Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

#Guyana, January 19, 2024 – Guyana is now for the third time, a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, seated on Tuesday January 2nd, 2023, and serving for a two year term, 2024/2025.

This comes after the country was elected to serve last year in June.

In recognition of Guyana’s new but familiar position, its flag was installed at a Flag Ceremony by the Council.

Performing the installation was Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rodrigues-Birkett expressed Guyana’s intention on the Council.

“Guyana will be constructive in our approach to the work of the Council, fully committed to partnerships for the peace and prosperity of the world’s people.  We will seek a people centered approach including the involvement of women and youth in the search for solutions; ever mindful that conflict is the driver of poverty and underdevelopment, and therefore inimical to the achievement of the sustainable development goals,” she maintained.

She further speaks to Guyana’s firm stance in representing the mission of the Council while referring to the leadership of President Irfaan Ali.

“Guyana has never wavered in its commitment to multilateralism and to promoting the principles and purposes of the United Nations.  Guyana’s pledge therefore, led by his Excellency President Muhammad Irfaan Ali, is to be guided by a firm adherence to the rule of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and to continue to work collaboratively, to strengthen universal peace and security for a better world.”

Birkett congratulated the five other countries that were also seated on the Council namely; Algeria, Sierra Leone, the Republic of Korea and Slovenia.  These members alongside Guyana are replacing Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates who ended their terms on December 31st, 2023.