Гайана должна срочно открыть посольства в Африке и Азии для укрепления глобального влияния

Latest update September 2nd, 2026 10:50 AM Sep 01, 2026 Letters Dear Editor, The historical irony of Guyana’s foreign policy is becoming clearer than ever. Decades ago, early efforts to join the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and cultivate deeper ties across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were met with fierce domestic resistance. Opponents, led by vocal figures including a prominent local Swami and an Indian-Malaysian national, launched concerted campaigns against OIC membership, framing it through narrow socio-religious and partisan lenses. Given my family’s active involvement in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), I was personally called upon by party leaders to counter this rhetoric and defend the strategic necessity of these international alliances. Among those who recognised the broader geopolitical value early on was Foreign Minister Clement Rohee, under the Dr. Cheddi Jagan administration, who initiated diplomatic ties with the OIC, the GCC and the broader Global South. As well, Mr. Fazeel Ferouz, alongside veteran diplomat, Ambassador Dr. Odeen Ishmael—who actively led Guyana’s delegations to OIC summits and later served as Ambassador to Kuwait and Qatar—was also instrumental in advocating for deeper economic and diplomatic engagement across the Islamic world. Ishmael and Ferouz understood that building these bridges was never about ideology; it was about national interest, South-South cooperation, and elevating Guyana’s standing on the world stage. This vision was later forcefully driven forward by Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett during her tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs, as she worked consistently to expand Guyana’s reach across the Middle East, Africa, and the wider Global South, including establishing formal diplomatic ties with nations like Senegal in 2009, and many Central Asian countries. Building on these foundations, Ambassador Safraaz Ahmad Shadood has actively pushed these ties to new frontiers following his initial appointment to Kuwait and his subsequent role as Ambassador to Qatar. Now appointed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)—and hopefully to the OIC in short order—he has also worked behind the scenes to advance Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett’s UN bid, continuing this long-standing diplomatic legacy. Today, history has fully validated that vision. Those very ties—once heavily criticised—have opened vital avenues for trade, development finance, and multilateral support. They have expanded Guyana’s international footprint to the point where Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett now stands as a prominent candidate for United Nations Secretary-General. Securing high-level international leadership positions requires building broad cross-regional coalitions. The support of the Global South—spanning CARICOM, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa—is indispensable. Yet, despite these clear dividends, Guyana’s diplomatic architecture remains surprisingly incomplete. Decades after joining the OIC, Guyana has still never appointed a dedicated resident ambassador to the OIC in Jeddah, missing out on direct engagement with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and broader GCC financial channels. Furthermore, official records reveal that Guyana still lacks formal diplomatic relations with a majority of African nations. Key OIC and regional states across West, Central, East, and Southern Africa—such as Sudan, Chad, Mali, Togo, Mauritania, Gabon, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Benin, Cape Verde, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—have no formal bilateral diplomatic ties with Guyana. To capitalise on current momentum and truly secure our position as a global actor, Guyana must strategically expand its diplomatic footprint. I recall former Surinamese Ambassador to the UN, Henry MacDonald, speaking to me about the strategic value of opening an embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—the headquarters of the African Union (AU) and the political capital of the continent. Establishing a presence there is an urgent necessity to bridge these diplomatic absences and directly engage Africa’s 54 UN member states. Similarly, establishing a mission in Jakarta, Indonesia, would anchor Guyana’s presence in Southeast Asia, connecting us directly with the ASEAN Secretariat and the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. Expanding these diplomatic posts is no longer just an abstract goal; it is the essential next step to ensure Guyana’s long-term influence, security, and global leadership. Sincerely, Ray Chickrie Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Sep 02, 2026 Kaieteur Sports – Round Three of the Pegasus Weekly Chess League, organized by Drayton’s Chess Club in partnership with the Pegasus Chess Club and Guyana Chess Federation, continued on Monday... Aug 30, 2026 By Sir Ronald Sanders (Kaieteur News) – For generations, Kenscoff was where people from Port-au-Prince went to breathe. Its cool hills offered relief, and its farmers supplied the capital’s markets. Gang attacks reached the commune in January 2025, but it remained an important barrier between... 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