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Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

April 10 ,2021

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Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has denied claims that Guyana voted against a United Nations resolution on a call for action for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

In a statement on Saturday night, Rodrigues-Birkett said that Guyana in fact sponsored the resolution and would not have voted against it.

Her statement follows:

It has been brought to my attention that circulating on social media is the assertion that Guyana voted against the United Nations resolution entitled “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”.  This is completely false and cannot be further from the truth.  As Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, I wish to confirm that Guyana voted in support of the resolution when it was adopted in the General Assembly on December 31st, 2020.

Indeed, as Chair of G77 and China, Guyana was the main sponsor of the resolution and, jointly with South Africa, facilitated the negotiations for this Resolution in the Third Committee. The Resolution was introduced by the representative from Guyana in the Third Committee on November 19th, 2020, who reminded the Committee that 2021 would mark the 20th Anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and, as such, the G77 and China had presented substantive changes to the Resolution aimed at commemorating this important milestone. She stated inter alia:

“The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action emphasizes that equality and non-discrimination are fundamental principles of international human rights and international humanitarian law and are essential in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. It constitutes a holistic agenda that encompasses measures to improve education and awareness, to fight poverty and marginalization, and to secure inclusive development. Its relevance is further strengthened by the recognized nexus between combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The G77 and China views the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as a valuable opportunity to enhance public understanding about its comprehensive nature, and as a timely reminder to all that racism, racial discrimination xenophobia and related intolerance are scourges that must be eliminated ….

The Group considers that in the forthcoming commemoration, greater attention should be given to the issues affecting People of African Descent. The International Decade for the People of African Descent and the adoption by consensus of the programme of activities for the implementation of the Decade is an integral part of the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.”

At the end of the Statement, Guyana invited delegations to co-sponsor and vote in favour of the resolution.

It should be noted that the automatic generation of the vote as shown on screen in the room at the time of voting is not the final official record of the meeting.

It goes without saying, that Guyana, as the proponent of a Resolution, would not have voted against our own resolution.

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In a statement on Saturday night, Rodrigues-Birkett said that Guyana in fact sponsored the resolution and would not have voted against it.

Turns out Guyana voted NO ,recorded by the UN ,what's is the goofed up of the recording of the vote ?

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 : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

Vote

https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3896183?ln=en

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Django
Last edited by Django

𝐔𝐍 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝟕𝟎- 𝐀/𝟕𝟓/𝐃𝐑 𝐈𝐈 - 𝐆𝐔𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐍𝐎!!!
Guyana’s vote at the 47th Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly in relation to Draft Resolution II - 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, is cause for much confusion.
The obfuscating press release from Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation only adds to the muddle, and is another clear indication that the installed PPP/C Administration is yet to come to terms with the fact that in this information age, pedaling half-truths and attempts to insult the intelligence of Guyanese will no longer cut it.
The following are the facts:
1. On November 19th at 3pm, the Third Committee of the UN (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met. At that Meeting, Guyana as Chair of the G77 and China Group introduced the Draft Resolution II on behalf of the Group.
2. The Report of that Third Committee Meeting dated 23rd November and which records Guyana as voting in favour of Draft Resolution II, is just that – 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. It is not the Meeting Record of the 48th Plenary Meeting.
3. 𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆, 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟯𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬, at about 10:20 am, Guyana locked in a vote of “Against” in relation to Draft Resolution II. Delegations were asked to confirm that their votes were accurately reflected and thereafter the voting was completed and voting machines locked. The result of the vote was entered into the Voting Records as follows – 106 “in favour”, 14 “against” and 42 “abstentions”.
4. The 48th Plenary Meeting thereafter moved on to consider Resolution IV- the Situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar”.
5. It was after the Plenary Meeting concluded its business in relation to Resolution IV, that the Guyana Representative took to the floor and requested to make a correction to Guyana’s vote, asking that it be changed from “against” to “in favour”.
6. The Guyana Representative was advised by the President of the Plenary Meeting, H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, that 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁.
7. As at April 12, 2021 the Voting Record on the matter of Draft Resolution II- 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- shows Guyana as having voted 𝗡𝗢.
8. The Voting Record will continue to so show until Guyana complies with the procedural requirements to change the vote.
Therefore, for Rodrigues- Birkett to say “I wish to confirm that Guyana voted in support of the resolution when it was adopted in the General Assembly on December 31st, 2020” is downright misleading.
The fact is that Guyana voted no and must now take administrative steps to correct this embarrassment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation must advise Guyanese, forthwith on whether this process has been initiated and its state of advancement.
The installed PPP/C regime continues to fail Guyana in their stewardship of our international relations. This propensity for mendacity in matters of our foreign affairs must stop.
Django
Last edited by Django

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