President calls for int’l trade reform

Feb 28, 2010 News

Rotary dinner…

– small needs special treatment
February 23 is singled out by Rotary International as the day marking the 105th anniversary of World Understanding and Peace Day.
On Thursday, the Rotary Club of Georgetown hosted a World Understanding Dinner and Address at the Pegasus Hotel last where President Bharrat Jagdeo appeared as a guest speaker.
The Head of State noted that the search for global understanding is the only true path to peace, tolerance and unity in the world.
According to government release on the event, President Jagdeo focused attention on the particular problem of the lack of understanding which has stymied the relations between developed and developing countries for a long time.
“It (lack of understanding) has seriously inhibited mankind’s aspirations for a better life on earth… powerful states have sought to dominate and exploit the small and more vulnerable in furtherance of their own political and economic self interest.
“Sad to say, even though most, if not all, countries are now independent and free, vestiges of that deplorable past still remain in the conduct of present day international relations.”
The United Nations Charter has given formal recognition of the principle of the sovereign equality of states but in spite of this provision, President Jagdeo said the present international system discriminates among countries in favour of an elite few.

President Bharrat Jagdeo delivering an address at the World Understanding Month dinner organized by the Rotary International Club of Georgetown at Pegasus Hotel

The Head of State alluded to the UN Security Council which he said is hardly representative of the majority of the member states and is sorely in need of equitable reform and the current international trade negotiations which have so far failed produce fair trading arrangements, despite the campaign by the developing countries for special treatment.
Reference was also made by the President to the multilateral financial institutions which provide little or no say to developing countries with regards to decision-making.
He expressed hope, however, that the reform exercise which is at present ongoing at the UN level and elsewhere will bring new governance institutions that are sensitive to the needs of small states.
A re-orientation of the dialogue with partners in the developed world is perhaps one of the few best solutions which President Jagdeo said will bring an end to the evident absence of partnership, development and special treatment for small economies, which the developed world loves to preach.
“Our future engagements must be premised, if they are to succeed, on such basic principles as equity and social justice. Those who have much must show magnanimity for those who have little,” the President said.