Antigua–Barbuda oppose resolutions on Venezuela and Nicaragua at OAS 49th general assembly

1st July 2019

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By Caribbean 360

ST JOHNS, Antigua – In the final plenary session of the 49th general assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), member states approved resolutions on Venezuela and Nicaragua, among others, by a vote of 20 of 33 countries plus the representative of the National Assembly of Venezuela – a designee of the opposition-controlled National Assembly of Venezuela as the representative of Venezuela; Antigua and Barbuda stated opposition saying [we] “cannot support this resolution”.

A statement released after the vote was taken, E. Paul Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration, said:

Antigua and Barbuda cannot support this resolution

While we are concerned about the flow of migrants from Venezuela into other states and we sympathize with the burden being placed upon the Governments and people of those states, we recognize that the causes of migration from Venezuela are many; some flow from external factors not reflected in this resolution.

Further, my delegation acknowledges that Venezuela has withdrawn from this organization in accordance with Article 143 of the Charter. Therefore, we do not consider it to be a member-state of the OAS.

Antigua and Barbuda, like the vast majority of nations of the world and international organizations such as the United Nations, also recognize the de facto government of Venezuela.

In that connection, we rejected each of the resolutions adopted by a simple majority that have been named in this present resolution before us. Indeed, we are persuaded, by legal advice, that the method employed in the permanent council, to seat a nominee of the National Assembly of Venezuela as a representative, was ultra vires of the OAS Charter and the rules of the permanent council.

It is a matter of record that Antigua and Barbuda formally registered at the permanent council that it reserves its right not to accept or be bound by any resolutions, declarations or positions of the permanent councillor any other organs of the OAS by a majority of 18 states that includes the purported representative of Venezuela.

This particular resolution before us, attempts, in its operative paragraph one, to repeat the same process of seating a designee of the National Assembly of Venezuela that my delegation rejected in the permanent council.

This general assembly is the supreme decision-making body of our organization. Its decisions, collectively made by all member states, bind all organs of this institution. But, delegations cannot bound by a decision made only by a simple majority that disregards and discounts the legitimate rights and positions of other member states.

In this regard, my delegation registers that it reserves its position on this resolution.

We wish it to be noted that we continue to reserve our rights not to recognize any resolutions or declarations adopted with the participation of a non-member state or anyone purporting to be a representative of a non-member state.

We wish our reservation to be footnoted.

Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI)

Antigua and Barbuda also detailed its response relevant to the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) annual report. Article 21.g of the CIDI statutes establishes that CIDI shall approve the annual report and other reports it is to present to the general assembly.

Antigua and Barbuda welcome the report of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) and emphasizes the great importance we place on the development pillar of this organization.

In stressing the importance of the development pillar, we recognize that development is inextricably intertwined with the other three pillars – democracy, human rights and security.

Indeed, we are keenly aware that democracy, human rights and security are not sustainable without development.

It is almost impossible to expect people who suffer poverty, unemployment, and insufficient public utilities to uphold democracy and defend security, particularly when they know that neighboring countries enjoy a much higher quality of life.

Similarly, people in these conditions consider that their human rights are neglected unless their development needs are effectively addressed.

Governments of small and vulnerable economies struggle every day to advance development so as to maintain democracy and security, and to satisfy our people’s expectations for their human rights in every form.

But, we do so in a difficult international environment in which we are plagued by awesome challenges which include:

- - Threats to our participation in the global financial and trading system caused by the withdrawal of correspondent banking services;
  - The imposition of external tax requirements that weakens our competitiveness;
  - The wrongful and harmful depiction of our jurisdictions as major money launderers;
  - And, high debt resulting from borrowing to rebuild after the disastrous effects of climate change.

If the smaller member states of this organization fail to sustain development, the consequences will be felt by all in our hemisphere in refugees, in increased crime and in instability.

In this context, the development pillar should be a priority not only for the small countries of the OAS, but for us all. We urge member States to uphold and strengthen the development pillar without which the three other pillars will not be sustainable.

OAS general assembly re-election

The OAS member states re-elected as commissioners of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño (Panama) and Margaret May Macaulay (Jamaica), and elected as new members Edgar Stuardo Ralón Orellana (Guatemala) and Julissa Mantilla Falcón (Peru).

In the Inter-American Juridical Committee, José Antonio Moreno Rodríguez (Paraguay) was re-elected and Eric Patrick Rudge (Suriname) was elected.

In the Justice Center for the Americas, Daniel Petrone (Argentina) was re-elected and Maytrie Vydia Kuldip (Suriname) was elected.

In the board of external auditors, Martin Rubenstein (Canada) was elected by acclamation and the permanent council was entrusted with the election of another member before September 30, 2019.

In the administrative Tribunal Pablo Sandonato de León (Uruguay) was elected by acclamation.

The member states of the OAS also approved the offer of The Bahamas to host the 50th general assembly of the organization in 2020.

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