The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDPADA-G) has noted, with great concern, the report that the Delegation of Guyana to the UN General Assembly, headed by Caroline Rodrigues-Birkett, the Chair of the Group of 77 and China, is recorded as having voted against a Draft Resolution: “A global call for concrete action for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action”.
That resolution was adopted by the General Assembly at the 48th Plenary Meeting of the United Nations on December 31st, 2020.
The voting record obtained from the United Nation’s digital library is as follows:
Yes: 106 | No: 14 | Abstentions: 44 | Non-Voting: 29 | Total voting membership: 193.
Guyana was counted among the 14 “ No” votes, along with countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Israel.
The full details of the vote can be obtained at:
https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3896183?ln=en
“This matter is one of national concern, in this the International Decade for People of African Descent, given Guyana’s historical trials and unresolved issues of racial discrimination which have necessitated the funding of an entity such as the Ethnic Relations Commission to promote racial harmony and good relations among the various ethnic groups within Guyana,” IDPADA-G said in a statement today.
It also noted the release by Rodrigues-Birkett on 10th April 2021, indicating that Guyana voted in support of the resolution when it
was adopted in the General Assembly on December 31st, 2020.
Rodrigues-Birkett also posited that Guyana, as the proponent of the Resolution, would not have voted against its own resolution.
However, as of 6pm today, Guyana’s recorded, “No” vote remained unchanged.
IDPADA-G is urging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Representative, Rodrigues-Birkett, to amend this vote to reflect what has subsequently been articulated to be Guyana’s position in favour of the resolution and to update the citizens of Guyana on the UN status of the matter.
