The COVID-19 pandemic has made one sobering reality clear to world leaders: Their collective effort over the years has not been enough to properly address issues such as climate change, food security, and disparities in the global health system.
With his own home country still in recovery mode from the economic pains that were unleashed by the pandemic since 2020, Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Kumar Singh was keen to urge attendees at the 48th Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), that concerted global action is now even more urgent to tackle the global problems being faced.
The event which was held today in Pakistan coincided with the nation’s 75th Independence Anniversary.
In his address, Dr. Singh said, “…All our countries felt the pandemic’s impact, both humanitarian and economic. Effective responses necessitated international collaboration. Likewise, sustainable recovery needs joint action. Resurgence in any country anywhere, threatens the recovery in all countries everywhere. As OIC Member States, we need to stay focused on addressing the issues that are critical for safeguarding and sustaining the recovery.”
“These include further strengthening our healthcare systems, and improving access to vaccines and other medical supplies, even as our economies reopen.”
The Senior Finance Minister went on to explain that climate change is another issue which must be confronted more urgently on a global scale, adding that as a low-lying coastal state, Guyana is amongst the most vulnerable. He noted as well that the climate crisis threatens not only the country’s development prospects but Guyana’s very existence.
“Guyana has outlined a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which places our economy on a path to accelerated sustainable development. Shared commitment and joint action are critical for limiting global warming and we urge adherence to the global agenda for combating this crisis,” Dr. Singh explained.
He also noted that as a heavily forested country, there is need for more meaningful global recognition of the contribution being made by standing forests in the fight against climate change.
Minister Singh reminded that more than 800 million people worldwide still go hungry daily and almost 700 million persons worldwide are malnourished hence his declaration food security is therefore a global imperative that must be tackled.
Within the Caribbean, the minister shared, Guyana is leading efforts to scale up food production and productivity rapidly, along with strengthening food systems with the aim of improving food security in the region as part of the global effort to tackle this problem.
Further to this, Dr. Singh reminded that one specific concern of the Government of Guyana and that of all OIC Member States is any form of discrimination against individuals on the basis of their religion which is a violation of their human rights and contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Guyana was therefore pleased to support the OIC initiative to pursue the designation of March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia which the United Nations General Assembly agreed to do by consensus. The designation of this day is an important step towards addressing this scourge. It also presents the opportunity to raise awareness on religious intolerance more broadly with a view to promoting understanding and advancing a culture of peace,” he posited.
The Senior Finance Minister also alluded to Guyana’s culture of peace, pointing out that Guyana’s final observation is a reflection on the importance of working to promote peace and stability in the regions to which OIC Member States belong as well as the rest of the world.
