From a situation characterised by the ascendance of the current globalising world order coupled with the dominance of the neo-liberal paradigm, the silent minority has now become the vocal majority.

The peace loving forces around the world have responded admirably to the dangers of war and the threat to world peace.

The emergence of a common united global front against a war with Iraq has yielded tangible results. Their efforts have not been in vain. The world peace movement has re-kindled hope once again. Hope that there are prospects for an alternative contrary to those who hold the view that there is no alternative.

The re-birth of the global peace movement together with the World Social Forum at Porto Allegre, Brazil, as well as the progressive democratic forces of the anti-globalisation movement has the potential of creating a groundswell for change in the prevailing world disorder.

Cheddi Jagan’s call for a New Global Human Order is now more necessary and urgent than ever.

The denial of political freedoms in Iraq as part of a repressive, totalitarian regime is a long and well established fact.

Western Governments had knowledge of these violations for many years, yet they did nothing about it. So what is the sudden hullabaloo about? No permanent friends only permanent interests?

Iraq’s human rights record is indeed questionable. However, it must be borne in mind that close relations with former western allies in the 1980’s facilitated Iraq’s access to weapons of mass destruction.

The international community is not convinced that incontrovertible evidence has been provided to prove that Iraq currently has viable weapons of mass destruction or that it presents a threat to any State in the Western Hemisphere. Nor has any evidence been provided to the world to show that there is a clear and indisputable link between Iraq and the events of September 11.

The destruction of any weapons of mass destruction that Iraq might possess could have been achieved by peaceful means.

Guyana is a firm believer in multilateralism and no doubt, would have supported without reservation any action agreed upon by the United Nations against Iraq. However, military action without UN support is unacceptable and will set a bad precedent for the rule of international law. Only the UN Security Council may make legitimate decisions with regard to military action against Iraq.

All States must respect and implement the decisions of the UN Security Council. The results called for by UN resolution 1444 on Iraq could have been achieved by peaceful means.

Efforts to eradicate weapons of mass destruction in Iraq should not have been used to justify the declaration of war. Rather, such efforts should have targeted the elimination of these weapons precisely to eliminate the necessity to go the war.

The People’s Progressive Party is committed to the resolution of all disputes by peaceful means.

This stand is exemplified by the efforts of the UN since its establishment. The UN gave the promise of a world free of war. Consequently, we cannot accept that the powerful have a right to use their power, either to marginalise the UN or to disempower it to facilitate the pursuit of their war aims. Nor can we agree that the powerful have a right to use the authority of the UN and its prestige as a peace agency to legitimise a pre-determined decision to wage war.

The current situation demands that like-minded countries, political and social forces intensify the struggle for the strengthening of the multilateral system. This is the only guarantee that the voice of the weak, such as Guyana’s can be heard.

The war against Iraq threatens international peace and security, and will no doubt, increase instability in the Middle East and elsewhere. Moreover, the war would postpone further the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The inevitable sharp increase in oil prices, a significant decrease in tourism, the negative impact on trade and investment compounded by the effects that are still being felt in the Caribbean after the events of September 11 will deepen the current economic down-turn obtaining in the Region. Cumulatively, they would torpedo the efforts adumbrated by Heads of Government of CARICOM when they met in St. Lucia in August 2002 and decided on a raft of measures vis-à-vis “stabilising and transforming the Caribbean economies”.

All Guyanese have a vested interest in the peaceful resolution of the Iraq crisis and an obligation to stand up and join the struggle for peace.