Barbados Backs Venezuela, Not Guatemala

At least one Caricom member state has formally declared its position on who it intends to support for the vacant UN Security Council Seat.

Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, declared that his country will not be supporting Guatemala.

He has made it clear that his country will be backing Venezuela for the rotating seat on the Security Council.

Arthur told journalists that Barbados does not believe Guatemala would represent the interest and principles of the country in any international organization.

His decision, he says, is based on the way in which Guatemala has dealt with the region on the issue of bananas at the World Trade Organization.

He says it would be unethical for Barbados to side with a country that has fiercely opposed the concept of special and differential treatment for small developing states.

He also says Guatemala has outstanding territorial issues with Belize, and the region must take a position that will protect the territorial integrity of its members.

Arthur also had strong objections to the way Guatemala has been lobbying for the seat, noting that the country was not talking to regional leaders on its own, but instead, using the United States to lobby for the position.

Source: RadioJamaica.com