by Mark Ramotar
Guyana Chronicle
May 29, 2001

NEW Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Rudy Insanally is aiming to settle Guyana's border controversies with Suriname and Venezuela through constructive dialogue.

In his maiden address in Parliament last week, Insanally, one of four technocrats appointed in President Bharrat Jagdeo's new Cabinet, listed the controversies among threats to Guyana's sovereignty.

"Globalised and unrestricted movement of capital is not the only threat to our sovereignty...so too are the plague of drug-trafficking, HIV/AIDS, environmental dangers and in our case especially, our border controversies with our neighbours to our east and west."

He said the Foreign Ministry would do its utmost to create an environment in which all concerned may be able to engage in constructive dialogue in order, hopefully, to reach a peaceful settlement of all outstanding differences.

In this regard, Insanally said the proposed establishment by Parliament of a Committee for National Defence and Borders assumes critical importance.

According to him, the multi-partisan nature of such a committee will not only bring to bear Guyana's best expertise on the issues but also forge a unity of purpose that is critical and equally important.

"I therefore pledge to do my utmost best to cooperate with the entire membership to translate this idea into reality," he told the National Assembly.

At the same time, the Foreign Affairs Ministry will work closely with other relevant ministries and agencies to protect national patrimony from encroachment, he added.

In these endeavours, Insanally said the government has been heartened by the unfailing support which Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries continue to give to Guyana and Belize in the preservation of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Insanally pointed out that they went further to note the importance of maritime boundary delimitation issues in the Eastern Caribbean relating to Venezuela and their great concern with the situation.

"There is thus a growing spirit of solidarity within CARICOM on these crucial matters," Insanally said.

He underscored an observation he made in opening remarks at last week's Foreign Ministers meeting in Georgetown that the full-time business of managing foreign affairs, especially in small states, requires the involvement of all in civil society, including Parliament, which is their public advocate.

He also said the private sector and non-governmental organisations often command resources, which if added to the government's, can dynamise development.

"I therefore consider the encounter with civil society, which is being planned by CARICOM to take place later this year, to be a timely initiative for engaging in a serious dialogue with all actors on the regional stage with a view to harmonising our agendas for the common good," Insanally said.

He also noted that Parliament could serve as an important interlocutor between policy makers and the public whose interest it is mandated to safeguard and on whose behalf it must act.

Insanally assured parliamentarians that he and his ministry would strive assiduously to keep them informed of its work and, as appropriate, seek their guidance in the continuous shaping of Guyana's foreign policy.

The technocrat minister also observed that President Jagdeo's assessment of the current international environment with which small states, such as Guyana, must now contend is shared by actually all in the international community.

According to Insanally, the twin processes of globalisation and trade liberalisation, which now drive the political, economic and social relations among states, have the potential not only for accelerating development but also for the marginalisation of those, particularly the small and disadvantaged, who are ill-equipped to compete on the new playing field.

He said that in the face of dangers, small states like Guyana are challenged to take stock of their situation and to devise a strategy for survival.

Insanally constantly referred to President Jagdeo's address at the opening of the country's Eighth Parliament earlier this month, the motion for which was being debated and which both sides of the House endorsed after some four-and-a-half hours on Thursday.

"We can be pleased to note that the Caribbean Community of which Guyana is an active member has now been fully sensitised to the need to rethink and retool both their domestic and foreign policies in order to address the new circumstances in which they find themselves," he told the National Assembly.

He recalled that at a landmark meeting in 1999 in St. Kitts and Nevis, a decision was taken to attempt to formulate a new vision and strategy to inform the direction of the community's external policies.

Insanally said following up on this initiative, the recently concluded meeting of Foreign Ministers gave thought to the principles and purposes which should underpin the exercise, as well as to a programme of action that would safeguard and promote their common interests.

"It is therefore in Guyana's interest, I believe, to recognise this growing inter-dependence among countries of the Caribbean and Latin America to pursue to the full developmental objectives."

"There is obviously much more that can be said in terms of our economic and social objectives but given the constraints of time and my fear of taxing the patience of this House, I will content myself with these general observations...," Insanally said in his address which was well received by all members of the House.