Former UN ambassador Julian Hunte was elated to hear on Friday suggestions that St Lucia could land a seat on the United Nations Security Council.For the past few months Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has been lobbying support in order to secure for his country seat on the council. So far, the battle for the seat had been between Venezuela and Guatemala.
But a press release sent out by the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) suggested that so far both Venezuela and Guatemala had fallen short of the number of votes needed. It has not helped Chavez that the United States has been lobbying against him. With the votes as they stand the only alternative maybe to select a third candidate. This is where St Lucia comes in.
According to COHA, “Considering that Guatemala’s and Venezuela’s aspirations might continue to falter, it would be prudent for UN delegations, which may be looking around for that third-country candidate to arise, to consider the Caribbean nation of St Lucia.”
The organization, which engages in independent non-profit research, speaks glowingly about St Lucia, calling the island a “model democracy.” COHA also weighed St Lucia’s support for the United States against the island’s support for Venezuela.“Despite its disagreement with Washington on the handling of Haiti, St Lucia has proven to be a strong ally of Washington’s legitimate aspirations, signing numerous bilateral treaties—including a Maritime Law Enforcement Agreement and an Extradition Treaty—in a joint effort to thwart illegal drug trafficking to the US and Europe. Not surprisingly, the majority of tourists visiting the paradisiacal island are US citizens, suggesting that good diplomatic relationships between the two are highly beneficial for both parties.”
On the Venezuela front COHA said that “if Venezuela’s candidacy continues to falter, and the UNSC seat remains outside of Caracas’ and Guatemala City’s grasp, Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez might like to see a member of CARICOM, a bloc of Caribbean nations friendly to Caracas, obtain the Council’s non-permanent seat.”Venezuela’s relationship with St Lucia has been close and constructive as St Lucia is one of the 13 Caribbean nations that signed Venezuela’s Petrocaribe initiative, in which state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) will supply oil with an extraordinarily low one percent interest rate in an effort to relieve poorer nations from high energy costs, while servicing the subsidized costs of petroleum imports.
“In addition, Caracas would likely support St Lucia’s bid because it refused to join President Bush’s “coalition of the willing,” choosing not to support the invasion of Iraq, an action viewed by President Hugo Chávez’s government as US imperialism at its apogee.” COHA noted that given the realities, St Lucia could be the most appropriate candidate to end the fierce politicking now taking place between the US and Venezuela, and its name might be very well tossed into the race in the next round of voting since neither Venezuela nor the US have much to gain by having this process being drawn out any longer.
As for our former UN ambassador, now in the throes of campaigning for the Gros Islet seat he said that St Lucia could not be more proud. “It is very flattering,” said Hunte, while adding that Cabinet will have to make a decision on whether St Lucia wants to enter the bid.“The Cabinet decision would have to weigh whether the cost is worth it. If they can join with the other countries in the region to keep the cost down then I would say go for it! It is a very influential position.”