenia committed genocide against Azerbaijanis
In a few days’ time, the Kyrgyz people will elect
in Khojaly. The Khojaly genocide is already officially
recognized by more than 10 countries. On February
26, 1992, Armenia committed war crimes, killing 613
peaceful residents of Khojaly, among them 106 women
and 63 children. One of those war criminals who
committed that terrible crime against humanity is the
current Armenian President.
their new leader. Let us not lose our way by following
the oligarchs and leaders of other countries. We cannot
let others trample on Kyrgyz leaders ever again. We
cannot let our national wealth and our lands be sold off
or given away again while ordinary people suffer. Let
Leading international organizations adopted
us not be deceived by money. Let us not be deceived
by fancy words. Let us not look deceitfully at one
another. Let us be honest with one another. We must
preserve our dignity and our unity. We must preserve
our motherland. We must preserve our people.
The Acting President: On behalf of the General
Assembly, I wish to thank the President of the Kyrgyz
Republic for the statement he has just made.
resolutions demanding the withdrawal of Armenian
troops from the territory of Azerbaijan. In 1993, the
Security Council adopted resolutions 822 (1993),
853 (1993), 874 (1993), and 884 (1993), demanding
the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of
Armenian troops from the territory of Azerbaijan.
Other international organizations, such as the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries, the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European
Parliament, adopted similar decisions and resolutions.
Mr. Almazbek Atambayev, President of the
Kyrgyz Republic, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
Armenia does not implement them. For 24 years,
Address by Mr. Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev,
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
The Acting President: The Assembly will now
hear an address by the President of the Republic
of Azerbaijan.
Mr. Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev, President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, was escorted into the
General Assembly Hall.
Armenia has ignored Security Council resolutions, and
unfortunately it has not been punished for that. In some
cases, Security Council resolutions are implemented
within days. In our case, resolutions have gone
unimplemented for 24 years. That is a demonstration of
double standards, and it is unacceptable. International
sanctions must be imposed on Armenia. A major United
Nations reform should be the creation of a mechanism
for implementing Security Council resolutions.
The Acting President: On behalf of the General
Armenia does everything in its power to maintain
Assembly, I have the honour to welcome to the United
Nations His Excellency Mr. Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev,
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and to invite
him to address the Assembly.
the status quo and block substantive negotiations. The
President Aliyev: For more than 25 years,
Armenia has occupied 20 per cent of the territory of
Azerbaijan — Nagorno Karabakh and seven other
regions of our country. Nagorno Karabakh is an ancient
and historical part of Azerbaijan. As a result of Armenian
aggression, almost 20 per cent of the internationally
recognized territory of Azerbaijan is under Armenian
occupation. More than 1 million of Azerbaijanis have
become refugees and internally displaced persons.
co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group — France, Russia
and the United States — have stated on several occasions
that the status quo is unacceptable. How can such a
corrupt, failed State, ruled by a despotic, medieval
regime, violate international law for so many years
and ignore Security Council resolutions and statements
by the world’s leading countries? Because there is a
double standard. There is no international pressure on
the aggressor, no international sanctions imposed on
the Armenian dictatorship. That policy must end. It is
not only a demonstration of injustice, it also creates the
impression that the Armenian dictatorship can continue
its policy of terror.
Armenia has conducted a policy of ethnic cleansing
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In April 2016, Armenia committed another war
Azerbaijan is one of the world’s recognized
crime on the line of contact, attacking our cities and
villages. In that attack, six Azerbaijani civilians were
killed, among them one child, and 26 were wounded.
Hundreds of our houses were destroyed. Azerbaijan had
to defend its citizens. Through a successful counterattack,
Azerbaijan
liberated
some
territories
in
the

three
occupied
areas —
Agdere,
Fuzuli
and
Jabrayil
—
and
installed
its
national
flag
in
the
liberated
territories.

The
Armenian
leadership
should
not
forget
that
lesson,

or
the
results
of
their
next
provocation
will
be
more
centres of multiculturalism, which is a State policy in
Azerbaijan, where representatives of all ethnic groups
and religions live in peace and harmony. In Azerbaijan
we declared 2016 a Year of Multiculturalism and 2017 a
Year of Islamic Solidarity.
Unlike Armenia, which is a mono-ethnic country
painful for them.
When it loses on the battlefield, Armenia resorts to
with almost no national minorities and where
xenophobia is a State policy, Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic
country. Our society’s cultural, ethnic and religious
diversity is a big asset. In that regard, Armenia, where
Islamophobia has reached a peak, has committed
many acts of vandalism, destroying all mosques in the
occupied territories.
the cruel policy of attacking our cities and villages. On
4 July, Armenia launched a targeted attack on Alkhanli
village in Fuzuli district with 82 and 120 millimetre
mortars and grenade launchers, killing two civilians,
two-year old Zahra Guliyeva and her grandmother. On
7 August, a 13-year-old boy in the Tovuz area, which
borders Armenia, was wounded by Armenian soldiers.
The international community must stop Armenian
fascism and terror.
Azerbaijan has hosted numerous international
events aimed at strengthening interreligious dialogue.
Among them are the seventh Global Forum of the
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, the World
Religious Leaders Summit, the World Forum on
Intercultural Dialogue, on four occasions, and the Baku
International Humanitarian Forum, on five occasions,
as well as other important events.
Azerbaijan is committed to a peaceful resolution
As a member of the Organization of Islamic
of the conflict, but at the same time it will defend its
citizens, in line with the Charter of the United Nations, if
Armenian military provocations continue. If necessary,
Azerbaijan will again punish the aggressor, as it did
in April 2016. The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno
Karabakh conflict must be resolved on the basis of
international law and the relevant Security Council
resolutions, and the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
must be completely restored.
Cooperation and the Council of Europe, in 2008
Azerbaijan launched the Baku Process, which is
supported by the United Nations. The main goal of the
Baku Process is to strengthen dialogue, partnership and
cooperation between the Muslim world and Europe.
In 2015, Azerbaijan hosted the first European
Despite the enormous difficulties caused by the
Games, in which 6,000 athletes from 50 countries
participated. This year, we hosted the fourth Islamic
Solidarity Games, with almost 3,000 athletes from 54
countries, so in the space of two years our capital city
of Baku was the venue for both the European and the
Armenian occupation, Azerbaijan has developed rapidly
and successfully. It is an active member of the United
Nations, and in 2011 was elected as a non-permanent
member of the Security Council, receiving the votes
of 155 countries. An absolute majority of Member
States demonstrated their support for Azerbaijan and
its policy. For Azerbaijan, which at that time had been
independent for only 20 years, that was a great success.
Islamic Games, in a major contribution to promoting
multiculturalism. In a demonstration of Azerbaijan’s
status as one of the world’s leading sporting countries,
the Azerbaijani team came second overall at the first
European Games and first at the Islamic Solidarity
Games. Further proof of our achievement in this area
is the fact that Azerbaijan finished fourteenth overall
at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in terms of medals,
winning 18 in total.
Azerbaijan is a stable, modern, democratic country.
The development of democracy and the protection
of human rights are among the top priorities of our
Government. All fundamental freedoms are fully
guaranteed in Azerbaijan, including freedom of
expression, of the press, of assembly and of religion.
Azerbaijan has made significant progress in social
and economic development. Our economy has more
than tripled since 2004, and we have created more
than 1.6 million jobs, keeping our unemployment
level one of the lowest in the world at 5 per cent. We
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have prioritized poverty reduction; our poverty levels
have gone from more than 40 per cent in 2004 to 5 or
6 per cent. Our hard-currency reserves are equal to the
country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and our State’s
foreign debt is less than 20 per cent of GDP. In 2009
Azerbaijan was named leading reformer of the world
in the World Bank’s Doing Business report. The Davos
World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report
for 2016-2017 ranked Azerbaijan thirty-seventh of 138
countries. In 2015, Azerbaijan received the South-South
Award in recognition of its outstanding achievements
in implementing the Millennium Development Goals,
and since 2010 has been classified as a country with
high human development. Our rapid development of
our space industry has enabled Azerbaijan to join the
world’s space club with Azerspace and Azersky, its
two telecommunication and field observation satellites,
with a third, Azerspace-2, to be launched soon.
Azerbaijan plays an important role in the global
energy market. As a reliable supplier of oil and gas
to international markets, we provide energy security
for many countries throughout the world. Today
Azerbaijan, together with its international partners,
is close to completing the $40 billion Southern Gas
Corridor project, one of the largest infrastructure
projects in the world.
Another important priority of ours is transportation.
Situated as it is between Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan
is making wise use of its geographical location to
become one of Eurasia’s leading transportation hubs.
Today, Azerbaijan exports intellectual as well as
In recent years we have built six international airports
and 11,000 kilometres of modern highways and roads.
Azerbaijan’s 270 vessels make up the biggest trade fleet
in the Caspian Sea, and our modern shipbuilding yards
are capable of building all types and sizes of ships.
We are also modernizing our railroad infrastructure,
and most of our territory can now be reached by rail.
Next year we will inaugurate an international trade
seaport that will be the biggest in the Caspian region.
Azerbaijan is making significant investments in EastWest
and
North-South
transportation
corridors
in
order

to
create
the
shortest
possible
routes
across
the
country

in
both
directions.
industrial and agricultural products. Our State agency
for services and social innovations for citizens, ASAN,
is a model for modern public relations and services.
With 251 services under one roof, the agency’s absolute
transparency and zero tolerance for corruption and
bribery has made it attractive to many countries. As a
purely Azerbaijani brand in the five years since it was
founded, it has provided more than 1.6 million services
to 5 million people. The total number of applications
is 17 million and the public’s rating of ASAN is 98 per
cent. In 2015, in recognition of its contribution to
excellence, creativity and simplification of the delivery
of public services, ASAN received the United Nations
Public Service Award.
The main goal of our policies is improving the lives
of our citizens. Since 2004, salaries have increased
by 5.6 times and pensions 8.2 times. With no foreign
The President returned to the Chair.
In conclusion, I would like to point out that last
year we celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of
the restoration of our independence. Azerbaijan’s
successful development has demonstrated once again
that only when a country is free and independent and
its destiny is in the hands of its people can it achieve
success. The greatest happiness of the people of
Azerbaijan is that we live in an independent country
conducting independent polices — policies based on
the national interests of our people.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I wish to thank the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan for the statement he has just made.
Mr. Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev, President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, was escorted from the
General Assembly Hall.
financial support, we have built almost 100 new
settlements and towns for refugees and internally
displaced persons affected by the Armenian occupation.
We have thereby improved the living conditions of more
than 250,000 people, providing them with new houses
and flats and building 152 schools, 59 medical centres,
and 60 kindergartens in their towns and settlements.
Overall, since 2004 we have built or renovated more
than 3,000 schools and 600 hospitals and medical
centres. Azerbaijan’s literacy levels are close to 100 per
cent. Every year more than 5 million people — half of
the population — receive medical check-ups totally
financed by the State budget.
Address by Mr. David Arthur Granger, President
of the Republic of Guyana
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
address by the President of the Republic of Guyana.
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Mr. David Arthur Granger, President of the
Republic of Guyana, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations His
Excellency Mr. David Arthur Granger, President of
the Republic of Guyana, and to invite him to address
the Assembly.
President Granger: Let me begin by expressing
the deep condolences and solidarity of the Government
and people of Guyana to the victims of yesterday’s
earthquake in Mexico and those of Hurricane Maria,
which virtually destroyed the Commonwealth of
Dominica two days ago.
represent our collective desire and determination
to eradicate hunger and poverty from our planet
while promoting equal opportunities in education,
employment and social justice for both men and women.
The adoption of the SDGs has catalysed our aspirations
for a better world into concrete and forward-looking
actions and objectives. The Goals seek to promote
respect for people’s inherent dignity and their rights
as human beings. However, their advancement is being
obstructed by human rights violations, by people’s
involuntary migration from their homelands and by
terrorism and warfare. The challenge for the United
Nations is resolving to reinforce respect for the rights
of citizens within the governance structures of our
Member States.
The Cooperative Republic of Guyana congratulates
you, Mr. President, on your election to lead the
General Assembly at its seventy-second session. We
are confident that under your guidance progress will
be made in advancing the international agenda and
realizing the theme of this year’s Assembly, “Focusing
on people: Striving for peace and a decent life for all
on a sustainable planet”. Guyana also appreciates the
sterling performance of your predecessor, Ambassador
Peter Thomson of Fiji, in his stewardship of the
Assembly during the past year. I would also like to take
this opportunity to congratulate Secretary-General
António Guterres on his appointment last year and to
wish him a successful tenure.
Secondly, I am speaking of planet Earth. A
sustainable planet is humankind’s ultimate patrimony.
Nothing is more vital to people’s survival. We have
been indifferent too long to the need to protect the
planet, and now its sustainability is threatened on many
fronts. Climate change is not a fiction or the invention
of a few extremists. This year, the small island States of
the Caribbean and parts of North America have felt the
devastating fury of a series of hurricanes — Harvey,
Irma, José, Katia, Lee and Maria, to whose frequency
and ferocity humankind has contributed through the
reckless exploitation of Earth’s resources.
Hurricane Irma was a deadly, destructive portent
Today, I am speaking of people, peace and the
planet. Nothing is more important in this general debate
than ensuring that all representatives here respect its
theme, “Focusing on people: Striving for peace and a
decent life for all on a sustainable planet”. First, the
theme enjoins us to focus on people — people of all
countries and in all circumstances. It is about the human
condition of people in States that are large and small,
rich and poor, strong and weak. It is about humankind’s
condition everywhere on Earth.
The world is facing several serious humanitarian
of the extreme vulnerability and fragility of the small
island developing States and low-lying coastal States
of the Caribbean, and Guyana is playing its part,
within the limits of its resources, to provide relief to
the affected populations of our sister Caribbean States.
Guyana signed and celebrated the Paris Agreement
on Climate Change last year in this very Hall. We
renew our commitment to its goals this year in a
demonstration of Guyana’s pioneering role in global
environmental stewardship. It must be remembered
that in 1989 — three years before the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development was held
in Rio in 1992 — Guyana had the foresight to enter
into an environmental covenant with the international
community by dedicating 360,000 hectares of
its rainforests,
crises. In too many parts of the world, children still
die from preventable diseases or go to bed hungry. In
some places, women are denied equal opportunities
for enjoying a good life. The gap between the world’s
rich and poor remains unacceptably wide. Conflicts
within States have spawned international refugee
crises, resulting in the displacement of millions from
their homelands.
“to develop, demonstrate and make available to
Guyana and the international community systems,
methods and techniques for the sustainable
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utilization of the multiple resources of the tropical
forest and the conservation of biological diversity”.
Striving for peace and the right to development
Twenty years after that international initiative,
Guyana entered into an agreement with the Kingdom
of Norway,
“to work together to provide the world with a relevant,
replicable model of how Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation, known as
the REDD-plus programme, plus conservation
and sustainable forest management, can align the
development objectives of the forest countries with
have been Guyana’s most serious concerns since
national independence in 1966. When I addressed the
Assembly last September (see A/71/PV.8), I explained
the danger that we have been facing on our borders as a
consequence of the territorial claims of our neighbour
to the West, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I
outlined to the world’s nations the peril that Guyana
was enduring on its borders at the hands of Venezuela.
Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s territory, however, has
not diminished or been diverted. Guyana remains
imperilled. Disturbing developments in Venezuela have
attracted the world’s attention and roused the concerns
of many of us about the privations of its people.
the need to combat climate change”.
Guyana is part of the Guiana Shield, one of the
world’s last remaining blocks of pristine rainforest.
The Guiana Shield is the source of 15 per cent of the
world’s freshwater reserves. Its biodiversity provides
ecosystem services, such as food, fresh water and
medicinal products. It provides environmental services,
such as the regulation of the water cycle, water quality
and pollination. The Shield’s forests capture and store
carbon, mitigating the greenhouse effect. In other
words, the Shield is essential to life on Earth. Guyana
calls on the United Nations to help protect and preserve
the Guiana Shield as a global resource for the survival
and sustainability of our planet.
I will now speak of peace. Striving for peace
has been the principal purpose and preoccupation of
this Organization throughout its existence. A good
life for the world’s peoples and sustainable use of
the planet’s resources are predicated on peace with
justice, including justice within and between States.
The world is weary of war. Striving for peace must
be humankind’s ceaseless quest. The United Nations
is the paramount global instrument of peace. It has a
vital role to play in ensuring respect for international
law through the International Court of Justice and the
Security Council. In striving for peace, we must aim
to resolve long-standing inter-State conflicts. In that
regard, Guyana supports the call for reform of the
Security Council, in order to give an even greater voice
to developing countries.
We reiterate our support for a two-State solution
to the Palestine-Israeli conflict. We affirm the right of
the Palestinian people to a homeland and a dignified
existence. We demand the withdrawal of the injurious
economic embargo on the Caribbean island of Cuba,
which frustrates its right to development.
The Caribbean people want the Caribbean to be a
zone of peace. Venezuela’s claim on Guyana’s territorial
integrity, however, would be a threat to that zone and
that peace. Venezuela is more than four times the size
of Guyana, and yet it claims two-thirds of Guyana’s
territory, including its maritime space. We depend on
our territorial and maritime resources for our country’s
development and for propelling our people out of
poverty. After 51 years of Guyana’s independence, the
Venezuelan claim persists. An eminent international
tribunal provided a full, perfect and final settlement of
the issue 118 years ago, in 1899. Venezuela repudiated
that arbitral award in 1962 in the Special Committee
on Decolonization, as British Guiana — as we were
then — strove to achieve its independence.
This is a warning to the world, through the
Assembly, that peace will be jeopardized in our region
if justice does not prevail, not only within Venezuela,
but also with regard to its border controversy with
Guyana. Four Secretaries-General have been seized
of the Venezuelans’ claim. The choice has become one
between a just and peaceful settlement in accordance
with international law, and a Venezuelan posture of
attrition that is increasingly blustering and militaristic.
In this matter, protraction is the enemy of resolution
and the ally of sustained conflict.
Fortunately, as they indicated publicly, former
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and current SecretaryGeneral
António
Guterres
have
both
decided
that
if,

based
on
the
1966
Geneva
Agreement,
significant

progress
has
not
been
made
by
the
end
of
2017
towards

arriving at a
full
agreement
on a
settlement
of
the

controversy,
the
International
Court
of
Justice
will
be

the
next
means
of
peaceful
settlement,
unless
Guyana

and
Venezuela
jointly
request
otherwise.
Guyana
has
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been working assiduously with the Secretary-General’s
personal representative and looks to the international
community to ensure that Venezuela is not allowed to
thwart the process of judicial settlement, which is the
clear and agreed path to peace and justice.
and diplomacy, which we in Bosnia and Herzegovina
have witnessed first-hand, will help the most important
body of the United Nations make new progress and
effectively face new challenges. My gratitude also goes
to the outgoing President for the leadership he showed
during the seventy-first session.
The people of the world yearn to fulfil their
potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy
environment — an attainable objective of the
Sustainable Development Goals endorsed by the United
Nations. Peace for the world’s peoples is the mandate
of the United Nations. Peace can be achieved by
I would also like to join others in congratulating His
Excellency Mr. António Guterres on his appointment
as Secretary-General of the United Nations. His noble
and wise intention to devote more attention to building
bridges to connect us all in the years ahead will
certainly have all of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s support.
addressing the world’s humanitarian crises, promoting
justice within and between nations and resolving longstanding
conflicts
between
States.
In a world dominated by uncertainty and insecurity,
Planet Earth can provide a good life for all. The
planet can be protected from the ravages of climate
change and reckless damage to its ecology and
biodiversity. United, the nations gathered in this Hall
can fulfil the promise of the Charter of the United
Nations and the theme of the General Assembly to
focus on people, strive for peace and protect the planet.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I wish to thank the President of the Republic of Guyana
for the statement he has just made.
it is simply not possible to overstate the importance of
the principles and the multilateral framework defined
for us by the founders of the United Nations. The
strength of the Organization lies in both our individual
and shared strengths in our efforts to eradicate
diseases, hunger, terrorism and every other threat
to human existence. In doing so, of course, we must
admit to ourselves how necessary and important it is to
use thoughtful and constructive measures to bring the
United Nations system closer to its surroundings and
enable it to adapt so that it can anticipate the challenges
its environment presents and respond to them with a
force that is far stronger than the simple sum of our
individual abilities.
Mr. David Arthur Granger, President of the
Republic of Guyana, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
We continue to witness and to be deeply concerned
Address by Mr. Dragan Čović, Chairman of the
Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
about the ongoing suffering of the Syrian people.
Bosnia and Herzegovina strongly condemns every form
of violence against Syria’s civilian population. The
violence must stop. The dignity of every Syrian woman,
man and child, and of every Syrian refugee, must be
restored. Their belief in the possibility of recovery
address by the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia
and Herzegovina.
and opportunities for a new life must also be restored.
Mr. Dragan Čović, Chairman of the Presidency
of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was escorted into the
General Assembly Hall.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations
His Excellency Mr. Dragan Čović, Chairman of the
Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to invite
him to address the Assembly.
We and many other delegations in this Hall today will
continue to call for a peaceful and political solution to
the conflict through negotiations. That process must
be owned by the Syrian people alone, based on the
Geneva communiqué (S/2012/522, annex), and with
the assistance of the international community and the
United Nations, led by the Special Envoy for Syria,
whose selfless efforts to continue the negotiations in
Geneva are highly appreciated.
President Čović (spoke in Bosnian; English
text provided by the delegation): I would first like to
congratulate you, Mr. President, on the task you have
It seems superfluous to repeat that there can be no
just embarked on in leading the General Assembly at its
peace and prosperity for the Israeli people if the same
is not provided for the Palestinians, and vice versa. The
Israeli-Palestinian conflict represents the most serious
seventy-second session. I am convinced that your tact
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unresolved problem in the Middle East, and the current
absence of any negotiations between the parties is
disturbing. Both nations deserve better. Again — and
this has been the case for decades — the journey towards
peace has been too slow and has become more and more
complex. It is therefore essential that we steadfastly
recall the ultimate goal, which is the existence of two
States, Israel and Palestine, living peacefully side by
side, in safety and within recognized borders. Bosnia
and Herzegovina still believes that this goal can be
achieved if both parties can fulfil their obligations as
set forth in the relevant Security Council resolutions,
the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative.
extremism, it is necessary to continuously invest in
efforts along the entire spectrum of interconnected areas,
from the eradication of injustice, inequality, poverty
and a lack of freedom to improving understanding
among those who differ, and to strengthen intercultural
dialogue and generally accepted democratic values.
Once we start thinking that we have done enough in
all those areas, we need to start again and redouble
our efforts.
A world without the threat of the total destruction
Evil has existed throughout human history.
of humankind is less utopian if there are fewer means
and arms for destruction. Disarmament and the
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are
therefore still prerequisites for the global peace and
security that we all strive for. In that context, Bosnia
and Herzegovina joins the strong condemnation of the
nuclear tests conducted by the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea. We also call on the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea to comply without delay,
fully and unconditionally, with its obligations under all
relevant Security Council resolutions.
Sometimes it is on the margins of our communities.
Sometimes, to a greater or lesser degree, it is inside
them. It does not always take the same form or manifest
itself with the same intensity. Terrorism is undoubtedly
the greatest evil of our times, and its form and strength
represent the greatest threat we have to international
peace and security. Destructive forces have always had
deep roots and many different faces, but there can be
no justification for their existence. We need united,
concentrated efforts, along with a multidimensional
and integrated approach, to overcome terrorism
and permanently eliminate the fear of terror from
our communities.
My faith in the value of the 2030 Agenda for
Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to
Sustainable Development is as strong today as it was
two years ago, when we adopted it. In Bosnia and
Herzegovina, it has received due institutional attention,
based on its significance and the nobility of the goals it
sets for us. The roles have been defined, the goals are
clear and coordination has been established.
contribute to the full implementation of the United
Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the
activities of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. We
particularly welcome the efforts of Secretary-General
António Guterres in strengthening the counterterrorism
capacities
of
the
United
Nations
and,
in
that

regard,
the
establishment
of
the
new
Office
of
Counter-
For us, as well as for other developing countries
burdened by the discrepancies between wishes
and possibilities, strong political will and decisive
practical steps in the right direction will not always be
enough. Fulfilling the noble and ambitious Sustainable
Development Goals requires knowledge and norms that
Terrorism. For our part, we are ready to constantly
many Member States do not have. It might produce
strengthen cooperation at the regional, subregional
and international levels, especially in the areas of
information collection and exchange. As a member of
the Global Coalition against Da’esh, we will continue
to support the Coalition’s efforts to liberate entire
communities and help them recover from the suffering
and harm imposed by Da’esh and its global network.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is committed to the full
implementation of all Security Council resolutions
aimed at bringing persons involved in financing,
planning, preparing or executing terrorist acts to justice.
Furthermore, we fully share the view that for the longterm
eradication
of
the
evil
of
terrorism
and
violent
an additional burden on the already overburdened
State budgets. Assistance in formulating strategies
and policies, transferring technologies, providing
financial resources and measuring progress is therefore
indisputably crucial, along with, of course, countries’
full ownership of the implementation processes. In that
connection, we have fully understood and accepted the
strong interconnectedness of the economic, social and
environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
We have ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate
Change and have chosen to follow its guidelines. It is
a debt to our children and to the planet that has to be
unconditionally fulfilled.
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Whether in our past, present or future, women
mediation, as well as conflict management techniques
and conflict resolution in divided societies, should be
applied first within the region at issue, with regional
actors who generally better understand the opposing
sides, their reasoning and their different views of the
problem.
in my country hold high positions that rightfully and
naturally belong to them. The role of women is vital to
the development and prosperity of the family as well as
of society as a whole. In post-conflict environments,
women are always the first to extend the hand of
reconciliation. In times of great challenges and risks,
we need the strength and natural ability of women more
than ever in order to pursue peaceful solutions.
We are proud of our participation in the United
Although we are extremely proud of the significant
Nations peacekeeping missions in South Sudan,
Cyprus, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the
Congo and Mali. We consider that to be the most direct
contribution of Bosnia and Herzegovina to building
world peace. We also see our involvement in United
Nations missions as a way to do things that are possible
today but that not long ago were almost impossible to
even imagine, and so to help people in areas affected
by conflicts.
progress we have made in implementing the provisions
of the historic Security Council resolution 1325 (2000),
on women and peace and security, we are also aware
of the areas where it is possible and necessary to do
considerably more. We will certainly continue to
invest in additional efforts to strengthen and empower
Bosnian women and girls in accordance with the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has learned lessons from
Another social group that deserves special attention
its difficult past, and for the future it has chosen to follow
the principles set by the founders of the European Union
60 years ago. We have adopted the European path, and,
choosing between cooperation and confrontation, we
chose and will always choose cooperation in the search
for common compromises.
is young people, who are a constant source of change
and an incubator of inventive solutions to the problems
we inherit from the past. When healthy, educated, and
employed, they are the engine that drives our societies
forward. Environments in which young people have
limited access to education, economic development and
decision-making processes are subject to frustration,
social unrest and instability. For that reason, a significant
part of the reform processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina
is dedicated to creating conditions for reducing youth
unemployment, corresponding to targets 8.5 and 8.6 of
Goal 8 of the 2030 Agenda.
On our own, but also with the unselfish help of
Unfortunately, in Bosnia and Herzegovina we
our European friends, we do everything we can to find
as many opportunities for open dialogue as possible,
and we use each of those opportunities to build even
more trust and mutually beneficial connections for
our people, who, despite difficulties and complicated
times, have more common links and interests than
we, their leaders, are sometimes willing to recognize.
Reconciliation, trust, partnership and cooperation
among all of us, in contexts both broad and narrow, must
become living and long-term principles for a stable and
know all too much about the high price of war. For us,
preventive diplomacy is a tool that, when used at the
right time, can help ensure that wars are never repeated
secure future. Commitment to regional initiatives and
anywhere. There are many reasons why, on a global
level, the United Nations system must be at the heart
of all activities that use preventive measures in order to
resolve crises and prevent people from being displaced
from their homes.
constructive action through the regional organizations
to which we belong are therefore high on the list of our
foreign-policy priorities.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is now doing everything it
Again, much of the responsibility for prevention lies
can to speed up its progress to where it really belongs,
within the framework of a strong European family,
whose values it shares. Reform and other processes that
we are pursuing for that purpose are not always simple
or easy, but we see them as a unique opportunity to
accelerate the harmonization of our economic, social
and institutional development with what awaits us
tomorrow in the European Union. We will therefore
continue to fulfil the obligations we have undertaken in
at other levels. Within our communities, we must counter
all symptoms of trouble and conflicts. We must correct
social injustice, reconcile what seems irreconcilable,
persevere in compromise, strive for pluralistic and
inclusive solutions, give equal weight to our own rights
and those of others and constantly seek ways to find
a common language. I believe that prevention and
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order to reach the status of candidate by the beginning
of 2018 with true commitment, which will be a powerful
and much needed boost to internal consolidation and
the further acceleration of integration processes.
President of the Republic of Panama, and to invite him
to address the Assembly.
President Varela Rodríguez (spoke in Spanish):
However, it is with concern that I wish to draw
the Assembly’s attention to the fact that my country
is going through a period of important challenges. I
am deeply convinced that one people in Bosnia and
Herzegovina cannot be happy and prosperous if the
other two are not, and indeed if all other people living
in our country are not. In that regard, I believe that it is
up to us in Bosnia and Herzegovina to make a crucial
I would like to begin my remarks by extending my
condolences and solidarity to the people and the
Government of Mexico for the victims of the earthquake
that struck yesterday, as well as to the peoples of Cuba,
the United States and the nations of the Caribbean
for the deaths and heavy material damage left in the
wake of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey and now being
inflicted by Hurricane Maria, especially in Dominica.
Our prayers are with the victims and their families.
Such natural disasters send a clear message that we
must continue to forge ties of solidarity and that our
countries’ protective and security capacities should be
used solely to help each other, not to create conflict.
step to adopt changes to our electoral legislation by the
end of this year, in accordance with the decisions of the
Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As in
the past, we expect understanding and support of the
international community in solving the issue, because
it is of vital importance for further democratizing and
achieving our full integration into the European Union.
I would like to congratulate you, President Lajčák,
Allow me to conclude with a reminder that all of
on your election to steer the debates at this session of
the General Assembly, and to extend warm greetings
to Secretary-General António Guterres. In my capacity
as President of the Republic of Panama, I pledge the
support of my Government and country. From this
rostrum, with respect and affection, I would also like
to send my warmest greetings to the people of Panama,
who have given me the opportunity to serve them.
our needs — economic, social, security, political and
cultural — can be very diverse, as are our possibilities
for achieving them. The choices we make every day
to ensure prosperity for our people also vary from
one Member State to another. I am convinced that the
future of humankind will largely depend on our ability
to turn our differences into advantages. We expect
the United Nations system to guide us in that and to
assist us, above all, in building a system based on unity
in diversity.
For a fourth consecutive year, I am returning to the
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I wish to thank the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia
and Herzegovina for the statement he has just made.
Mr. Dragan Čović, Chairman of the Presidency of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, was escorted from the
General Assembly Hall.
Assembly as the world is beset by challenges such as
organized crime, terrorism and natural disasters that
affect all our populations. Another major challenge we
must tackle is the increase in migration flows driven
by war, poverty and inequality. Against that backdrop,
the theme of the Assembly at this session — “Focusing
on people: Striving for peace and a decent life for all
on a sustainable planet” — will encourage Heads of
State and Government to engage in dialogue and reach
agreement on concrete actions that we can take to bring
about peace in the world.
Address by Mr. Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez,
President of the Republic of Panama
Peace is a human construct, the fruit of coexisting
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
address by the President of the Republic of Panama.
Mr. Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez, President of the
Republic of Panama, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations
His Excellency Mr. Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez,
respectfully and meeting the basic needs of individuals,
responsibly, all the while preserving the planet thatis
our home. The most effective and appropriate way to
resolve the problems that currently affect the Earth’s
inhabitants is to ensure that human beings are always
central to our decision-making. Such humanitarian
policy has been the lodestar of my leadership of
Panama for the past 39 months, as I have sought to build
a nation where justice and equality prevail, without
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making innocent people pay the price or causing
unnecessary conflict.
Democracy is not just about electing Heads of
unite in joining forces to tackle that challenge, one that
threatens the peace of our peoples, particularly in the
northern triangle. We cannot allow drug trafficking to
disrupt the peace that has been restored at such cost
in Central America and Colombia. Drug trafficking
condemns our people to poverty; affects State
budgets; makes us invest resources in security instead
of education, health, housing and transportation;
challenges the authority of Governments; and subverts
the loyalty of those whose duty it is to comply with and
uphold the rule of law.
State in free and fair elections. Rather, it is about those
of us who are elected understanding that the power
bestowed on us should be used only to serve those
who elected us; about managing the wealth of the State
with transparency, fairness and social justice for the
benefit of the people; and about leading our countries
peacefully, on a basis of dialogue and consensus. In
2015, in his opening remarks to the seventh Summit of
the Americas, Pope Francis said,
Panama reaffirms its commitment to combating
drug trafficking head-on. We will dedicate the full
force of our efforts and resources to helping the region
to eliminate that scourge. Moreover, we appeal to the
leaders and Heads of State of the countries that produce
and consume drugs to support us in this fight. Every
dollar generated by drug trafficking represents death
in our region.
“Panama’s geographic position in the centre of the
American continent, making it the meeting point
between North and South, between the Pacific
and Atlantic Oceans, is surely a call, pro mundi
beneficio, to generate a new order of peace and
justice and to promote solidarity and cooperation
while respecting the just autonomy of each nation.”
The political crisis in Venezuela is having a
I have always borne in mind Panama’s role as
a facilitator of dialogue and understanding. Ours is
a country of unity at the service of the international
community. We stand ready to cooperate as a strategic
ally and to contribute our resources in the interest of
addressing the common problems afflicting the region
and the world at large.
At the Summit of the Americas, which took place
profound impact on the region. We must stop the clashes
that have provoked unnecessary violence, hurting all
Latin Americans. It is urgent that we recognize that
to resolve the conflict, both sides must seek a path to
understanding and agree on a defined road map for
free and transparent presidential elections in 2018. It
would be a grave error if the Government of Venezuela
insisted on installing a one-party political model by
force. That would aggravate its social and humanitarian
crisis, increasing migratory flows that could result in
complex situations in neighbouring countries. We
should all stand with the Venezuelan people to help
them overcome this crisis.
in Panama, there was a historic rapprochement between
two countries that had held divergent positions for more
than half a century — Cuba and the United States.
They began a frank conversation about putting an end
to their estrangement. As we near the next Summit
of the Americas, in Lima, we must approach it with
a constructive spirit and an openness to dialogue to
analyse the problems of the region and uphold peace
and unity across the Americas.
Our continent must emerge united from the Summit
of the Americas in Lima if we are to combat inequality
The Americas and the world are happy to see that
and drug trafficking together. In that regard, Panama
is willing to play a front-line role, building bridges of
understanding and dialogue that can make our region
stronger and more united. I call on the Heads of State
of the Americas to go to Lima with that vision of unity
so that we can ensure that the hemisphere makes steady
progress towards development.
Colombia is successfully continuing to implement its
Peace Agreement. In his recent visit, Pope Francis
delivered an important message about the consolidation
of the process — which benefits everyone, not just
the Colombian people — that we must accept the
mistakes that have been made, correct them and
seek reconciliation.
We live in a world that is being battered by acts of
However, our continent is facing a problem that
terrorism, natural disasters and organized crime. There
is no time or space for us to waste effort fighting over
temporary ideological differences. Countries must unite
their capacities to address the evils affecting peoples
beyond their borders. Panama strongly condemns all
transcends borders — the growth of drug production and
trafficking. It is vital that the leaders of the Americas
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acts of terrorism anywhere the world, which can never
be justified.
growth of the past few years, we are improving the
living conditions of all Panamanians.
Today I respectfully call on the countries that are
We have significantly increased the salaries of civil
members of the Security Council to strengthen their
measures and decisions promoting sustainable peace
in places such as Syria and Iraq. I must also strongly
condemn irresponsible leaders, such as those in North
Korea, who seek to destabilize peaceful coexistence in
the world.
Panama believes that a strong multilateral system
can be used to achieve the objectives we set out in the
servants, police officers, educators, doctors and nurses.
We have reviewed the money going into pensions and
scholarships and strengthened conditional monetary
assistance. We are also laying thousands of kilometres
of roads, investing in major basic health projects and
water-purifying plants, and building tens of thousands
of houses for our poorest citizens, as well as modern,
bilingual schools, sports and cultural centres, new
metro lines and a modern mass-transport system.
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and we are
ready to continue playing a leadership role. That is why
we support the Secretary-General’s process of reform
designed to make the United Nations more transparent,
efficient and better able to respond to the needs of a
world of more than 7 billion people. If we can share the
wealth of our planet, no one will be left behind.
We are working towards those objectives with
Those reforms must ensure that the United Nations
a sense of responsibility and transparency, without
increasing any taxes, and moving forward steadily
towards fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals.
That is the value of an honest Government, which,
bound by social justice and equality to distribute the
riches of the people, represents a road to a peaceful
society, a decent quality of life and a fairer world in
which we are all treated equally.
unites us more effectively and connects Heads of State
with the pain of people suffering from war, natural
disasters and organized crime. Multilateral cooperation
is vital to that process, which is not a question merely of
economic resources but also of the transfer of capacity
and best practices. Middle-income countries such as
Panama can contribute to the transfer of knowledge and
technology, generating tangible benefits for populations
and contributing to peace.
All human beings deserve a decent life, which takes
Panama’s commitment to that path is unwavering.
everyone’s efforts to build and is achieved only when
the basic needs of our citizens for food, shelter, health
and education are met. That is why it is important to
ensure that every citizen pays taxes to the State, as the
working and professional classes do. It is Governments’
duty to take action against tax evasion, which affects
the ability of the State to help the poorest and deepens
inequality. Rulers must implement public policies and
develop programmes that allow the State to distribute
resources equitably, so that the most vulnerable are
equipped with the tools to contribute to development
and use resources sustainably.
We therefore call for the establishment of a United
Nations regional headquarters in our country. We
are willing to build facilities for a centre for regional
humanitarian assistance that will enable us to provide
timely support, when it is needed, to countries in the
region that are dealing with natural disasters, as we did
recently with the air and maritime bridges bringing aid
to countries affected by Hurricane Irma, which struck
Cuba, the Caribbean and the United States.
Countries have to be accountable in the interests of
As President of the Republic of Panama, I have two
achieving transparency in the administration of State
resources. However, it is important to ensure that the
misdeeds of the political classes and their supporters in
business do not hurt innocent people. The fight against
corruption is not measured by the numbers of those who
are prosecuted and convicted by the judicial system,
but rather by the numbers of those who benefit from a
transparent administration of State resources, so that
they are recovered for the State’s use. That is important.
Rulers have to defend their countries’ economies and
the jobs and projects that benefit the people.
clear goals: to make politics a service and ensure that
my country continues as a functional democracy. We
are recovering hundreds of millions of misappropriated
dollars that belong to the people, and we are investing
that money in the people, using the State’s resources
to benefit all Panamanians. Thanks to the honest
Government that I lead, the increased revenues from
our broadened Canal and the sustained economic
Panama is committed to the security and protection
of its logistics platforms and financial systems. We
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continue to work responsibly to prevent illegal activities
that undermine the common good. In a world that is
constantly talking about justice, we Heads of State
and Government must keep in mind that justice means
giving all of us what is rightfully ours. Our planet is
rich enough for all human beings to have a decent life.
The most important value for the inhabitants of the
Earth is peace. It is our responsibility to ensure that our
actions are always aligned with the pursuit of that goal.
May God bless us all and guide us in our work towards
a better world.
for all, the United Nations must treat all the people it
serves with impartiality and respect, and it must be a
good steward of the funds entrusted to it. Abuse and
waste are therefore not a mere public-relations problem
but an existential challenge that must be tackled headon.
The Secretary-General deserves our full support
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
in his efforts to make the United Nations not only
effective but transformational. We have the tools and
the mandates to address the global challenges of our
day, from climate change to peacebuilding to human
equality and development. Where we fall short is in
getting things done.
I wish to thank the President of the Republic of Panama
for the statement he has just made.
Institutional reform is not a one-off event like
Mr. Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez, President of
the Republic of Panama, was escorted from the
General Assembly Hall.
Address by Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the
Republic of Rwanda
The President: The Assembly will now hear an
applying a fresh coat of paint. The essence of reform is a
mindset of constantly striving to improve performance
and delivery and holding ourselves responsible for
shortcomings and results. In that sense, the reform spirit
that has started to take root in both the United Nations
and the African Union is encouraging, and Rwanda
is happy to be associated with both. This positive
momentum is also positioning the United Nations and
the African Union to work more closely together.
address by the President of the Republic of Rwanda.
Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic
of Rwanda, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
The President: On behalf of the General Assembly,
I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations His
Excellency Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic
of Rwanda, and to invite him to address the Assembly.
President Kagame: Every year, the United Nations
channels billions of dollars in humanitarian assistance.
It also sets the global agenda on key policy issues
from development to women’s rights, while providing
a platform for major international agreements. Those
are signs of an Organization that is both relevant and,
in many cases, effective. And yet there is a sense
that the United Nations is not meeting our needs and
expectations. In that context, I would like to commend
the Secretary-General, and to congratulate the President
of the General Assembly, Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, on the
two important initiatives that the Secretary-General
championed this week — his initiative on United
Nations reform and his response to sexual exploitation
and abuse.
Those steps go to the heart of the matter, which is
Concrete steps can be taken on both sides to
improve the quality of coordination and consultation.
The African Union and the United Nations are already
good partners in peacekeeping, and Rwanda is happy
and proud to have forces serving under both flags. But
we can do much more and do it better.
Mr. Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana
(Madagascar), Vice-President, took the Chair.
We also share the common objective of meeting the
Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda
2063 targets, and of continuing to enhance women’s
empowerment. Closer collaboration will help us bridge
the growing digital divide through universal broadband
access, which can connect our people to networks of
knowledge and prosperity.
Canada and Rwanda, together with other
the deficit of trust and accountability in the international
system. To be truly effective in delivering a decent life
stakeholders, are working to raise awareness of the
tremendous impact we can have right away by ratifying
and implementing the Kigali Amendment to the
Montreal Protocol. This is among the most important
actions that a country can take in directly tackling
climate change and reaffirming its commitment to the
Paris Agreement. Fewer than 15 additional ratifications
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are needed in order for the Kigali Amendment to come
into force in 2019.
Our world is facing difficult challenges, but
in our efforts to strike a reasonable balance between
the interests of all States and to build a democratic
and equitable world order, while developing relations
among sovereign, independent States based on respect
and trust and prioritizing the peaceful coexistence
whereby all nations can enjoy the same opportunities.
no more than in the past. Working together in a
constructive spirit, we can ensure for our children the
future they deserve.
To that end, we need the bodies of the United
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the President
of the Republic of Rwanda for the statement he has
just made.
Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic
Nations, particularly the General Assembly and the
Security Council, to work efficiently. We seek a more
democratic, transparent, inclusive and representative
Security Council that reflects the diversity of the States
Members of the United Nations and the geopolitical
realities of today’s world.
of Rwanda, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
The Organization continues to be the most
Address by Mr. Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara,
President of the Republic of Paraguay
The Acting President (spoke in French): The
Assembly will now hear an address by the President of
the Republic of Paraguay.
important universal forum for tackling global
challenges. Problems such as poverty and inequality,
climate change, transnational organized crime,
drug trafficking — which undermines democratic
institutions — and terrorism, among others, must be
dealt with collectively. We urge all stakeholders to
focus their efforts and resources on responding to these
shared and pressing challenges faced by humankind.
Mr. Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara, President of
the Republic of Paraguay, was escorted into the
General Assembly Hall.
The Republic of Paraguay reaffirms its firm
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome
to the United Nations His Excellency Mr. Horacio
Manuel Cartes Jara, President of the Republic of
Paraguay, and to invite him to address the Assembly.
President Cartes Jara (spoke in Spanish): On
behalf of the Paraguayan people and the Government
of Paraguay, I hope that under the presidency of
Mr. Miroslav Lajčák the General Assembly will
have great success in fulfilling the purposes of the
United Nations.
commitment to implementing the provisions of the
Paris Agreement on Climate Change and encourages
other States, particularly those that are most responsible
for producing greenhouse gases, to take all necessary
measures to save our planet from the consequences
of global warming. In Paraguay, our vision of social
responsibility is behind our efforts to increase our
production of clean and renewable energy. We have two
impressive hydraoelectric dams — Itaipu, which we
share with Brazil, and Yacyreta, shared with Argentina.
This year, Itaipu Binacional was incorporated into the
UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, as
was the Alto Paraná Atlantic forest.
On behalf of the people and the Government of the
Republic of Paraguay, I wish to express to the people
and the Government of Mexico our solidarity with the
victims of yesterday’s earthquake, whose epicentre was
in Morelos state, and to extend our sincerest condolences
to the families of the victims of the tragedy.
My mandate as President of my country comes to
an end in August 2018. This is my final address to the
United Nations, and I would like to mention several
improvements that we have made since I took office
in 2013.
After four years as Head of the Government of the
Today Paraguay is a full representative democracy
Republic of Paraguay, I have the honour of participating
in the General Assembly with strengthened resolve to
contribute to building a world order governed by the
principles of justice, peace and solidarity among nations
and within an effective framework of human rights,
with a true separation of powers, solid electoral
processes and a fully effective rule of law. We have
given clear signals to the international community,
both publicly and privately, on our country’s improved
potential as an investment vehicle, in the area of
cooperation and with regard to treaties.
State institutions and the rule of law. We must persist
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Where foreign relations and Paraguay’s role in
The 2030 Agenda for Sutainable Development is
the world are concerned, our interactions have grown
exponentially through visits and invitations received
as well as participation in international organizations.
Over the past four years, our country has had official
visits from His Holiness Pope Francis, former SecretaryGeneral
Ban
Ki-moon,
His
Holiness
Patriarch
Kirill
of

Moscow
and
all
Rus’,
as
well
as
other
top
officials
from

multilateral
organizations
and
various
Heads
of
State

and
international
eminent
persons
who
have
honoured

us
with
their
presence.
Paraguay was unanimously admitted to the
the most ambitious intergovernmental development
project in the multilateral sphere. In order to properly
implement our national development plan through
2030, we are building an innovative, participatory
institutional architecture that is committed to the
Agenda’s Goals and targets. I am proud to say that,
together with the Presidents of our Congress and
Supreme Court of Justice, I have publicly signed a joint
cross-branch declaration that recognizes Paraguay’s
absolute commitment to the terms of the 2030 Agenda
and its Goals and targets. Paraguay has thus declared
itself in favour of the 2030 Agenda through its three
State branches, an event previously unheard of in
our region.
Development Centre of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD). For us,
our membership of that highly prestigious global
organization is an unequivocal sign of international
recognition of our Government’s efforts and
achievements through our policies of good practices
and institutional robustness. We can proudly say that
Paraguay is a member of that select OECD group
in an affirmation of the international community’s
confidence in the significant reforms undertaken by
our Government.
During these past four years, the Administration
Today we are members of the World Intellectual
I lead has responded justly and effectively to the
needs of all sectors of society. When we first came
to power, in August 2013, we established three main
national policies — poverty reduction through social
development; inclusive economic growth; and the
expansion of Paraguay’s role in the world. As we
implemented those policies, we transformed a culture
previously marred by political cronyism and bad
practices into a model based on transparency and
compliance, where public access to information is
guaranteed and more opportunities are offered to
our people. Access to public information has led to
unprecedented progress, and today we have instruments
ensuring that public business is conducted in public.
Property Organization Advisory Committee on
Enforcement, following years of mistrust of our country
regarding respect for intellectual property rights. We
have decided to take on additional memberships in
international bodies in order to be part of discussions
and decision-making, with a view to continually
expanding our global presence. The role of Paraguay
in the world today transcends borders and continents.
We are undergoing an unprecedented transformation,
Our priorities within the framework of the United
and although it has triggered some concerns, reactions
and resistance from those who were more comfortable
with the former model, I can guarantee that it is closing
the door on such evils as corruption, which delayed
Nations have been established in the Vienna Programme
of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the
Decade 2014-2024, an integral part of the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development. We therefore urge States,
especially our trading partners and transit countries, to
duly take those into account.
Paraguay’s economic and social development for many
Regional integration has undeniable benefits,
years. Despite regional economic problems, we have
been able to achieve sustained economic growth, and
we hope to continue improving our ability to forge
relationships throughout the world by being trustworthy
and predictable. Paraguay’s economic growth in recent
years has been constant, and at an annual average of
5.2 per cent is one of the highest in South America.
especially when we work to achieve it while endeavouring
to reconcile the interests of all stakeholders. We are
therefore working in the Southern Common Market
to revitalize economic and commercial integration
while also making progress on the social, employment,
scientific and cultural aspects of the bloc, which
represents a very positive agenda.
While we are also working to reduce the poverty
rate, years of neglect in the past have made eradicating
poverty altogether a major challenge. Our priorities
have been focused on giving a strong impetus to social
investment, particularly in education, so that people
living in poverty can benefit from economic growth
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and to help reduce inequality. We are implementing
flagship social-protection programmes such as the
Tekoporã conditional cash-transfer programme, a
school meal programme, food allowances for elderly
adults living in poverty and the Sowing Opportunities
poverty-reduction programme. In addition, we are
increasing our grants of scholarships and financial aid
to young people living in poverty, in the firm belief
that education and professional training for young
people represent the best possible investment for the
countr y’s future.
in decades, and the scope and modernity of our new road
construction is outstanding. We demand responsibility
and commitment from our leaders and have worked
hard to achieve good standards of living for our people.
Thanks to this new model for Government efforts,
our country is becoming more efficient, progressive
and honest.
The Republic of Paraguay reaffirms its commitment
After 175 years, the Paraguayan Government is
once again granting postgraduate scholarships for
study abroad at the world’s best universities, with a
record investment of $42 million. Thanks to the Carlos
Antonio López scholarships, 1,000 Paraguayans from
the country’s 17 departments and its capital are doing
postgraduate studies in 50 of the world’s 200 most
prestigious universities. Hundreds of them are teachers
and 60 per cent are women under 30 years old. The first
60 have successfully completed their studies and are
returning to apply their knowledge for our country’s
benefit and development.
to international peace and security and the use of
peaceful means to resolve conflicts, based on mutual
cooperation between States. Our Constitution bans
weapons of mass destruction, and we therefore welcome
the recent adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition
of Nuclear Weapons and reaffirm our belief that the
nuclear-disarmament process should be transparent and
irreversible, with effective verification mechanisms
based on a universal, legally binding framework. We
reiterate our condemnation of the nuclear test by the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in clear defiance
and breach of its international obligations, constituting
yet another provocation to the international community.
We hope that the General Assembly will firmly reject
such irrational behaviour, which threatens security and
peace on a global scale.
Another of our national strategic goals in combating
poverty focuses on housing programmes designed to
offer citizens decent homes, revive the economy and
create jobs. In the past four years we have worked hard,
transparently and responsibly, with unprecedented
results. For the first time in Paraguay’s history, by the
end of its term a single Government will have delivered
on its promise of more than 30,000 public housing
units, 10 times more than any previous Administration,
and even more valuable because they benefit thousands
of families that for years were ignored by previous
Governments and now have decent homes and access
The Republic of Paraguay is deeply concerned
about the scourge of terrorism, which we condemn in
any shape or form. The fight against terrorism must
be carried out within a framework of unconditional
respect for the precepts of international law, through
solid cooperation among States. We will continue to
collaborate with peacekeeping operations organized
under the auspices of the United Nations, in the belief
that they can enable us to achieve the purposes and
principles enshrined in the Charter of the United
Nations. My country is currently contributing military
to better conditions in which to thrive. We are building
personnel, both women and men, to six peacekeeping
hope and opportunities so that families in Paraguay’s
humblest communities — whether in poor urban areas,
indigenous regions or rural villages — can move
forward. We are transforming our country through
transparent and efficient efforts that enable us to make
the most of our resources while reducing expenses,
eliminating corruption in projects and improving
construction quality through rigorous controls.
missions, and invests in the training of its contingents
at our peacekeeping operations training centre.
We also reaffirm our commitment to the promotion
My Government encourages productive development
and effective protection of human rights throughout
the world. We firmly believe that we should protect the
dignity and rights of all people, without discrimination.
We urge the Human Rights Council to continue to
fulfil its functions with objectivity, impartiality and
universality. In this context, I should not omit to
mention a worrying issue in my region, which is that the
situation in Venezuela needs urgent attention. I would
like to reiterate a message of solidarity to the people of
Venezuela, victims of political persecution and human
through responsible investment. We give priority to
infrastructure projects that improve connectivity,
both nationally and with neighbouring countries. In
particular, investment in infrastructure is at its highest
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rights violations, in the hope that our brother nation can
find a solution to its current democratic breakdown and
deep crisis as soon as possible.
Address by Mr. Hassan Rouhani, President of the
Islamic Republic of Iran
The Acting President (spoke in French): The
Through international cooperation, the Republic of
Assembly will now hear an address by the President of
the Islamic Republic of Iran.
China on Taiwan has long been engaged in cooperation
programmes related to the Millennium Development
Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. It
supports many countries, including Paraguay. Taiwan
has relevant knowledge and experience and has
contributed effectively to the international community.
Mr. Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, was escorted into the General
Assembly Hall.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome
The Government of Paraguay once again urges all
to the United Nations His Excellency Mr. Hassan
Member States to identify appropriate ways to facilitate
Taiwan’s participation in the mechanisms for meetings
and activities of the United Nations system, so that its
23 million inhabitants can exercise their responsibilities
normally as global citizens and establish sustainable
alliances with every country.
Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and
to invite him to address the Assembly.
President Rouhani (spoke in Farsi; interpretation
In our view, Secretary-General António Guterres
provided by the delegation): At the outset, I would
like to congratulate Mr. Lajčák on his election to the
presidency of the General Assembly. I would also like
to congratulate Secretary-General Guterres on his
appointment to his high office and to wish him every
success in his crucial responsibilities.
has made an auspicious start at the helm of the
United Nations, supported by his vast experience as a
statesman. It will be up to the Heads of State of member
countries during this session to ensure that it can be a
starting point of a new era for the true universalization
of the principles guiding the functioning of the
Organization, particularly so that its programmes and
actions can reduce the enormous inequalities that still
exist between countries and regions.
Four months ago, more than 41 million
I reaffirm that my country will continue to give high
people — 73 per cent of the total of Iran’s eligible
voters — came to the polls in our country’s twelfth
presidential election and once again expressed
confidence in my platform, which calls for moderation
and respect for human rights, prosperity and economic
revitalization at home, and for constructive engagement
around the world. Their vote illustrated the maturity of
the electorate in a society that has been experiencing
free and democratic governance for only four decades.
priority to its participation in United Nations debates,
in our belief in the importance of the Organization’s
work in building a more peaceful and just world. For
our part, we will continue to work resolutely towards
development with true social inclusion, creating
conditions for prosperity and always putting people
first. I would like to conclude with an exhortation from
Pope Francis: “Let us never forget that authentic power
is service.”
Our latest election was not merely a vote for a
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the President
of the Republic of Paraguay for the statement he has
just made.
Mr. Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara, President of
the Republic of Paraguay, was escorted from the
General Assembly Hall.
President. It represents a huge political investment on
the part of our resilient people, who truly constitute our
most reliable asset. Human and civil rights, along with
a quest for justice and Islamic values, have been at the
heart of the principal demands of the Iranian people for
their more than 150 years of struggle, particularly during
the Islamic revolution of 1979. In its first term, while
pursuing nuclear negotiations internationally, at home
my Government focused on discussing and articulating
our citizens’ rights, resulting in the promulgation
of a Citizens’ Rights Charter and its adoption for
implementation, thereby meeting the demands of a
people who, in their desire to restore their rights and
human dignity, first rose up against a dictatorial regime
111 years ago, in their constitutional revolution, and
again 39 years ago, in the Islamic revolution.
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I declare here in this Hall that moderation is the
or export its revolution through the force of arms. We
have enough confidence in the depth of our culture,
the truth of our faith and the tenacity and longevity of
our revolution that we will never seek to export any
of them in the way that neocolonialists do through
the heavy boots of soldiers. To promote our culture,
civilization, religion and revolution, we enter hearts
and engage minds. We recite our poetry and engage
in discourse on our philosophy. Our ambassadors are
our poets, mystics and philosophers. We have reached
these shores of the Atlantic through Rumi and spread
our influence all over Asia with Saadi. We have already
captured the world through Hafez, so we are not in need
of new conquests.
preferred and chosen path of the great Iranian people.
Moderation seeks neither isolation nor hegemony. It
implies neither indifference nor intransigence. The
path of moderation is the path of peace. That peace
is a just and inclusive peace, not one that means
peace for one nation and war and turmoil for others.
Moderation is freedom and democracy, conducted
in an inclusive and comprehensive manner that does
not purport to promote freedom in one place while
supporting dictators elsewhere. Moderation is the
synergy of ideas, not a dance of swords. And lastly,
the path of moderation nurtures beauty. Exports of
deadly weapons are not beautiful. Peace is beautiful.
In Iran, we strive to build peace and promote the
human rights of peoples and nations. We never condone
tyranny and we always defend those whose voices are
not heard. But while we never threaten anyone, neither
do we tolerate threats from anyone. Our discourse is
based on dignity and respect, and we are unmoved by
threats and intimidation. We believe in dialogue and
negotiation conducted on an equal footing and based on
mutual respect.
The call for moderation is from a nation that has
In today’s globalized world, peace, security,
been committed to it. We do not preach moderation; we
practice it, and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
(JCPOA) is a case in point. The deal is the outcome
of two years of intensive multilateral negotiations,
overwhelmingly applauded by the international
community and endorsed by the Security Council
through resolution 2231 (2015). As such, it belongs
to the entire international community, not just one or
two countries. The JCPOA can become a new model
for global interaction based on mutual constructive
engagement among us all. We have opened our doors
to engagement and cooperation and concluded scores
of development agreements with advanced countries in
both the East and the West.
stability and the progress of all nations are intertwined.
We cannot see a rogue and racist regime trample on
the most basic rights of Palestinians while the usurpers
of their land enjoy security. No one can aspire to
long-term stability, prosperity and development while
Muslims in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, Afghanistan,
Myanmar and so many other places live in misery, war
and poverty.
Unfortunately, there are some who have deprived
Throughout its history, Iran has been a bastion of
themselves of that unique opportunity, in a way that
amounts to imposing sanctions on themselves, and now
they feel betrayed. We were not deceived, and neither
did we cheat or deceive anyone else. We determined the
extent of our nuclear programme ourselves. We never
tolerance for many religions and ethnicities. We are the
same people who rescued the Jews from Babylonian
servitude, opened our arms to welcome Armenian
sought to achieve deterrence through nuclear weapons.
Christians in our midst and created the Iranian cultural
continent with a unique mix of diverse religions and
ethnicities. I represent the same Iran that has historically
assisted the oppressed. Centuries ago, we supported the
rights of the Jewish people and today we are insisting
on the restoration of the rights of the Palestinian people.
Iran is still the same country, supporting justice and
seeking tranquillity.
Today we are on the front lines fighting terror
We have immunized ourselves through our people’s
knowledge and, more importantly, their resilience.
That is our talent and our approach. Some say that
they wanted to deprive Iran of nuclear weapons, but we
have always vociferously rejected such weapons. We
have never been distressed about forgoing an option
that we never actually sought. It is reprehensible that a
rogue Zionist regime that threatens regional and global
security with its nuclear arsenal and is not committed
to any international instrument or safeguard has the
audacity to preach to peaceful nations.
and religious extremism in the Middle East, not for
sectarian or ethnic reasons but for ethical, humanitarian
and strategic ones. Iran does not seek to restore its
ancient empire, impose its official religion on others
Imagine how the Middle East would look if the
JCPOA had not been concluded. Imagine that along with
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civil wars, takfiri terror, humanitarian nightmares and
complex sociopolitical crises in West Asia there was a
manufactured nuclear crisis. How would we all fare?
I declare here to the Assembly that while the Islamic
Republic of Iran will not be the first country to violate
the agreement, it will respond decisively and resolutely
to any violation of it by any party. It would be a great
pity if it were to be destroyed by rogue newcomers to the
world of politics, and the world would have lost a great
opportunity. But such unfortunate behaviour will never
halt Iran in its course of progress and advancement. By
violating its international commitments, the new United
States Administration only destroys its own credibility
and undermines international confidence in negotiating
with it or accepting its promises.
of their deadly weapons to other States by accusing
Iran of fomenting instability. I want to emphasize that
foreign intervention and the imposition of alien wishes
on the people of the region can only widen and deepen
the crises in our region. The crises in Syria, Yemen
and Bahrain do not have military solutions and can
be resolved only through an end to the hostilities and
acceptance of the will and desires of their peoples. The
United States Government should explain to its own
people why, after spending billions of dollars of the
assets of the people of America and our region, it has
brought the region only war, misery, poverty and the
rise of terrorism and extremism rather than contributing
to peace and stability.
In the past four years, Iran has demonstrated that its
Four years ago in the Assembly, the Islamic Republic
economy has unparalleled potential for expansion and
growth. Economic sanctions not only have not hindered
it, they have solidified the popular resolve to enhance
domestic production. Iran’s achievement of the highest
global growth rate last year proved that its economy
has the potential to become the world’s most vibrant
emerging economy within the next 20 years, with a
trillion-dollar growth potential. Our strategic choice
for achieving such sustainable and balanced growth is
an extensive network of global partnerships. We firmly
believe that development and security can grow only if
they grow together, and that common interests can bind
us regionally and globally to guarantee both regional
and global security.
of Iran sponsored the initiative of resolution 68/127,
“A world against violence and violent extremism”.
We consider dialogue and negotiations based on a
positive-sum paradigm to be the only path to resolving
global and regional crises. We have made a conscious
decision to strengthen relations with our neighbours
and others in the region, as well as to enhance our
cooperation with all friendly countries. We cannot
navigate the complex and dangerous challenges in this
turbulent transitional global phase without expanding
interaction and exchanges and institutionalizing
dialogue between nations and States. The ignorant,
absurd and hateful rhetoric filled with ridiculously
baseless allegations that we heard yesterday in this
Hall was not only unfit to be heard at the United
Nations — which was established to promote peace and
respect between nations — but in fact contradicted the
demands of the nations of this global Organization that
it bring Governments together in the battle against war
Iran, with the world’s largest gas and oil reserves,
is prepared to engage in long-term cooperation to
advance global energy security. We are eager to expand
international transit corridors through joint ventures
in sea, rail and road infrastructure projects. Our
achievements in enhancing economic infrastructures
and terror.
through a nation-wide gas pipeline, a national
I wish to emphasize that the defence capabilities
of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including its missiles,
are solely defensive deterrents for maintaining regional
peace and stability and suppressing the adventurist
tendencies of irrational aspirants. We cannot forget
that civilians in many of our cities became the target
of long-range missile attacks by Saddam Hussein
during his eight-year war of aggression against us. We
will never allow our people to become victims of such
catastrophic delusions again. Instability and extremist
violence have only been exacerbated in our region
through the military interventions of extra-regional
actors — the same Powers that try to sell ever more
electricity grid and rail and road transport have made it
possible for various industries to produce their goods at
a lower cost, with easy access to national and regional
markets. With our current friendly legal environment,
many foreign investors have come to Iran, leading
to an ever-increasing number of investments, joint
ventures and financing agreements in multiple fields.
It is the policy of my Government to continue to
steadily enhance the entrepreneurial environment,
protect intellectual property rights, consistently
improve corporate governance and engage in a
robust campaign against money-laundering in order
to enhance a legal climate conducive to business and
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economic investments in various fields, particularly
knowledge-based enterprises.
It is an honour for me to address this forum. I
The Iranian nation is resolutely determined to build
congratulate His Excellency Mr. Miroslav Lajčák on
his election to preside over the General Assembly at its
seventy-second session and wish him every success in
his important mission.
a free and advanced Iran and participate in developing
a secure and stable region based on ethics and respect
for international law. In that endeavour, we welcome
the participation and cooperation of all investors,
intellectuals and innovators from all over the world.
From this global rostrum, and as the representative
of the people of Iran, who are world-famous for their
hospitality, I invite all who seek peace, security and
progress through partnership and cooperation among
nations to visit Iran and join us in building this future
of hope.
This session is a special one for my country, since
while it is still going on Bulgaria will hold the presidency
of the Council of the European Union. This year the
general debate puts a special emphasis on our common
effort to strive for peace and a decent life for all on a
sustainable planet, thereby highlighting the importance
of prevention, mediation, sustainable development,
preservation of the environment and respect for human
rights through a people-centred approach. The United
Nations upholds our shared goals of peace and security,
and development and human rights.
If we truly believe in our collective decision of four
years ago in the General Assembly to work for a world
against violence and violent extremism, we can turn
the discourse of imposition, unilateralism, intimidation
and war into the logic of dialogue, synergy and peace,
so that moderation can become the dominant voice
across the globe.
Conflicts in many parts of the world continue
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the President
of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the statement he has
just made.
to undermine international peace and security and
the fundamental values of humankind. Outbreaks
of violence devastate local economies, trigger large
movements of refugees and migrants, and spread
diseases, famine and immense human suffering on a
massive scale. Children are usually the most adversely
affected in any crisis situation. The root causes of armed
conflicts should be addressed in a more systematic way
by ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of
law, improving the economic situation and promoting
social inclusion.
Mr. Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
Leaving no one behind and reaching the farthest
Address by Mr. Rumen Radev, President of the
Republic of Bulgaria
The Acting President (spoke in French): The
behind first are not simply political declarations
meant to invigorate the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. If we are to transform our world by
lifting it out of poverty, we must fully implement the
Sustainable Development Goals by promoting equality,
inclusion and participation.
Assembly will now hear an address by the President of
the Republic of Bulgaria.
Protracted conflicts require a holistic United
Mr. Rumen Radev, President of the Republic of
Bulgaria, was escorted into the General Assembly
Hall.
The Acting President (spoke in French): On behalf
Nations response, encompassing preventive diplomacy,
mediation, peacebuilding and effective special
political missions. That response is critical to restoring
governance and stabilizing political, economic and
social conditions in crisis and post-conflict countries.
of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome
to the United Nations His Excellency Mr. Rumen Radev,
President of the Republic of Bulgaria, and to invite him
to address the Assembly.
Over the past several years the United Nations
President Radev: I would first like to offer my
most sincere condolences to the people and Government
peace and security architecture has benefited from three
peace and security reviews that, together with the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development, have provided a
solid foundation for achieving peace and prosperity. In
that regard, Bulgaria supports the surge in diplomacy
for peace, which places prevention as an overarching
of Mexico for yesterday’s devastating earthquake.
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priority of the United Nations work and sets the stage
for the necessary reforms to sustain peace.
good governance, the rule of law, a credible electoral
process, combating corruption and narcotics, and
tackling gender and social issues.
Prevention and mediation are essential means for
reducing human suffering, including in addressing
the root causes of forced displacements by bringing
humanitarian, development and peacebuilding
efforts together. The situation in the Middle East and
North Africa remains of deep concern and should
be addressed in a comprehensive manner, but the
international community should not be distracted
from the urgent need to revive the Middle East peace
process. Bulgaria reaffirms its position that a two-State
solution formula is the realistic, just and lasting way
to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is our belief
that a solution that can fulfil the aspirations of both
sides can be achieved only through direct negotiations,
with no conditions and in conformity with the relevant
international obligations.
Disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control
Finding a political solution to the ongoing
are among the main pillars of international security
and therefore represent tangible aspects of the effort
to achieve peace and a decent life. Bulgaria reiterates
its commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons, the cornerstone of the nuclear
non-proliferation regime, as well as to the objective of
attaining a world free of nuclear weapons. That goal
is achievable only through the participation of all
States, and the nuclear-weapon States in particular. We
should aim at feasible but universal measures that will
gradually and irreversibly lead to the final objective of
a world without nuclear weapons. The next two steps
in that direction could be the entry into force of the
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the start
of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty at the
Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
conflict in Syria and implementing a credible political
transition in the country will be essential to preserving
the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial
integrity of the Syrian State. We support all actions
aimed at achieving a cessation of hostilities as soon
as possible and conducting effective and constructive
inter-Syrian negotiations in Geneva in order to achieve
a lasting political solution to the crisis. We consider
a political dialogue under the auspices of the United
Nations to be the only way that can gradually improve
the security situation in Syria and sustainably resolve
the humanitarian crisis.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s
nuclear programme, concluded in July 2015, continues
to be historically significant. Its full implementation
is extremely important to regional and global stability,
and my country reiterates its full support for it.
Bulgaria categorically condemns the repeated
Another source of deep concern to my country is
the situation in eastern Ukraine, which, regrettably,
remains highly volatile despite periodic ceasefire
nuclear tests and missile launches by the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea, which have led to a
further escalation of tensions in the region and are
undermining world peace and security. We call on
the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to end its
nuclear and ballistic programmes once and for all in
a complete, irreversible and verifiable manner, and to
engage in constructive dialogue with the international
community. We reiterate our commitment to a peaceful,
agreements. We reiterate our call for the swift and full
implementation of the Minsk agreements, to which there
is no viable alternative. We consistently support the
activity of multilateral formats such as the Normandy
Four and the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe Trilateral Contact Group, considering their
role in advancing the political and diplomatic efforts
for a peaceful settlement of the conflict to be key.
diplomatic and political solution to the situation.
The recent terrorist attacks are tragic reminders of
Bulgaria is fully committed to the peace and
the scale of the challenge ahead. Bulgaria shares the view
that the newly established Office of Counter-Terrorism
marks a milestone in the efforts to improve United
Nations efficiency in fighting terrorism by supporting
the balanced implementation of the 2006 Global
Counter-Terrorism Strategy, strengthening coordination
among the relevant United Nations agencies, funds and
programmes, as well as promoting preventive measures
that address the drivers of extremism.
stabilization process in Afghanistan and considers
reconciliation a major prerequisite for stability and
sustainable development in Afghanistan and beyond.
We encourage the National Unity Government to
continue with needed reforms in key areas, such as
Bulgaria is deeply concerned about the
unprecedented scale of organized looting of cultural
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property in Iraq, Syria, Libya and other countries in
conflict or post-conflict situations. We condemn the
illicit trafficking and illegal trade in cultural objects
as a tactic of war and a source of profits for financing
terrorism. It is a threat that requires a global response.
A number of legal instruments and resolutions have
been adopted by UNESCO, the United Nations, the
European Parliament and others. We have laid the
legal foundations and it is our common duty to ensure
their full implementation. The Antiquities Coalition,
UNESCO’s #Unite4Heritage social-media campaign
and other activities epitomize a very positive global
trend for action aimed at the preservation and protection
of the world’s cultural heritage.
of the Group of Friends for Children and the Sustainable
Development Goals at the United Nations, Bulgaria
strongly advocates for integrating children’s rights
into all major intergovernmental processes, since
children are the real agents of positive social change.
As President of the Conference of States Parties to the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
for the period 2017-2018, Bulgaria actively promotes
the full inclusion and participation of persons with
disabilities on an equal basis with others.
Bulgaria is determined to further contribute to
International migration is a global phenomenon,
promoting human rights internationally as a member
of the Human Rights Council for the period 2019-2021,
and is relying on its partners’ valuable support for its
candidacy. In the past few decades, the United Nations
has taken crucial steps to advance gender equality
and women’s empowerment. Those efforts should be
further strengthened in order to achieve tangible results
for women and girls by eliminating all forms of genderbased
violence
and
discrimination.
Ensuring
equal

rights
for
women
and
men
should
be
an
integral
part

of
everyday
policies
in
all
spheres
of
life.
Promoting

equality,
countering
discrimination
and
ensuring

respect
for
human
rights
are
key
to
achieving
lasting

peace
and
sustainable
development,
and
we
believe
that

the
protection
of
human
rights
should
be at
the
centre
of

all
actions
undertaken
by
the
United
Nations.
and only through joint efforts such as the global
compact for safe, orderly and regular migration can we
ensure a balanced approach that includes respect for
international humanitarian and human rights law, as
well as effective border management and re-admission.
States have the right and responsibility to manage and
control their borders as a central element of their national
security. Strict border controls are vitally important,
particularly in the context of preventing irregular
migration and eradicating human trafficking. For
Bulgaria, the top priority is the effective management
and control of the European Union’s external border,
enabling free movement within the European Union to
function smoothly.
The world is currently facing enormous challenges,
Climate change continues to represent one of
perhaps the greatest that humankind has ever
encountered, and we, the Member States of the United
Nations, must provide solutions to them. It is time to
take action.
the biggest challenges of our time. Not only is it a
threat to our countries’ well-being, it also poses a
security risk to many of them. Bulgaria stands by its
obligations under the Paris Climate Change Agreement,
and believes that only a universal approach to its
implementation can achieve the goals of the United
Nations climate-change agenda.
The Acting President: On behalf of the General
Assembly, I wish to thank the President of the Republic
of Bulgaria for the statement he has just made.
Bulgaria is strongly committed to promoting
Mr. Rumen Radev, President of the Republic
of Bulgaria, was escorted from the General
Assembly Hall.
human rights and is actively involved in a number
of intergovernmental processes dedicated to global
advancement of the human rights agenda. As co-Chair
The meeting rose at 12.05 p.m.
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Annex 124
Letter from the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (22 Sept. 2017)
Annex 124
United Nations. Nations Unies
HEADQUARTERS
• SIEGE
NEW YORK, NY 10017
TEL.:
1 (212) 963.1234
• FAX: 1 (212) 963.4879
22 September 201 7
Dear Carl,
Thank you for having made the time in your afenda to meet me on 18 September
2017 on the margins of the General Debate of the 72n General Assembly, and for your
subsequent letter dated 19 September 2017 regarding these discussions. As our meeting
was not completely successful in conveying to you my views regarding the process and
the road ahead, I should like to take this opportunity to clarify a number of points that we
discussed.
To be clear, my intention is indeed for both parties to discuss the controversy
between Guyana and Venezuela which has arisen as a result of the Venezuelan
contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and
Venezuela is null and void, as set out in Article I of the Geneva Agreement.
It was not my intention to imply that the parties should address only the issue of
the consequences of the contention. I do believe this is a topic that also merits discussion
between the parties, but this is ultimately for the parties to decide.
Additionally, I did not intend to leave you with the impression that there was
some amorphous "progress" emanating, as you put it, "from some undefined proposal by
Venezuela" made without your knowledge and without your input. This does not reflect
my views after my latest exchanges with the Government of Venezuela.
His Excellency
Mr. Carl Greenidge
Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Guyana
Georgetown
Annex 124
(,
~
United Nations~
J Nations Unies
HEADQUARTERS•
SIEGE
NEW YORK, NY 10017
TEL.:
1 (212) 963.1234
• FAX:
I (212) 963.4879
As regards the meetings that I am proposing, clearly a miscommunication has left
you with an incorrect understanding of my suggested way forward. I therefore wish to
make the following clarifications.
I have invited both Foreign Ministers to an informal briefing in my office at
United Nations Headquarters this weekend. On this occasion, I shall share some
reflections on the process to date, and also present a few ideas on the way forward in the
coming weeks. I shall share a proposal regarding the first formal bilateral meeting,
including a list of elements for discussion, for each party to reflect on and consult on, as
necessary, in capitals. I shall also use this opportunity to share an updated version of the
guidelines for this process. This will be an informal exchange, so I am not expecting
either Foreign Minister to be accompanied by more than one or two advisers. To clarify,
it will not be a negotiation, or intended for the parties to make decisions.
My intention is to then invite both parties to subsequent first formal bilateral
meeting, where each Foreign Minister would be accompanied by a team of advisers, as I
intend to set out this weekend.
I look forward to discussing my plans for the coming weeks with you and with the
Foreign Minister of Venezuela.
Yours sincerely,
~~
Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General
Annex 125
Map of Violations of Guyana’s Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity
Annex 125
Annex 126
U.N. Secretary-General, Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on
the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela (30 Jan. 2018)
Annex 126
United Nations
Secretary-General
New York
30 January 2018
Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the border
controversy between Guyana and Venezuela [scroll down for Spanish version]
The longstanding border controversy between the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela arose as a
result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is null and
void. In the Geneva Agreement of 1966, Guyana and Venezuela conferred upon the Secretary-General the power and responsibility to
choose a means of peaceful settlement from amongst those contemplated in Article 33 of t
he Charter of the United Nations. The
Geneva Agreement also provides that if the means so chosen does not lead to a solution of the controversy, the Secretary-General is to
choose another means of settlement.
 
Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon communicated to the parties on 15 December 2016 a framework for the resolution of the
border controversy based on his conclusions on what would constitute the most appropriate next steps. Notably, he concluded that the
Good O�ces Process, which had been conducted since 1990, would continue f
or one �nal year, until the end of 2017, with a
strengthened mandate of mediation. He also reached the conclusion that if, by the end of 2017, his successor, Secretary-General
António Guterres, concluded that signi�cant progress had not been made towards arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the
controversy, he would choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement, unless the Governments of Guyana
and Venezuela jointly requested that he refrain from doing so.
 
In early 2017, Secretary-General Guterres appointed a
Personal Representative, Mr. Dag Halvor Nylander, who engaged in intensive
high-level efforts to seek a negotiated settlement to the controversy.
 
The Secretary-General has carefully analysed developments in 2017 in the good o�ces process and has concluded that signi�cant
progress has not been made toward arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy. Accordingly, the Secretary-General
has ful�lled the responsibility that has fallen to him within the framework set by his predecessor in December 2016, and has chosen
the International Court of Justice as the means to be used for the solution of the controversy.
 
In reaching this decision, the Secretary-General has also reached the conclusion that Guyana and Venezuela could bene�t from the
continued good o�ces of the United Nations through a complementary process established on the basis of the powers of the
Secretary-General under the Charter of the United Nations.
 
The Secretary-General, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations, remains committed to accompany both St
ates as they
seek to overcome their differences regarding this border controversy.
 
Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General
***
Declaración atribuible al Portavoz del Secretario General sobre la controversia fronteriza entre Guyana y Venezuela
 
La controversia fronteriza de larga data entre la República Cooperativa de Guyana y la República Bolivariana de Venezuela surgió como
1
Annex 126
consecuencia de la contención venezolana de que el Laudo Arbitral de 1899 sobre la frontera entre Venezuela y Guayana Británica es
nulo e írrito. En el Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966, Guyana y Venezuela le con�rieron al Secretario General la potestad y la responsabilidad
de elegir un medio de solución pací�ca entre aquellos contemplados en el Artículo 33 de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas.  El Acuerdo
de Ginebra también prevé que si el medio así escogido no conduce a una solución de la controversia, el Secretario General debe de
escoger otro medio de solución.
 
El ex Sec
retario General Ban Ki-moon le comunicó a las partes el 15 de diciembre de 2016 un marco para la resolución de la
controversia fronteriza basado en sus conclusiones sobre lo que constituirían los próximos pasos más adecuados. En particular, llegó
a la conclusión que el Proceso de Buenos O�cios, que se había realizado desde 1990, continuaría por un último año, hasta �nales del
2017, con un mandato de mediación reforzado.  También llegó a la conclusión que si, a �nales del 2017, el Secretario General António
Guterres, como su suceso
r, llegara a la conclusión que no se había alcanzado progreso signi�cativo en llegar a una solución a la
controversia, elegiría la Corte Internacional de Justicia como el próximo medio de solución, salvo que los Gobiernos de Guyana y
Venezuela solicitaran conjuntamente que eso no se hiciera.
 
A principios de 2017, el Secretario General Guterres nombró a un Representante Personal, el Sr. Dag Halvor Nylander, quien se dedicó a
una serie de esfuerzos intensivos de alto nivel para intentar llegar a un arreglo negociado a la controver
sia.
 
El Secretario General ha analizado detenidamente lo acontecido en el transcurso de 2017 en el proceso de buenos o�cios y ha llegado
a la conclusión que no se ha alcanzado progreso signi�cativo en llegar a una solución a la controversia. Por consiguiente, el Secretario
General ha cumplido con la responsabilidad que le ha correspondido dentro del marco establecido por su predecesor en diciembre de
2016, y ha escogido a la Corte Internacional de Justicia como el medio a ser utilizado para la resolución de la controversia. 
 
Al llegar a esta decisión, el Secretario General también ha llegado a la conclusión que Guyana y Venezuela podrían bene�ciarse de
continuidad en los buenos o�cios de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas mediante un proceso complementario establecido sobre
la base de las facultades del Secretario General en la Carta de las Naciones Unidas.
 
El Secretario General, de conformidad con los principios de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas, sigue comprometido a acompañar
a ambos Estados mientras buscan superar sus diferencias con resp
ecto a esta controversia fronteriza.
 
Stéphane Dujarric, Portavoz del Secretario General
2
Annex 127
Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Communiqué: The Bolivarian Republic
of Venezuela pronounces on the territorial dispute with the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
(31 Jan. 2018)
Annex 127
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela pronounces on the territorial dispute with
the Cooperative Republic of Guyana

Communique

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, informs the international community
and the Venezuelan people, that on January 30, 2018, it received a communication from the
Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, about the negotiation process on the
controversy with the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
Through this communication, the Secretary General of the United Nations reports the following:

 After a brief review of the negotiation process developed during the year 2017, he
recommends the International Court of Justice as the next means to be used for the
settlement of the Territorial Dispute between Venezuela and Guyana for the Essequibo
territory. Additionally, he considered that the Government of Venezuela and Guyana
could benefit from continuity in the Good Offices of the UN.

In this regard, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela informs the Venezuelan
people and the world of the following:

Venezuela ratifies the full validity of the Geneva Agreement of February 17, 1966, signed and
ratified between our country and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in
consultation with the Government of British Guiana, an international treaty that governs as Law
the Territorial Controversy between the parties, validly recognized and registered before the UN,
the only way to the final solution of this opprobrious heritage of British colonialism.

Venezuela duly recorded its strong opposition to the letter of December 15, 2016, signed by the
former Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon, warning that the criteria contained in it exceeded the
powers granted to his office, contravening the spirit, purpose and reason of the Geneva Agreement
and the principle of equity concluded between the parties.
1

Annex 127

The Secretary General's communication goes beyond the successive nature of the means of
peaceful settlement established by the Geneva Agreement as the established methodology for
reaching an acceptable, practical and satisfactory solution to the dispute.

During the year 2017, Venezuela maintained its historical position in the process of good offices
of the UN Secretary General, prioritising the high national interest and the permanent vindication
of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Venezuelan people over the territory of Guayana
Esequiba.

These negotiations were conducted with zealous confidentiality as an essential rule of the good
offices process, by agreement between the parties and with the United Nations.

It is worth asking why the International Court of Justice was recommended to two States that do
not recognize its jurisdiction, since the Geneva Agreement itself provides for the political means
for the settlement of the territorial controversy. In this sense, Venezuela ratifies in a decisive and
unequivocal manner the negotiation process under these means.

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, faithful to its historical tradition and in
accordance with the Bolivarian Diplomacy of Peace, reiterates its firm willingness to defend the
territorial integrity of our Homeland and maintain political negotiation based on the 1966 Geneva
Accord, as the only way to reach a peaceful, practical and satisfactory solution for both parties and
in favor of our Peoples.

The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, guarantees the
Venezuelan people that they will continue defending the sovereign rights over the Guayana
Esequiba and calls for national unity to protect the most sacred interests of the Nation.

Venezuela’s sun rises in the Essequibo

Caracas, January 31, 2018
2

Annex 127

El Gobierno de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, informa a la comunidad
internacional y al Pueblo venezolano, que el día 30 de enero de 2018, recibió una
comunicación del Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas, Antonio Guterres,
acerca del proceso de negociación sobre la controversia territorial con la República
Cooperativa de Guyana.

Mediante esta comunicación, el Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas informa lo
siguiente:

 Tras una breve reseña sobre el proceso de negociación desarrollado durante el
año 2017, recomienda la Corte Internacional de Justicia como próximo medio a
ser utilizado para la solución de la Controversia Territorial entre Venezuela y
Guyana por el territorio Esequibo. Adicionalmente consideró que el Gobierno
de Venezuela y de Guyana podrían beneficiarse de continuidad en los Buenos
Oficios de la ONU.

Sobre el particular, el Gobierno de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela hace del
conocimiento del Pueblo venezolano y del mundo, lo siguiente:

 Venezuela ratifica la plena vigencia del Acuerdo de Ginebra del 17 de febrero
de 1966, suscrito y ratificado entre nuestro país y el Reino Unido de la Gran
Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, en consulta con el Gobierno de la Guayana
Británica, tratado internacional que rige como Ley la Controversia Territorial
entre las partes, válidamente reconocido y registrado ante la ONU, único
camino hacia la solución definitiva sobre esta oprobiosa herencia del
colonialismo británico.
 Venezuela dejó constancia oportunamente de su enérgica oposición a la carta
del 15 de diciembre de 2016, suscrita por el anterior Secretario General Ban-Ki
Moon, alertando que los criterios en ella contenidos excedían las competencias
otorgadas a su investidura, contraviniendo el espíritu, propósito y razón del
Acuerdo de Ginebra y el principio de equidad concertado entre las partes.

 La comunicación del Secretario General sobrepasa el carácter sucesivo de los
medios de solución pacífica que establece el Acuerdo de Ginebra como
metodología establecida para alcanzar una solución aceptable, práctica y
satisfactoria de la controversia.

Annex 127

 Durante el año 2017, Venezuela mantuvo su posición histórica en el proceso
de buenos oficios del Secretario General de la ONU, privilegiando el alto
interés nacional y la permanente reivindicación de los derechos legítimos e
irrenunciables del Pueblo venezolano sobre el territorio de la Guayana
Esequiba.

 Estas negociaciones fueron conducidas con celosa confidencialidad como una
regla esencial del proceso de buenos oficios, por acuerdo entre las partes y
con las Naciones Unidas.

 Cabe preguntarse las razones que privaron para recomendar la Corte
Internacional de Justicia a dos Estados que no reconocen su jurisdicción,
siendo que el propio Acuerdo de Ginebra contempla los medios políticos para
la solución de la controversia territorial. En este sentido, Venezuela ratifica de
manera determinante e inequívoca el proceso de negociación bajo estos
medios.

El Gobierno de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, fiel a su tradición histórica y
conforme a la Diplomacia Bolivariana de Paz, reitera su firme disposición de defender la
integridad territorial de nuestra Patria y mantener la negociación política con base en el
Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966, como único camino para alcanzar la solución pacífica,
práctica y satisfactoria para ambas partes y en favor de nuestros Pueblos.

El Presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, garantiza
al Pueblo venezolano que continuará defendiendo los derechos soberanos sobre la
Guayana Esequiba y convoca a la unidad nacional para proteger los más sagrados
intereses de la Patria.

El sol de Venezuela Nace en el Esequibo

Caracas, 31 de enero de 2018

Annex 128
Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Statement on Guyana (14 Feb. 2018)
Annex 128
The Commonwealth
Home > Newsroom > News > Commonwealth Statement on Guyana
Commonwealth Statement on Guyana
14 February 2018
Statement by: Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, welcomes the decision of the Secretary-General of the United
Nations, Antonio Gutteres, to refer the long-standing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Secretary-General recalled that at the September 2017 meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana,
Ministers noted Guyana’s concerns that this longstanding controversy has impacted on the country’s economic
development.
The Secretary-General further recalled that at the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, in Malta in
November 2015, the leaders noted that “the Geneva Agreement of 1966 between the Parties provides a range of
mechanisms for an expeditious solution to the controversy arising from Venezuela’s contention of invalidity of the
1899 Arbitral Award. The Heads expressed their full support for the United Nations Secretary-General to choose a
means of settlement in keeping with the provisions of the Geneva Agreement 1966, to bring the controversy to a
definitive end.”
The Secretary-General reiterated the unequivocal and collective support of Commonwealth member governments for the
maintenance and safeguarding of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Annex 129
Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Press Release (17 Feb. 2018)
Annex 129
(https://www.minfor.gov.gy/)
NEWS
IN OBSERVANCE OF FIFTY-SECOND
ANNIVERSARY OF GENEVA
AGREEMENT
17
feb

17 February 2018 is the 52nd Anniversary of the Geneva
Agreement 1966 – the date of the last failed attempt from
Caracas to prevent Guyana’s Independence. The
Agreement was a Treaty between Venezuela and Britain.
Registered at the UN on 5 May 1966. Guyana became a
1
Annex 129
Party on attaining Independence on 26 May 1966. In it,
Venezuela settled for resolution of their yearning for twothirds of the new
State
by the
processes
prescribed
in
the
Agreement
–
the
�rst
being a
Mixed Commission
for
4
years,
the last being
a
decision
by the UN
Secretary
General
of a
de�nitive means chosen
from
article
33 of
the
UN
Charter.
The Mixed Commission ended in 1970. For 47 years after,
Venezuela harassed Guyana’s development, �libustered on
settlement and steadily stepped up its militarism –
territorially and at sea.
In 2015 Guyana called on the Secretary General to take
further and �nal steps under the Geneva Agreement. And
he did; after requiring �rst one then a second year of ‘good
o�ces’ and ‘mediation’, in which Venezuela engaged.
When they produced no progress toward settlement, the
UN Secretary General, on 30 January 2018 – acting under
the powers Venezuela and Guyana had given him under
the Geneva Agreement – chose the International Court of
Justice as the “means that is now to be used for the
solution of the controversy’.
It has taken a long time, but with the persistence of all
Governments, the Geneva Agreement has brought Guyana
to a process of de�nitive resolution of Venezuela’s
challenge to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
 Announcements
(Https://Www.Minfor.Gov.Gy/Category/Announcements/),
Communique
(Https://Www.Minfor.Gov.Gy/Category/Communique/), Featured
(Https://Www.Minfor.Gov.Gy/Category/Featured/), Information
Notes (Https://Www.Minfor.Gov.Gy/Category/Information-
Notes/), News (Https://Www.Minfor.Gov.Gy/Category/News/)
2
Annex 130
Note Verbale from the Ministry of People’s Power of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic
of Venezuela to the Embassy of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in Venezuela, No. 000322
(28 Feb. 2018)
Annex 130

Unofficial Translation
Bolivarian Government of Venezuela
Ministry of the People’s Power
For Foreign Affairs
Office of the Vice-Minister for Latin America

Note I. DVMAL No 000322

The Ministry of People’s Power of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
presents its compliments to the Honourable Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative
Republic of Guyana, on the occasion of protesting the Notice to Navigators No (03) 2017, dated
February 14, 2017, which indicates that the Company Exploration and Production Guyana
(EEPGL), will undertake a geotechnical study for forty six (46) days, from February 01, 2017, in
the “Stabroek Block” so denominated by the Government of Guyana, with the vessel R/V Furgo
Americas.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the abovementioned
permission granted by the Government of Guyana to the Company Esso Exploration and
Production Guyana (EEPGL), to undertake a geotechnical study in the denominated “Stabroek
Block”, located in areas which are pending delimitation in the maritime front of the Essequibo
territory, Zone in Reclamation subject to the Geneva Agreement of 1966, international treaty
signed by Venezuela and Guyana which governs as Law the territorial controversy over the
Essequibo.

It is necessary to specify that these ill-advised activities to be realized by Esso Exploration
and Production Guyana (EEPGL) with the support of your government involve a flagrant violation
of International Public Law, while constituting a pernicious factor aimed at obstructing the Good
Offices Process which has been bringing both countries closer to achieving in a friendly manner a
practical and satisfactory solution to the controversy for the Parties.

In this regard, the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela exhorts the Government of Guyana
to avoid acts which can generate tensions between both brother countries. Our Homeland, in
accordance with its principle of Bolivarian Diplomacy of Peace, manifests once more its firm
disposition to maintain political negotiations on the basis of the Geneva Agreement of 1966, in the
framework of good faith and respect for International Public Law.

The Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela avails itself of this opportunity to reiterate its concern to the Honourable Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Caracas, February 28, 2018
To the Honourable
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Georgetown.-
1
Annex 130
Bohvanar10
1
~•l
l
• 11P
.-,r-ZAMOPIA
DESPACHO DEL VICEMINISTRO PARA AMÉRICA LATINA
-
l. DVMAL Nº
1 .. J.2
EL MINISTERIO DEL PODER POPULAR PARA RELACIONES
EXTERIORES DE LA REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA , saluda
atentamente al Honorable Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de la República
Cooperativa de Guyana, en la oportunidad protestar el Aviso a los Navegantes Nº
03 (2017), de fecha 14 de enero de 2017, el cual indica que la empresa
Exploration and Production Guyana (EEPGL) realizará un estudio geotécnico
durante cuarenta y seis (46) días, a partir del 1 de febrero de 2017, en el
denominado por el Gobierno de Guyana 'Bloque Stabroek", a través del buque RV
Furgo Americas.
La República Bolivariana de Venezuela rechaza de forma categórica el
referido permiso otorgado por el Gobierno de Guyana a la empresa Esso
Exploration and Production Guyana (EEPGL) para que realice un estudio
geotécnico en el denominado "Bloque Stabroek", ubicado en áreas pendientes por
delimitar correspondientes a la fachada marítima del territorio Esequibo, Zona en
Reclamación sujeta al Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966, tratado internacional firmado
por Venezuela y Guyana que rige como Ley de la controversia territorial sobre el
Esequibo.
Resulta preciso indicar que las inoportunas actividades que realizaría la
Esso Exploration and Production Guyana (EEPGL) bajo el aval de su Gobierno
suponen una violación flagrante del Derecho Internacional público, al tiempo que
constituyen un factor pernicioso orientado a entorpecer el proceso de Buenos
Oficios que viene acercando a ambos países para alcanzar de forma amistosa una
solución práctica y satisfactoria para las Partes de la controversia territorial.
En este sentido, el Gobierno bolivariano de Venezuela exhorta al Gobierno
de Guyana a evitar actos que puedan generar tensiones entre ambos países
hermanos. Nuestra Patria, acorde con su principio de la Diplomacia Bolivariana de
Paz, manifiesta nuevamente su firme disposición de mantener la negociación
política con base en el Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966, en el marco de la buena fe y
el respeto del Derecho Internacional Público.
EL MINISTERIO DEL PODER POPULAR PARA RELACIONES
EXTERIORES DE LA REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA, aprovecha
la oportunidad para reiterar su preocupación al Honorable Ministerio de Asuntos
Exteriores de la República Cooperativa de Guyana.
Al Honorable
\
Caracas, 28 de febrero de 2018
Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de la
República Cooperativa de Guyana
Georgetown.-
2
Annex 131
Note Verbale from the Ministry of People’s Power of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic
of Venezuela to the Embassy of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in Venezuela, No. 000325
(28 Feb. 2018)
Annex 131
Unofficial Translation
Bolivarian Government of Venezuela
Ministry of the People’s Power
For Foreign Affairs
Office of the Vice-Minister for Latin America

Note I. DVMAL No 000325

The Ministry of People’s Power of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
presents its compliments to the Honourable Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative
Republic of Guyana, on the occasion of referring to the publication in the Guyana Chronicle
newspaper , dated March 22, 2017, of an invitation by the Regional Democratic Council of Region
3 for bidding for projects for construction and maintenance of public works in the zone subject to
a territorial controversy in accordance with the existing Treaty in effect and registered in the United
Nations Organisation: the Geneva Agreement of 1966.

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela wishes to emphasise that it is
not opposed to the economic and social development of this sister nation. However it has the
obligation to express – with erga omnes effect - that the abovementioned invitation for bids in
contested territory is a flagrant violation of the Geneva Agreement of 1966, while constituting a
pernicious factor aimed at obstructing the Good Offices Process which has been bringing both
countries closer to achieving in a friendly manner a practical and satisfactory solution to the
controversy for the Parties.

In this regard, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela urges the Government of the
Cooperative Republic of Guyana to respect Article 5 of the Geneva Agreement of 1966, paragraph
2, which expresses that …. “2) No acts or activities taking place while this Agreement is in force
shall constitute a basis for asserting, supporting or denying a claim to territorial sovereignty …”

The Bolivarian Government of Venezuela, in accordance with its principle of Bolivarian
Diplomacy for Peace, manifests once again its firm disposition to maintain political negotiations
on the basis of the Geneva Agreement of 1966, in the framework of good faith and respect for
International Public Law.

The Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela avails itself of this opportunity to reiterate its concern to the Honourable Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Caracas, February 28, 2018
To the Honourable
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Georgetown.-

1
Annex 131
...m,4 Gob erno Bollvanano
1111 211,
.. de .·,ez11el
ZAMORA
DESPACHO DEL VICEMINISTRO PARA AMERICA LAT INA
-
I. DVMAL N°
1 '>5
. J I -~ -
EL MINISTERIO DEL PODER POPULAR PARA RELACIONES
EXTERIORES DE LA REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA, saluda
atentamente al Honorable Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de la Republica
Cooperativa de Guyana , en la oportunidad de hacer referencia a la publicaci6n
contenida en el diario Guyana Chronicle, de fecha 22 de marzo de 2017 , en la cual
aparece una invitaci6n realizada por el Consejo Regional Democratico de la
Region 3 para licitar proyectos de construcci6n y mantenimiento de obras publicas
en la zona sometida a controversia territorial conforme con el Tratado vigente y
registrado en la Organizaci6n de las Naciones Unidas: Acuerdo de Ginebra de
1966.
El Gobierno de la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela desea resaltar que
no se opone al desarrollo econ6mico y social de esta naci6n hermana, empero ,
tiene la obligaci6n de expresar -con efecto erga omnes- que la mencionada
invitaci6n a licitar en territorio controvertido supone una violaci6n flagrante del
Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966, al tiempo que constituye un factor pernicioso
orientado a entorpecer el proceso de Buenos Oficios que viene acercando a
ambos paises para alcanzar de forma amistosa una soluci6n practica y
satisfactoria para las Partes de la controversia territorial.
En este sentido, la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela insta al Gobierno de
la Republica Cooperativa de Guyana, a respetar el articulo 5 del Acuerdo de
Ginebra de 1966, parrafo 2, el cual expresa que: " ... 2) Ningtin acto o actividad
que se I/eve a cabo mientras se ha/le en vigencia este Acuerdo constituira
fundamento para hacer va/er, apoyar o negar una reclamaci6n de soberania
territorial ... ".
El Gobierno bolivariano de Venezuela , conforme con su principio de la
Diplomacia Bolivariana de Paz, manifiesta nuevamente su firme disposici6n de
mantener la negociaci6n politica con base en el Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966, en
el marco de la buena fey respeto del Derecho Internacional Publico.
EL MINISTERIO DEL PODER POPULAR PARA RELACIONES
EXTERIORES DE LA REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA, aprovecha
la oportunidad para reiterar su preocupaci6n al Honorable Ministerio de Asuntos
Exteriores de la Republica Cooperativa de Guyana.
Caracas, 28 de febrero de 2018
Al Honorable
Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de la
Republica Cooperativa de Guyana
Ge(Jrgetown.-
2
Annex 132
Letter from the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the President of the
International Court of Justice (18 June 2018)
Annex 132
OUR INTl:RNATIONALE ~
INTERNATIONAL COURT
D[ JUSTICE ~
OF JUSTICE
150566
18 June 2018
Sir,
With reference to the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899
/ .
(Guyana v. Venezuela ). I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter (in English,
French and Spanish) addressed to the President of the Court by H.E. Mr. Nicolas Maduro Moros,
President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, dated 18 June 2018 and handed in today by
H.E. Ms Deley Rodriguez, Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, on the occasion
of this morning's meeting between the President of the Court and the representatives of the Parties.
By his letter, the President communicated the Venezuelan Government's position with
regard to the case instituted by the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, contending, in particular , that
"there is no basis for the jurisdiction of the Court". The President further explained that, in light of
the views expressed in his letter, "the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will not participate in the
proceedings" .
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Registrar
Hon. Carl B. Greenidge
Agent of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
before the International Court of Justice
Embassy of Guyana
Brussels , Belgium
([email protected] .gy)
cc: Sir Shridath Ramphal
Co-Agent of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
before the International Court of Justice
Embassy of Guyana
Brussels, Belgium
( [email protected])
Ms Audrey Waddell
Co-Agent of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
before the International Court of Justice
Embassy of Guyana
Brussels, Belgium
(awaddell@minfor .gov .gy)
Palais de la Paix, Carnegicplein 2
2517 KJ La Haye • Pays-Bas
Telephone : + 31 (0) 70 302 23 23 • Facsimile : + 31 (0) 70 364 99 28
Site Internet· www.icj-ciJ.org
Peace Palace, Camegieplein 2
2517 KJ The Hague • Netherlands
Telephone. +3 I (0) 70 302 23 23 • Telefax: +31 (0) 70 364 99 28
Website: www.icj-cij.org
1
Annex 132
--- ----
NICOLAS MADURO MOROS
PRESIDENTE DE LA
REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
Caracas, June 18, 2018
His Excellency
Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf
President of the International Court of Justice
The Hague
Your Excellency,
I have the pleasure of addressing you in your condition as
President of the Honorab/e International Court of Justice, in
relation to the letter received last March 29, 2018, from the
Court's Secretary.
In this regard, allow me, Your Excellency, to express the
following:
Venezuela and Guyana are bound by mandate of the
Geneva Accord to reach a friendly, practical, and satisfactory
settlement to the controversy over the Guayana Esequiba.
However, Guyana, having abandoned this aim that both
States are committed to through the Geneva Accord, purports
that /CJ employs a procedure to hear this controversy, distancing
itself form the aforementioned arrangement.
For this purpose, it has filed a case claiming that "the Court
would have jurisdiction over this controversy in accordance with
Article 36, paragraph one, of its Statute, in virtue of the mutual
consent of Guyana and Venezuela, conferred by these in Article
IV, paragraph two, of the Geneva Accord of 1966. Under that
disposition of the Accord, both conferred, by mutual consent,
authority to the
2
Annex 132
NICOLAS MADURO MOROS
PRESIDENTE DE LA
REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
United Nations Secretary General, to choose the means for resolving
the controversy, and on January 30, 2018, the Secretary General
exercised his authority to choose the judicial solution through the
Court."
Thus, Guyana's argument is based on two concomitant
elements: a) an alleged consent granted by Venezuela in order to
come to this honorable Court, supposedly inscribed within the
Geneva Accord, although, as its name indicates, this bilateral treaty
aims at reaching an agreement, through friendly means; and b) the
decision by the UN Secretary General to recommend the /CJ.
To this effect, above all, Venezuela wishes to recall that it has
never accepted the jurisdiction of this honorable International Court
of Justice, due to its historical tradition and fundamental institutions.
Let alone would it accept the unilateral presentation of the request
made by Guyana nor the form and content of the claims expressed
therein.
Your excellency, very respectfully, we inform that given that
Venezuela did not accept the jurisdiction of the Court in relation with
the controversy referred to in the so-called "application" presented by
Guyana, and that furthermore, it did not accept the unilateral
presentation of the mentioned dispute, there exists no basis that
could establish, even in prima facie, the Court's jurisdiction to
consider Guyana's claims.
The so-called "application" presented by Guyana does not
correspond in any way with the procedures regulated by the
Statute, nor by the Court's Rules of Procedure, and it must be
considered as bound to Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Court's
Rules of Procedure, which prohibits its inclusion in the General
List, as well as all procedural actions "until the State against
3
Annex 132
- ---
NICOLAS MADURO MOROS
PAESIDENTE DE LA
AEPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
which such application is made consents to the Court's
jurisdiction for the purposes of the case".
In the absence of any disposition in Article IV, paragraph 2 of
the Geneva Accord of 1966 (or in Article 33 of the UN Charter, to
which the said disposition makes reference) on (i) the Court's
jurisdiction and (ii) the modalities for resorting to the Court, the
establishment of the jurisdiction of the Court requires, according to a
well-established practice, both the express consent granted by both
parties to the controversy in order to subject themselves to the
jurisdiction of the Court, as well as joint agreement of the Parties
notifying the submission of the said dispute to the Court.
The only object, purpose, and legal effect of the decision of
January 30, 2018 of the United Nations Secretary General, in
accordance to paragraph 2, Article IV of the Geneva Accord, is to
"choose" an specific means for the friendly resolution of the
controversy.
On the other hand, the Court's jurisdiction in virtue of Article 36
of the Statute and the modalities to resort to it in accordance to
Article 40 of the Statute, are not regulated by the Geneva Accord. In
the absence of an agreement of the Parties expressing their consent
to the jurisdiction of the Court under Article 36, and in the absence of
an agreement by the Parties accepting that the dispute can be raised
unilaterally, and not jointly, before the Court, as established by Article
40, there is no basis for the jurisdiction of the Court with regards to
the so-called "Guyana fJpplication".
Under these circumstances, and taking into account the
aforementioned considerations, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
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Annex 132
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NICOLAS MADURO MOROS
PRESIDENTE DE LA
REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
will not participate in the proceedings that the Cooperative Republic
of Guyana intends to initiate through a unilateral action.
Venezuela reiterates its most strict adherence to what has been
legally established for the solution of this controversy through the
Geneva Accord which binds the Parties to reaching a practical and
mutually satisfying agreement through friendly negotiations. In
consequence, it takes this opportunity to reiterate its permanent
invitation to Guyana for such a purpose, driven by its unwavering
diplomacy of peace and of good neighborhood.
Your Excellency, thanking you for your attention to this
communication, I wish to express that we are certain that we can
reach a mutually acceptable agreement for both parties in
accordance to what is established in the Geneva Accord of 1966.
Fortunately, we rely on a legally binding Accord, validly deposited in
the United Nations, which unequivocally regulates the Territorial
Controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, where direct
negotiation will allow, without a doubt, that a definitive solution is
reached in favor of the peace of the peoples of Guyana and
Venezuela.
I take this opportunity to express the assurances of my
distinguished consideration.
s Maduro Moros
Pre
livarian Republic of Venezuela
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Annex 132
:::=:::::;::::==::=::-.::=:::======--
-·-
-
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NICOLÁS MADURO MOROS
PRESIDENTE DE LA
REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
Caracas, le 18 juin 2018
S.E. Abdu/qawi Ahmed Yusuf
Président de la Cour internationale de Justice
Son Excellence,
J'ai le plaisir de m'adresser a vous, en votre qualité de Président de
/'honorable Cour internationale de Justice, afín de faire référence a la
lettre re9ue, le 29 mars 2018, de la part du Greffier de la Cour.
A cet égard, je me permets, Excellence, de vous exprimer ce qui
suit:
Le Venezuela et le Guyana se sont engagés, aux termes du mandat
de l'Accord de Genéve de 1966, a parvenir a une solution amiable,
pratique et mutuellement satisfaisante pour le deux Parties, du différend
concernant le territoire du Guayana Esequiba.
Néanmoins, le Guyana a abandonné cet objectif dont les deux États
se sont engagés en vertu de l'Accord de Genéve. 11 prétend, en
s 'éloignant de Jadite solution amiable, que la Cour internationale de
Justfce entreprenne une procédure au sujet du différend.
Dans ce contexte, le Guyana a déposé une requete, en arguant que
« la Cour a compétence a /'égard du différend en vertu du paragraphe 1
de l'article 36 de son Statut, et conformément au consentement mutuel
exprimé par le Guyana et le Venezuela au paragraphe 2 de l'arlicle IV de
/'accord de Genéve de 1966. Dans cette disposition, les deux États ont
simultanément conféré au Secrétaire général de l'Organisation des
Nations Unies le pouvoir de choísir le mayen de réglement du clifférend ;
6
Annex 132
------
-=--=---___;;--~-_:_:==---
•
NICOLÁS MADURO MOROS
PRESIOCNTE DE LA
REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
celui-ci en a fait usage le 30 janvier 2018, optant pour le réglement
judiciaire par la Cour. >>
Les allégations du Guyana reposent sur deux éléments
concomitants : a) un consentement présumé accordé par le Venezuela a
la juridiction de cette honorable Cour, prétendument enregistrée dans
l'accord de Genéve ; ma/gré le fait que, te/ qu'il est indiqué dans son nom,
le but de ce traité bilatéral soit la quete d'une solution amiable; et b) la
décision du Secrétaire général des Natíons Unies de proposer la Cour
intemationale de Justice.
A ce sujet, le Venezuela voudrait souligner qu'il n'a jamais accepté
la juridiction de cette honorable Cour intemationale de Justice, pour des
raisons de tradition hístorique et d'institutions fondamentales ; et
n 'accepterait pas non plus ni la présentation unilatérale d'une requete
faite par le Guyana, ni la forme ni le contenu des revendications qui y sont
exprimés.
Excellence, tres respectueusement, il est a signaler que, étant
donné que le Venezuela n'a pas accepté la compétence de la Cour, en
ce qui conceme le différend mentionné dans la prétendue « Requete »
présentée par le Guyana, et, en outre, qu'il n'a pas non plus accepté que
le dífférend soit soumis unilatéralement a la Cour, il n 'existe aucun
fondement qui pourrait établir, meme si ce n'est que prima facie, la
juridiction de la Cour pour connaitre des demandes du Guyana.
La prétendue « Requete » présentée par le Guyana ne fait
aucunement partie des procédures régies par le Statut et le Reglement
de la Cour, et doit etre considérée comme soumise a l'article 38,
paragraphe 5, du Reg/ement de la Cour, qui exclut son inscription sur le
role général de la Cour et toute action procédurale « tant que l'État contre
7
Annex 132
- ·- - --- - - -
--
.. -
- ------ --
----
-- ---
NICOLÁS MADURO MOROS
PRESIDENTE DE LA
REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
Jeque! la requete est formée n 'a pas accepté la compétence de la Cour
aux fins de /'affaire. »
En /'absence de toute disposition de l'artic/e IV, paragraphe 2, de
l'Accord de Genéve de 1966 (ou de l'article 33 de la Charle des Nations
Unies, auquel il se réfere) sur (i) la juridiction de la Cour et (ii) les
modalités de sa saisine ; l'établissement de la juridiction de la Cour exige,
selon une pratique bien établie, a la fois un consentement exprés a la
juridiction de la Cour donné par les deux Partíes au différend, et un accord
commun des Parties notifíant la soumissíon du dífférend a la Cour.
Le seul objet et propos et effet juridíque de la décisíon du Secrétaire
général de l'Organisation des Nations Unies, du 30 janvier 2018,
conformément au paragraphe 2 de l'artícle IV de l'Accord de Geneve, est
de « choisir » un mécanisme particu/ier de reglement des différends pour
arriver a une solution amiable du différend.
D'autre part, la juridiction de la Cour, en vertu de l'article 36 du Statut,
et les modalités de sa saisine, conformément a f'article 40 du Statut, ne
sont pas régies par l'Accord de Geneve. En l'absence d'un accord des
Parties exprimant leur consentement a la juridiction de la Cour en vertu
de I:article 36, et en l'absence d'un accord des Parties acceptant que Je
différend puisse etre porté unilatéralement et non conjointement devant
la Cour en vertu de l'article 40, il n y a aucune base pour la juridiction de
la Cour en ce qui conceme la prétendue « Requete du Guyana JJ.
Dans ces circonstances, et compte tenu des considérations
mentionnées ci-dessus, la République Bolivarienne du Venezuela ne
participera pas a la procédure dont la République coopérative du Guyana
a l'intention d'engager par le biais d'une action unilatérale.
8
Annex 132
----···--
NICOLÁS MADURO MOROS
PRESIDENTE DE LA
REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
Le Venezuela réitére son attachement le plus stricte a ce qui est
légalement établie dans l'Accord de Genéve pour le réglement de ce
différend. Cet Accord engage les deux parties a arriver a une solution
pratique et mutuel/ement satisfaisante, par le biais des négociations
amicales. Par conséquent, le Venezuela saisit /'occasion pour ratifier son
invitation permanente au Guyana dans ce propos, animé par sa
diplomatie imprenable de paix et de bon voisinage.
Excellence, en vous remerciant de l'attention que vous porterez a la
présente communication, je tiens a vous exprimer notre certitude de
parvenir a un accord mutuellement acceptable pour les deux parties,
conformément a ce qui est établie dans l'Accord de Geneve de 1966.
Heureusement, nous disposons d'un accord juridiquement contraignant,
et déposé va/ablement auprés des Nations Unies, qui régis, sans
équivoque, le différend territorial entre le Guyana et Je Venezuela, oú la
négociation directe permettra, sans aucun doute, de parvenir a une
solution définitive en faveur de la paix des peuples du Guyana et du
Venezuela.
Je vous prie d'agréer, Monsieur le Président, l'expression de ma
considération distinguée.
~
Nicolás Maduro JV/oros
·~'1iJIB!IH'~ la Répub/ique Bolivarienne du Venezuela
9
Annex 132
NICOLÁS MADURO MOROS
PRESIDENTE DE LA
REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
Caracas, 18 de junio de 2018.
Excelentísimo
Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf
Presidente de la Corte Internacional de Justicia
La Haya
Excelencia,
Tengo el agrado de dirigirme a usted, en su condición de
Presidente de la Honorable Corte Internacional de Justicia,
con relación a la carta recibida el pasado 29 de marzo de
2018, de parte del Secretario de la Corte.
Sobre el particular, permítame excelencia manifestarle lo
siguiente:
Venezuela y Guyana están comprometidas por mandato
del Acuerdo de Ginebra a alcanzar un arreglo amistoso,
práctico y satisfactorio para ambas Partes a su controversia
sobre la Guayana Esequiba.
Sin embargo, Guyana abandonando este propósito que
ha comprometido a ambos Estados mediante el Acuerdo de
Ginebra, pretende que la CIJ allane un procedimiento para
conocer de esta controversia apartándose de dicho arreglo.
Para ello, ha presentado una demanda en la que alega
que "la Corte tendría jurisdicción sobre esta controversia con
arreglo al artículo 36, párrafo primero, de su Estatuto, en
virtud del consentimiento mutuo de Guyana y Venezuela
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Annex 132
NICOLÁS MADURO MOROS
PRESIDENTE DE LA
REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
conferido por estos en el artículo IV, párrafo segundo, del
Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966. En dicha disposición del
Acuerdo, ambos confirieron, de mutuo acuerdo, autoridad al
Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas para escoger el
medio de solución de controversia y, el 30 de enero de 2018,
el Secretario General ejerció su autoridad al escoger la
solución judicial por la Corte".
De modo que el alegato de Guyana se basa en dos
elementos concomitantes: a) un presunto consentimiento
otorgado por Venezuela para acudir a esta honorable Corte,
supuestamente inscrito dentro del Acuerdo de Ginebra,
aunque, como su nombre lo indica, éste tratado bilateral se
dirige a alcanzar un arreglo amistosamente y b) la decisión
del Secretario General de la ONU de recomendar la CIJ.
A tales efectos, ante todo, Venezuela recuerda que
nunca ha aceptado la jurisdicción de esta honorable Corte
Internacional de Justicia, por motivos de su tradición histórica
e instituciones fundamentales. Mucho menos aceptaría la
presentación unilateral de la solicitud realizada por Guyana,
como tampoco la forma y contenido de las reclamaciones allí
expresadas.
Excelencia, muy respetuosamente se informa que dado
que Venezuela no aceptó la competencia de la Corte en
relación con la controversia a la que se refiere la llamada
"demanda" presentada por Guyana, y además no aceptó la
11
Annex 132
----
NICOLÁS MADURO MOROS
PRESIDENTE DE LA
REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
presentación unilateral de dicha disputa, no existe ninguna
base que pueda establecer, aunque sea prima facie, la
jurisdicción de la Corte para considerar las reclamaciones de
Guyana.
La llamada "demanda" presentada por Guyana no
corresponde en modo alguno a los procedimientos regulados
por el Estatuto, ni por el Reglamento de la Corte y debe
considerarse sujeta al Artículo 38, párrafo 5, del Reglamento
de la Corte, que impide su inclusión en la Lista General así
como de todo acto de procedimiento "hasta que el Estado
contra el cual se haga la solicitud no haya aceptado la
competencia de la Corte a los efectos del asunto de que se
trate".
A falta de cualquier disposición en el Artículo IV, párrafo
2, del Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966 (o en el Artículo 33 de la
Carta de la ONU, a la que dicha disposición hace referencia)
sobre (i) la jurisdicción de la Corte y (ii) las modalidades para
acudir a ella, el establecimiento de la jurisdicción de la Corte,
requiere de acuerdo con una práctica bien establecida, tanto
el consentimiento expreso otorgado por ambas partes en la
controversia para someterse a la jurisdicción de la Corte,
como un acuerdo conjunto de las Partes notificando la
sumisión de dicha disputa a la Corte.
El único objeto, propósito y efecto legal de la decisión de
30 de enero de 2018 del Secretario General de las Naciones
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Annex 132
NICOLÁS MADURO MOROS
PRESIDENTE DE LA
REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
Unidas, de conformidad con el párrafo 2 del Artículo IV del
Acuerdo de Ginebra, es "elegir" un medio específico para la
solución amistosa de la controversia.
Por otra parte, la jurisdicción de la Corte en virtud del
Artículo 36 del Estatuto y las modalidades para acudir a ella
conforme con el Artículo 40 del Estatuto, no están reguladas
por el Acuerdo de Ginebra. En ausencia de un acuerdo de las
Partes expresando su consentimiento a la jurisdicción de la
Corte bajo el Artículo 36 y, a falta de un acuerdo entre las
Partes aceptando que la disputa pueda ser planteada ante la
Corte unilateralmente, y no conjuntamente, según establece
el Artículo 40, no hay base alguna para la jurisdicción de la
Corte en lo que se refiere a la llamada "demanda de Guyana".
Bajo estas circunstancias, y teniendo en cuenta las
anteriores consideraciones, la República Bolivariana de
Venezuela no participará en el procedimiento que pretende
incoar la República Cooperativa de Guyana mediante una
acción unilateral
Venezuela
reitera su más estricto apego a lo
establecido legalmente para
la solución de esta
controversia mediante el Acuerdo de Ginebra que
compromete a las Partes a alcanzar un arreglo práctico y
mutuamente satisfactorio mediante negociaciones amistosas.
En consecuencia, aprovecha la oportunidad para
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Annex 132
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---
•
NICOLÁS MADURO MOROS
PRESIDENTE DE LA
REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
reiterar su permanente invitación a Guyana con dicho
propósito, animada por su inexpugnable diplomacia de paz y
buena vecindad.
Excelencia, al agradecer su atención a la presente
comunicación deseo manifestarle que estamos seguros de
poder alcanzar un acuerdo mutuamente aceptable para
ambas partes conforme lo establece el Acuerdo de Ginebra
de 1966. Afortunadamente contamos con un Acuerdo
jurídicamente vinculante, y válidamente depositado en las
Naciones Unidas, que regula sin equívocos la Controversia
Territorial, entre Guyana y Venezuela, donde la negociación
directa permitirá, sin duda, alcanzar una resolución definitiva
en favor de la paz de los pueblos de Guyana y Venezuela.
Hago propicia la ocasión para expresarle las
seguridades de mi distinguida consideración.
14
Annex 133
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, National Assembly, Parliamentary Agreement of Rejection of
the Cooperative Republic of Guyana of Judizializing the Essequibo and Their Reaffirmation of
the Venezuelan Sovereignty on Anacoco Island and the Atlantic Front (19 June 2018)
Annex 133
National Assembly
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Chairmanship
Strategic Directorate of International Relations

DERI/181/18

The Strategic Directorate of International Relations presents its compliments to the
Embassies and International Organizations accredited in Venezuela, on the occasion of
forwarding, attached to this letter, “PARLIAMENTARY AGREEMENT OF REJECTION
OF THE COOPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA OF JUDIZIALIZING THE
ESSEQUIBO AND THEIR REAFFIRMATION OF THE VENEZUELAN
SOVEREIGNTY ON ANACOCO ISLAND AND THE ATLANTIC FRONT”, signed by
the members of the Directors’ Board of the National Assembly, dated June 19
2018.

The Strategic Directorate of International Relations avails itself of the occasion to reiterate
the assurances of its highest consideration to the Embassies and International Organizations.

Caracas, June 21st 2018

Faithfully,
th
1
Annex 133
<Here signature>
Amb. Nelson Valera
Strategic Director of International Relations (E)
National Assembly Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
National Assembly
Caracas – Venezuela

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA
in the defence of the Constitution, Democracy and Rule of Law

PARLIAMENTARY AGREEMENT OF REJECTION OF THE COOPERATIVE
REPUBLIC OF GUYANA OF JUDIZIALIZING THE ESSEQUIBO AND THEIR
REAFFIRMATION OF THE VENEZUELAN SOVEREIGNTY ON ANACOCO
ISLAND AND THE ATLANTIC FRONT

CONSIDERING
That the National Assembly, only legitimate power of the people of Venezuela, in the face
of the announcement of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres
made on January 30th 2018, in which it is proposed to forward the dispute between
Venezuela and Guyana for the Essequibo region to the International Court of Justice, in
spite of not having been exhausted all non-jurisdictional means of peaceful solution
foreseen in article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations, considers that this a hasty
decision that contradicts the very Geneva Agreement of 1966 which mentions in its article
1 “a practical Arrangement of the controversy”.

CONSIDERING
That the forwarding of the legitimate and just claim of Venezuela on the territory of the
Essequibo to the International Court of Justice generated that the Cooperative Republic of
Guyana unilaterally initiate a contentious procedure to the aforementioned Court on March
29 2018, by means of which requests that “according to the legal validity and binding effect
of the political decision to the border between the colony of British Guyana and the United
2
Annex 133
States of Venezuela on October 3rd of 1899”, evidences the negligence and inefficiency of
the regimen of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro in reaffirming the territorial integrity of
our country according with the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
which commits our people and future generations’ rights on the natural resources of the
zone in claim; as well as the historical foundation of the territory bequeathed by Liberator
Simon Bolivar;
CONSIDERING
That as Public Power of the State, the National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela aware of its constitutional obligation, must safeguard the inalienable right of
territorial integrity of the Nation according with Article 1 of the Constitution, and the
exercise of the full sovereignty on the territory and geographic spaces of the Republic
defined in article 10 of it, as the one corresponding to the General Captaincy of Venezuela,
before the political transformation initiated on April 19th 1810, with the resulting
modifications of the nullity-flawed treaties and arbitral awards; as well as the nontransferability to other States that are enshrined in
articles 11 and
13 of the Magna Carta;

CONSIDERING
That both the Venezuelan citizens as well as the Public Powers have the duty to defend,
safeguard and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation and comply
with the Magna Carta, as required by articles 130 and 131 of the Constitution;

CONSIDERING
That the National Assembly, as member of the Defence Council of the Nation, highest
organ of consultation for the planning and advising of the Public Power in the matters
related with the integral defence of the Nation, its sovereignty and integrity of its
geographical space, according with article 323 of the Constitution, and according with
paragraph 24 of article 187 of it, must intervene in the definition of the strategy that
preserve the rights of the Nation, and therefore, express its opinion in the topic;

CONSIDERING
That the State’s essential aims and the Nation’s inalienable rights and the exercise of the
full sovereignty on the territory and geographical spaces of the Republic, are themes of
State in which the Legislative Power must participate to defend the national interest in spite
of the differences with the Executive Power, without convalidating any illegitimacy;

CONSIDERING
That the National Assembly, as representation of the Venezuelan people’s sovereignty,
exerts the functions of control on the management of the government and the foreign policy,
according with article 187 of the Constitution, and therefore, it can, in the exercise of these
functions, request other Public Powers in the face of the lawsuit filed in the International
Court of Justice by the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to comply with the obligations as
3
Annex 133
pertains to their responsibilities, concretely, to guarantee the independence, integrity,
sovereignty of the territory and defence of the Republic according with article 232 of the
Constitution;

CONSIDERING
That Venezuela has always rejected the submitting the border controversy on the Essequibo
to the International Court of Justice, from the time the conversations with the Great Britain
initiated previous to the independence of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, as recorded
in the spirit and letter of the Geneva Agreement, given the nature of the controversy, and
furthermore, up to the date Venezuela has never recognized the jurisdiction of the referred
International Court of Justice.

CONSIDERING
That Venezuela is not a signatory of the Facultative Clause of Obligatory Jurisdiction,
enshrined in article 36 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, on which has
made express reserve, or has not accepted to be part of multilateral treaties that recognize
the jurisdiction of the Court as the Pact of Bogota and the Convention of the Sea;

CONSIDERING
That to confuse the peaceful means of the Judicial Settlement that requires the consent of
the parties, with the Judicial Contention in order to attempt to justify the judicialization of
the controversy results in a selfish interpretation;

CONSIDERING
That in its lawsuit, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana has also presented another claim
around alleged rights on the Anacoco Island, which has the only explanation of a
provocation within an inappropriate lawsuit;

CONSIDERING
That the arrangements made by Mr. Dag Havland Nylander, personal representative of the
United Nations Secretary-General in February 2017, were not transparent by not making
the consultations with the different sectors of the country, as made with the Cooperative
Republic of Guyana.

AGREES
FIRST: To ratify that in virtue of the spirit and rules established in the Geneva Agreement
of 1966, the signing parties, including the government of the British Guyana represented
by its First Minister Mr Forbes Burnham, undertook to “seek satisfactory solutions for the
practical settlement of the controversy”, which cannot be the submitting to the International
Court of Justice of our just and legitimate claim on the Essequibo.
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Annex 133
SECOND: To ratify the Agreement of the National Assembly on date February 6 2018, by
means of which it declares the inappropriateness of the decision of the UN SecretaryGeneral,
of
forwarding
the
claim
of
the
Essequibo
territory
to
the
International
Court
of

Justice.
THIRD: To reject the conduct of the Ministry of the People’s Power for the Foreign
Relations, which despite the multiple invitations made by the Mixed Commission for the
Defence of the Essequibo and the Atlantic Front, did not provide the requested information
on the measures taken in the defence of the Essequibo territory.
FORTH: To reaffirm as strategic criteria that the lawsuit filed by the Cooperative Republic
of Guyana prevents the parties from reaching a practical settlement of the controversy in a
mutually satisfactory manner, since it denaturalizes the Geneva Agreement, which
according with the foreseen in article IV of this Agreement, in accordance with article 33
of the Charter of the United Nations, and article 152 of the Constitution, the controversy
must be maintained within the ambit of mechanisms of political-diplomatic nature.
Fifth: To request the summoning of the Defence Council of the Nation to analyse the
different scenarios and determine the strategy of defence of the inalienable rights of the
Nation in the face of the current circumstances and conditions of our historical and
legitimate claim of the Essequibo, understood as a State issue that directly compromises
this popular representation.
SIXTH: To incorporate the theme of the controversy of the Essequibo in the parliamentary
agenda, with the purpose of maintaining the historical position of Venezuela at
international level alive, furthermore taking into account the inconvenience of the
judicialization of the controversy, and denouncing the violation the Cooperative Republic
of Guyana has made of the Geneva Agreement, as well as its origin in oil interests.
SEVENTH: To ratify in an express manner the sovereignty titles of Anacoco Island and
the Atlantic Front, as well as to strongly reject the unfriendly and baseless intention of the
government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana of ignoring them, at the same time we
make a call to the Bolivarian National Armed Force to maintain the works of security and
defence of this territory that are not under discussion.
EIGHTH: To demand from the Ministry of the People’s Power for the Foreign Affairs to
inform the companies and governments that can be involved in the oil concessions that the
Cooperative Republic of Guyana has illegally granted during the last years in our zone of
territorial dispute with Guyana, of the risk that any type of investment in a territory in
dispute has; for which reason it is urged to object them and request the paralysation of their
works according with article V paragraph 2 of the Geneva Agreement and Decree 1152 of
1968 on the Territorial Sea enlarged in 1988 to the Continental Platform, so depriving this
of legal security.
NINTH: To instruct the Mixed Commission of the National Assembly for the Defence of
the Essequibo and its Atlantic Front, to initiate the preparation of a draft law that clearly
establish the corresponding spaces to the Atlantic Front, and likewise call activists and
experts in the matter with the objective of writing the necessary laws related with the
reaffirming of our territorial and maritime integrity.
5
Annex 133
TENTH: To open the corresponding parliamentary investigation that establishes the
appropriate responsibilities of the officials attached to the National Executive for the
negligence and inefficiency in the defence of the territory of the Essequibo; of allowing the
oil and gas exploration and production in waters of the territory Essequibo and remain
indifferent to the different statements of the Secretaries General of the United Nations
Organization of forwarding the territorial controversy to the International Court of Justice.
Eleventh: To forward copy of the present Agreement to all the Public Powers of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Twelfth: To give publicity to this Agreement.

Given, signed, and stamped at the Legislative Federal Palace, venue of the National
Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in Caracas, on nineteenth of the month
of June of twenty-eighteen. Years 208
th
from Independency and 159
th
from Federation.

<Signatures and stamp>

OMAR ENRIQUE BARBOZA GUTIÉRREZ
President of the National Assembly

JULIO CÉSAR REYES
First Vice-President

ALFONSO J. MARQUINA
Second Vice-President

NEGAL MANUEL MORALES LLOVERA
Secretary

JOSE LUIS CARTAYA
Sub-Secretary

6
Annex 133
ASAMBLEA NACIONAL

ACUERDO PARLAMENTARIO DE RECHAZO
SOBRE LA PRETENSIÓN DE LA REPÚBLICA
COOPERATIVA DE GUYANA DE
JUDICIALIZARLA CONTROVERSIA SOBRE EL
ESEQUIBO Y LA REAFIRMACIÓN DE LA
SOBERANÍ

Fecha: 19/06/2018

LA ASAMBLEA NACIONA
DE LA REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
En defensa de la Constitución, la Democracia y el Estado de Derecho
ACUERDO PARLAMENTARIO DE RECHAZO SOBRE LA PRETENSIÓN
DE LA REPÚBLICA COOPERATIVA DE GUYANA DE JUDICIALIZAR LA
CONTROVERSIA SOBRE EL ESEQUIBO Y LA REAFIRMACIÓN DE LA
SOBERANÍA VENEZOLANA SOBRE LA ISLA DE ANACOCO Y LA
FACHADA ATLÁNTICA

7
Annex 133
CONSIDERANDO
Que la Asamblea Nacional, único poder legítimo del pueblo de Venezuela, ante
el anuncio del Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas Antonio Guterres,
realizado el 30 de enero 2018, en el cual plantea remitir la disputa entre
Venezuela y Guyana por la región del Esequibo a la Corte Internacional de
Justicia, a pesar de no haber agotado todos lo medios de solución pacífica no
jurisdiccionales previstos en el artículo 33 de la Carta de las Naciones unidas,
considera esta, una decisión apresurada y que contradice el propio Acuerdo de
Ginebra de 1966 que plantea en su artículo 1 “un Arreglo práctico de la
controversia”;
CONSIDERANDO
Que la remisión de la legítima y justa reclamación de Venezuela sobre el
territorio del Esequibo a la Corte Internacional de Justicia dio lugar para que la
República Cooperativa de Guyana iniciara unilateralmente un procedimiento
por la vía contenciosa ante la mencionada Corte el 29 de marzo de 2018,
mediante el cual solicita que “confirme la validez legal y el efecto vinculante de
la decisión política a la frontera entre la colonia de la Guayana Británica y los
Estados Unidos de Venezuela del 3 de octubre de 1899”, evidencia la
negligencia e ineficacia del régimen de Hugo Chávez y Nicolás Maduro en
reafirmar la integridad territorial de nuestro país de acuerdo con la Constitución
de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, lo cual compromete el derecho que
tiene nuestro pueblo y futuras generaciones sobre los recursos naturales de la
zona en reclamación; así como, también, el fundamento histórico del territorio
legado por el Libertador Simón Bolívar;
CONSIDERANDO
Que como Poder Público del Estado, la Asamblea Nacional de la República
Bolivariana de Venezuela consciente de su obligación constitucional, debe velar
por el derecho irrenunciable de integridad territorial de la Nación conforme el
Artículo 1 de la Constitución, y por el ejercicio de la soberanía plena sobre el
territorio y espacios geográficos de la República definido en el Artículo 10 de la
misma, como el que correspondía a la Capitanía General de Venezuela, antes
de la transformación política iniciada el 19 de abril de 1810, con las
modificaciones resultantes de los tratados y laudos arbitrales no viciados de
8
Annex 133
nulidad; así como de su intransferibilidad a otros Estados que se consagra en
los artículos 11 y 13 de la Carta Magna;
CONSIDERANDO
Que tanto los ciudadanos venezolanos como los Poderes Públicos tienen el
deber de defender, resguardar y proteger la soberanía y la integridad territorial
de la Nación y de cumplir la Carta Magna, como lo demandan los artículos 130
y 131 de la Constitución;
CONSIDERANDO
Que la Asamblea Nacional, como integrante del Consejo de Defensa de la
Nación, máximo órgano de consulta para la planificación y asesoramiento del
Poder Público en los asuntos relacionados con la defensa integral de la Nación,
su soberanía y la integridad de su espacio geográfico, conforme al artículo 323
de la Constitución, y en concordancia con el numeral 24 del artículo 187 de la
misma, debe intervenir en la definición de la estrategia que preserve los
derechos de la Nación, y por ende, expresar su opinión al respecto;
CONSIDERANDO
Que los fines esenciales del Estado y los derechos irrenunciables de la Nación
de integridad territorial y del ejercicio de la soberanía plena sobre el territorio
y espacios geográficos de la República, son temas de Estado en los cuales el
Poder Legislativo debe participar para defender el interés nacional a pesar de
las diferencias con el Poder Ejecutivo, sin que ello signifique convalidar
ilegitimidad alguna;
CONSIDERANDO
Que la Asamblea Nacional, como representación de la soberanía del pueblo
venezolano, ejerce las funciones de control sobre la gestión del gobierno y de
la política exterior, conforme al artículo 187 de la Constitución, y por tanto,
puede, en ejercicio de estas funciones, exigir a otros Poderes Públicos ante la
demanda presentada en la Corte Internacional de Justicia por la República
Cooperativa de Guyana, a que cumplan con las obligaciones inherentes a sus
responsabilidades, concretamente, de garantizar la independencia, integridad,
soberanía del territorio y defensa de la República conforme al artículo 232 de la
Constitución;
CONSIDERANDO
9
Annex 133
Que Venezuela siempre ha rechazado someter la controversia fronteriza sobre
El Esequibo a la Corte Internacional de Justicia, desde que se iniciaron las
conversaciones con la Gran Bretaña previo a la independencia de la República
Cooperativa de Guyana, como quedó plasmado en el espíritu y letra del
Acuerdo de Ginebra, dada la naturaleza de la controversia, y que además hasta
la fecha Venezuela nunca ha reconocido la jurisdicción de la referida Corte
Internacional de Justicia;
CONSIDERANDO
Que Venezuela no es signataria de la Cláusula Facultativa de Jurisdicción
Obligatoria, consagrada en el artículo 36 numeral 2 del Estatuto de la Corte
Internacional de Justicia, sobre la cual ha hecho expresa reserva, o no ha
aceptado formar parte de tratados multilaterales que reconocen la jurisdicción
de la Corte como el Pacto de Bogotá y la Convención del Mar;
CONSIDERANDO
Que resulta una interpretación interesada, por parte de la República
Cooperativa de Guyana, confundir el medio pacífico del Arreglo Judicial que
requiere el consentimiento de las partes, con la Contención Judicial para
intentar justificar la judicialización de la controversia;
CONSIDERANDO
Que en su demanda, la República Cooperativa de Guyana también ha
presentado otra reclamación en torno a supuestos derechos sobre la isla de
Anacoco, lo cual solo tiene explicación como una provocación dentro de una
demanda improcedente;
CONSIDERANDO
Que las gestiones realizadas por el Sr. Dag Havland Nylander Representante
personal del Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas en febrero del 2017, no
fueron transparentes al no haber realizado las consultas con los diversos
sectores del país, como si lo hizo con la República Cooperativa de Guyana.
ACUERDA
PRIMERO. Ratificar que en virtud del espíritu y las reglas establecidas en
el Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966, las Partes firmantes, incluido el gobierno de la
Guayana Británica representada por su Primer Ministro Mr Forbes Burnham, se
10
Annex 133
comprometieron “a buscar soluciones satisfactorias para el arreglo práctico de
la controversia”, que no puede ser el sometimiento a la Corte Internacional de
Justicia, nuestra justa y legítima reclamación sobre el Esequibo.
SEGUNDO. Ratificar el Acuerdo de la Asamblea Nacional de fecha 6 de febrero
de 2018, mediante el cual declara la improcedencia de la decisión del Secretario
General de la ONU, de remitir la reclamación del Territorio Esequibo a la
Corte Internacional de Justicia.
TERCERO. Rechazar la conducta del Ministerio del Poder Popular para las
Relaciones Exteriores, el cual a pesar de las múltiples invitaciones realizadas por
la Comisión Mixta para la Defensa del Esequibo y la Fachada Atlántica, no
proporcionó la información solicitada sobre las gestiones realizadas en defensa
del territorio Esequibo.
CUARTO. Reafirmar como criterio estratégico que la demanda incoada por la
República Cooperativa de Guyana impide que las partes logren alcanzar un
acuerdo práctico de la controversia en forma mutuamente satisfactoria, ya que
desnaturaliza el Acuerdo de Ginebra, que conforme a lo previsto en el artículo
IV del presente Acuerdo, en concordancia con el artículo 33 de la Carta de las
Naciones Unidas, y el artículo 152 de la Constitución, ha de mantenerse la
controversia dentro del ámbito de mecanismos de naturaleza políticodiplomática.
QUINTO. Solicitar la convocatoria del Consejo de Defensa de la Nación para
analizar los diferentes escenarios y determinar la estrategia de defensa de los
derechos irrenunciables de la Nación ante las actuales circunstancias y
condiciones de nuestra histórica y legitima reclamación del Esequibo,
entendido como un asunto de Estado que directamente compromete a esta
representación popular.
SEXTO. Incorporar el tema de la controversia del Esequibo en la agenda
parlamentaria, con el propósito de mantener viva la posición histórica de
Venezuela a nivel internacional, tomando en cuenta además, la inconveniencia
de la judicialización de la controversia, y denunciando la violación que ha venido
haciendo la República Cooperativa de Guyana del Acuerdo de Ginebra, así como
su origen en intereses petroleros.
11
Annex 133
SÉPTIMO. Ratificar de manera expresa los títulos de soberanía de Venezuela
sobre la Isla de Anacoco y la Fachada Atlántica; así como rechazar
categóricamente la intención inamistosa e infundada del gobierno de la
República Cooperativa de Guyana en desconocerlos; al tiempo que hacemos un
llamado a la Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana a mantener las labores de
seguridad y defensa de este territorio que no se encuentra en discusión.
OCTAVO. Exigir al Ministerio del Poder Popular para las Relaciones Exteriores
que informen a las empresas y gobiernos que puedan estar involucrados en las
concesiones petroleras que la República Cooperativa de Guyana ha venido
otorgando ilegalmente durante los últimos años en nuestra zona de disputa
territorial con Guyana, del riesgo que corre cualquier tipo de inversión en un
territorio que se encuentra en disputa; por lo que se insta a objetar las mismas
y se exige la paralización de sus trabajos de conformidad con el artículo V
numeral 2 del Acuerdo de Ginebra y el Decreto 1.152 de 1968 sobre Mar
Territorial ampliado en 1988 a la Plataforma Continental, privando así a las
mismas de seguridad jurídica.
NOVENO. Instruir a la Comisión Mixta de la Asamblea Nacional para la Defensa
del Esequibo y su Fachada Atlántica, a iniciar la preparación de un proyecto de
ley que fije claramente los espacios correspondientes a la Fachada Atlántica, e
igualmente convoque a activistas y expertos en la materia con el objeto de
elaborar los proyectos de leyes necesarios que tengan que ver con la
reafirmación de nuestra integridad territorial y marítima.
DÉCIMO. Abrir la correspondiente investigación parlamentaria que establezca
las responsabilidades a que haya lugar de los funcionarios adscritos al Ejecutivo
Nacional por la negligencia e ineficacia en la defensa del territorio del Esequibo;
de permitir la exploración y producción de petróleo y gas en aguas del territorio
Esequibo y permanecer inertes ante las diversas declaraciones de los
Secretarios Generales de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas de remitir la
controversia territorial a la Corte Internacional de Justicia.

UNDÉCIMO. Remitir copia del presente Acuerdo a todos los Poderes Públicos
de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela.
DUODÉCIMO. Dar publicidad al presente Acuerdo.
12
Annex 133
Dado, firmado y sellado en el Palacio Federal Legislativo, sede de la Asamblea
Nacional de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, en Caracas, a los diecinueve
días del mes de junio de dos mil dieciocho. Años 208° de la Independencia y
159° de la Federación.

OMAR ENRIQUE BARBOZA GUTIÉRREZ
Presidente de la Asamblea Nacional

JULIO CÉSAR REYES
Primer Vicepresidente
ALFONSO JOSÉ
MARQUINA
Segundo Vicepresidente

NEGAL MANUEL MORALES LLOVERA
Secretario

JOSÉ LUIS CARTAYA
Subsecretario

13
Annex 134
World Atlas, “The World’s Largest Oil Reserves by Country” (23 Oct. 2018), available at https://
www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-s-largest-oil-reserves-by-country… (last accessed 3
Nov. 2018)
Annex 134
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10. United States - 39,230 billion barrels
U.S. oil reserves soared to new heights in recent years due to increased usage of unconventional
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result of these, especially fracking and horizontal drilling, U.S. reserves surpassed 36,000 billion

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barrels in 2012 for the first time since 1975. Still, proven U.S. oil reserves are but a fraction of the
reserves of the global petroleum leaders such as Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Canada.
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9. Libya - 48,363 billion barrels
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Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa and the ninth largest globally. It has the potential to have a
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8. Russia - 80,000 billion barrels
Russia is a country filled with natural resources for energy use, most notably the country's massive oil
reserves under the vast Siberian plains. Russian oil output fell considerably after the collapse of the
former Soviet Union, but the country has revamped production in the past few years. The nation may
further boost its reserves of oil and gas in the future as exploration continues beneath its holdings of
arctic waters and ice.
7. United Arab Emirates - 97,800 billion barrels
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) sources most of its oil from the Zakum field, which has an estimated
66 billion barrels, making it the third largest oil field in the region, behind only Ghawar Field (Saudi
Arabia) and Burgan Field (Kuwait). Roughly 40 per cent of the country's GDP is based on oil and gas
output and, since its discovery there in 1958, has enabled the UAE to become a modern state with a
high standard of living.
6. Kuwait - 101,500 billion barrels
While a small country in terms of land area, Kuwait holds more than a fair share of the world's
petroleum oil reserves. Over 5 bbl of reserves lie within the Saudi-Kuwaiti neutral zone which Kuwait
shares with Saudi Arabia, while over 70 billion barrels of Kuwaiti oil are in the Burgan field, the second
largest oil field in the world.
5. Iraq - 142,503 billion barrels
Despite shaky political situations in its recent history, the country of Iraq sits upon some of the world's
largest proven reserves of petroleum crude oil. As a matter of fact, owing to the civil unrest and military
occupations which have characterized the national scene over the last few decades, it was not
possible to do any meaningful exploration of the Iraq's oil reserves. As a result, even the data used to
determine Iraq’s global oil holdings ranking is at least three decades old and based on 2D seismic
surveys. Nevertheless, a period of relative calm over the last couple of years has given increased
hope for developing the country's oil infrastructure.
4. Iran - 158,400 billion barrels
Iran has close to 160,000 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, making it considerably wealthy in terms
of global oil resources. When looking at the most easily accessible reserves (excluding many of the
unconventional, difficult-to-extract reserves in Canada), Iran falls right behind behind Venezuela and
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Oil in Iran was first produced in 1908 and, at its current rate of extraction, Iran's oil will last close to 100
years more. Unlike Saudi oil, which is spread throughout a few huge and very rich oil fields, Iranian oil
is found in close to 150 hydrocarbon fields, many of which have both petroleum crude oil and natural
gas.
3. Canada - 169,709 billion barrels
Canada has almost 170,000 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, of which the most significant
proportion is in the form of oil sands deposits in the province of Alberta. Furthermore, most of the
country's conventionally accessible oil reserves are located in Alberta.
As extracting oil from the vast majority of Canada's oil reserves is a labor and capital-intensive
process, production tends to come in sporadic bursts rather than steady streams. Oil companies,
therefore, begin by extracting lower density, higher value oils first, and directing their efforts into
extracting crude deposits only in times of high commodity prices.
2. Saudi Arabia - 266,455 billion barrels

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has for many decades been viewed as the modern state most iconic of
oils equation to opulence and influence in global politics. However, Saudi Arabia is no longer the
world's leader in oil potential.
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While the Saudis' 266,455 billion barrels of proven oil reserves are marginally smaller than those of
Venezuela, all of Saudi oil is in conventionally accessible oil wells within large oil fields. Moreover,
Saudi Arabia's reserves are considered to comprise a fifth of the entire globe's conventional reserves.
There are many who also believe that, with further exploration, Saudi Arabia will surpass Venezuela at
the top of the proven oil holdings charts. For example, the US Geological Survey estimates that there
are well over 100,000 billion barrels lying undiscovered beneath the arid sands of Saudi deserts.
1. Venezuela - 300,878 billion barrels
With 300,878 billion barrels of proven reserves, Venezuela has the largest amount of proven oil
reserves in the world. The country's oil is a relatively new discovery. Previously, Saudi Arabia had
always held the number one position.
The oil sand deposits in Venezuela are similar to those in Canada. Venezuela also boasts plenty of
conventional oil deposits. Venezuela's Orinoco tar sands are significantly less viscous than Canada's,
so the oil sands there can be extracted using conventional oil extraction methods, giving it a
considerable advantage over the Northern American rival in terms of capital requirements and
extractions costs.
Countries With The Largest Proven Oil Reserves
Rank
Country
Barrels (Billions of Barrels)
1
Venezuela
300,878
2
Saudi Arabia
266,455
3
Canada
169,709
4
Iran
158,400
5
Iraq
142,503
6
Kuwait
101,500
7
United Arab Emirates
97,800
8
Russia
80,000
9
Libya
48,363
10
United States
39,230
11
Nigeria
37,062
12
Kazakhstan
30,000
13
China
25,620
14
Qatar
25,244
15
Brazil
12,999
16
Algeria
12,200
17
Angola
8,273
18
Ecuador
8,273
19
Mexico
7,640
20
Azerbaijan
7,000
3
4