Guyana on Tuesday secured a seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council and will serve as a non-permanent member on the international peace and security body for the 2024 to 2025 term.
Guyana secured 191 votes out of a possible 192 votes; this was the highest number of votes received. Starting January 1, 2024, the country will represent the Latin America and Caribbean bloc on the Council.
The other states elected are: Algeria, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia. Belarus failed in its bid to secure a seat for the Eastern Europe bloc; that seat went to Slovenia.
This Security Council comprises 15 members, including five permanent members namely: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The remaining 10 members are non-permanent members elected to two-year terms.
It is important to note that two seats are available for the African region while one seat per region is available for Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the Asia- Pacific.
Guyana, based on the countries that expressed an interest for the five seats, was unopposed in the Latin America and Caribbean region. The country served on the Council twice before, in 1975 to 1976 and then again in 1982 to 1983.
My congratulations go out to the Government and people of Guyana not forgetting our Foreign Minister, Mr Hugh Todd and also our Representative, Mrs Caroline Rodrigues-Birkett for securing a seat on the IuN Security Council . A better decision could not be made. Keep up the good work Guyana.