The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says a Steering Committee has been established tasked with the responsibility of formally re-establishing the Guyana Peace Council over the next months. This follows a meeting with a group of “like-minded” Guyanese on June 23 at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Kingston, Georgetown.
PPP notes that this is in an effort to resume activities directed towards the resuscitation of the Guyana Peace Council as an affiliate of the World Peace Council, which has its headquarters in Athens, Greece.
During discussions, the Steering Committee highlighted a number of ongoing international developments which impact the achievement of world peace.
The signing of a peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in Havana, Cuba was welcomed by the group. This peace agreement will hopefully bring to an end fifty-one (51) years of war in Colombia which has resulted in 250,000 deaths and five (5) million refugees.
The recent statement by German Foreign Minister, Frank Steinmeier in which he warned the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) against “war-mongering” through military exercises in Eastern Europe which could worsen European security was noted by the Committee.
It was also noted that High Commissioner of the United Nations Committee for Refugees (UNHCR) Filipo Grandi recently stated concerns for sixty- five (65) million refugees and internally displaced persons existing as a result of wars and other conflicts and the lack of funding, despite pledges, to support these distressed persons.
The PPP statement concludes that the continuation of wars and conflicts, with associated terrorism, particularly in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa, were noted as the prime drivers of social and economic decline leading to migration, refugees and the persistent decline in world peace.
