Backing from the Commonwealth
GUYANA's diplomatic efforts in seeking international support for its cause in the longstanding border controversy with Venezuela have got the Commonwealth on its side. The issue came up at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which ended Monday in Durban, South Africa and the leaders in their communique clearly stated "their firm support for and solidarity with the Government and people of Guyana in the maintenance of their territorial integrity and sovereignty." This is important backing from an influential grouping given Venezuela's revival last month of its claim to two-thirds of Guyana and fits in with the stand on this country's side from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In the continuing search for a peaceful resolution of the controversy under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General, support from a group of countries as important as the Commonwealth could be vital. While Guyana and Venezuela are committed to staying with the United Nations `Good Offices' process in the search for a mutually acceptable solution, this country has been assured in South Africa that the Commonwealth would be looking out for its interests. The leaders noted that relations between the two countries had been conducted over recent years in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect, and through the development of programmes of functional co-operation, but they have mandated the Commonwealth Secretary-General to appoint a special ministerial group to monitor further developments in the border controversy. Guyanese can take some comfort in this decision. The Commonwealth, after all, includes some powerful players on the international scene, among them the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and South Africa. Foreign Minister, Mr Clement Rohee, when the Venezuelan claim was revived last month, assured that diplomatic initiatives were under way among Guyana's friends overseas and the stand by the Commonwealth leaders in Durban is evidence that these steps are paying off. The Commonwealth also helped play a key role in the eventual restoration of democracy here at the October, 1992 general elections and it is proving itself an important ally in the bid by Guyana to garner further debt relief concessions under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. A beefed-up Commonwealth initiative to bring debt relief to Guyana as the HIPC beneficiary in the Commonwealth Caribbean got backing from the leaders in South Africa. Durban has again shown that the Commonwealth is not the useless `leaders club' its critics make it out to be. Countries caught in dire straits like Guyana need all the backing they can get to be better able to cope with the challenges ahead and the Commonwealth is still proving to be a valuable ally.
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