By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Speaking on the eve of Guyana’s 48th Independence Anniversary, President Donald Ramotar pointed out that the milestone is being celebrated in a world that has grown more complex and more interconnected, but unfortunately, one which still remains very unequal between the developing South and the developed North.
Speaking to thousands of Guyanese at the National Park, he said international relations remain dominated and determined by a handful of rich countries, adding that many of the institutions established, particularly the International Financial Institutions are mostly geared to serve the interest of the most rich and powerful countries.
“Developing countries have to manage the affairs of their states in a great disadvantageous situation,” President Ramotar said, adding that “this is reflected in the growing inequality in relation to access to resources and the huge income gap between the rich and poor countries of the world.”
The Head of State observed that currently the richest 85 persons in the world are worth more than the poorest 3.5 billion persons; almost a half of the world’s wealth is owned by just 1 percent of the population; and the bottom half of the global population own less than 1 percent of total wealth.
“The struggle, therefore is for socio-economic justice and a more equitable world, continues. One of the major issues is the need to democratise international relations.”
Ramotar told his fellow country men and women that this situation demands that Guyana continues to build greater solidarity among the developing world while it works in alliance with those developed countries interested in genuine partnership.
He recalled Guyana’s lead in promoting regional unity.
He said too that Guyana over the last two decades increased its contacts with countries on the American continent and remains active within the work of the Commonwealth.
“Our country has earned the international reputation of being one of the leaders in the fight against climate change and to better prepare the world to confront the challenges associated with it. Needless to say this is the greatest challenge of our time and Guyana stands in the front ranks of the struggle even though we play no part in creating this problem. We will continue to work within the framework of the United Nations process towards a global agreement on Climate Change by 2015.”
He promised that the country’s work with the international community will become even more intensive as it is confronted with many global issues.
