Initial variables of the data collection process:
UN/UN peacekeeping policy reform
Guyana has been active advocating for a holistic framework for development. The proposal of a New Global Human Order is an initiative of the Government of Guyana aimed at mobilizing concerted global action over the long-term, within a holistic framework, to address development challenges and improve the wellbeing of people (UN-Guyana 2006, par. 13).
A central theme of Guyana's proposal is a concern with reversing the growing disparities between rich and poor and a focus on human development. It seeks to promote a strong political consensus and a broad-based global partnership to combat poverty and promote economic security, based on a long-term integrated approach to development. This proposal was first introduced to the United Nations General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session in the year 2000 under the agenda item, “the role of the United Nations in promoting a New Global Human Order.” (Ibid.)
Guyana has been speaking out about UN peace operations. For example, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in Guyana is questioning the timing of international peacekeeping forces in violence-torn Haiti (CMC 2004, par. 1).
The PPP/C, in a press statement, blamed the international community for allowing armed groups to overrun the country, leading to the ousting of the Jean-Bertrand Aristide government. "The countries with the capacity to intervene on the side of the democratically-elected government lost an opportunity to defend democracy and the rule of law by failing to do so," the PPP/C said. It said "now that Aristide is no longer in Haiti we see that several countries are sending their military [forces] to restore order on the ground. We wonder why that could not have been done before President Aristide’s departure". It reminded that "Aristide who was adamant that he would not leave until his constitutional term was completed in 2006 is now claiming that he was kidnapped.” "This is very serious and needs to be totally clarified," the ruling party said. (Ibid.)
Racial divisions that permeate Guyanese society are strongly reflected in its politics (which has also damaged its economy) (EIU 2006r, 4). An estimated 50% of the population is of East Indian descent and 36% of African descent (Thomson 2006f, par. 4). Those of Amerindian ancestry constitute 7%; white, Chinese, and mixed descent make up about 7% (Ibid).
The governing PPP/Civic coalition of the president, Bharrat Jagdeo, and the opposition People’s National Congress-Reform (PNC-R), are sharply polarized along ethnic lines (EIU 2006r, 4.). The former is overwhelmingly Indo-Guyanese, and the latter overwhelmingly Afro-Guyanese (Ibid).
Domestic economic environment
Guyana’s per head GDP is the lowest in the western hemisphere (Ibid., 16). This forced the government of Desmond Hoyte to move towards a more market-oriented economic policy (Ibid.). Guyana is potentially a lucrative eco-tourist destination (BBC 2006u, par. 7). However, “political instability, inter-ethnic tension and economic mismanagement have left it among the region's poorest countries” (Ibid.).
Military affairs
The Guyana Defence Force is extremely poorly equipped and currently has only 1,600 active members, around 200 of whom comprise a token air force and navy (EIU 2006r, 9). There are a further 1,500 reservists (Ibid.). This situation creates problems at the moment of being interested on participating in peace operations.
Foreign policy
Guyana enjoys generally good relations with major Western nations, particularly the UK and Canada, and with the English-speaking Caribbean, tempered by intermittent disagreements (Ibid.). The headquarters of CARICOM is in Georgetown (Ibid.). Guyana is developing closer relations with Latin America, and in January 2006 took the chair of the Rio Group (an organization dedicated to Latin American political co-operation) (Ibid.).
Additional variables found after the preliminary analysis:Guyana borders Venezuela to the west, Suriname to the east and Brazil to the south. Relations with Brazil are good. Both countries favor the construction of an all-weather road from the Brazilian frontier to Georgetown, and of a new deep-water harbor to serve northern Brazil and Guyana itself. However, there is some concern in Guyana at the activities within the country of illegal, small-scale gold and diamond miners from Brazil. The borders with Venezuela and Suriname are disputed. Venezuela lays claim to over 130,000 sq km of Guyana’s territory west of the Essequibo River, representing about two-thirds of the country’s total land area, and a substantial area of adjacent and potentially oil-rich continental shelf. Tensions increased following the election of Hugo Chávez as president of Venezuela in late 1998, but relations appear to have improved since 2002, and in March 2006 the two countries reaffirmed commitments to resolve the dispute through an UN-backed mediation process. Suriname is contesting the delimitation of its marine border with Guyana and also claims a triangular area in south-eastern Guyana between the Courantyne and New rivers. With talks on the maritime dispute having dragged on for many years without a resolution, the matter was referred for arbitration under the UN Law of the Sea Convention in February 2004. A final ruling is expected by 2007. (Ibid., 10)
Climate changes
No record.
Independent negotiations taken by DPKO to seek troops
No record.
Independent negotiations taken by contributor countries to engage non-contributor countries
No record.
Meetings organized by other international organizations to engage in dialogue about peacekeeping
No record.
