. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/110 
2 December 2009 
 (09-6390) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   English 
 
  
GUYANA 
 
Statement by H.E. Dr. Patrick I Gomes
 
Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO  
   Guyana congratulates you on your assumption to the chairmanship of this Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization and places full support in making it a successful 
encounter.  Guyana believes that this conference is  both timely and necessary, particularly in view of 
the numerous and combined crises which are confro nting us presently – fina ncial, economic, food and 
climate change.  Each of the aforementioned crises presents serious challenges and requires bold initiatives to mitigate the results  and negative implications. 
  That we have not met for almost four years serves to underscore the need for clear political 
signals so that, as a body, we can cover the remaini ng journey to bring these pr otracted negotiations to 
a successful conclusion.  Specifically, an outcome that is equitable would give true expression to the objectives of being a development round.  May I stre ss that it is DEVELOPMENT to which we have 
committed our governments.  Nothing less will be  acceptable or sustainable for our economies, 
particularly for Small Vulnerable Economies and the Least Development Countries.  
 
 Guyana entered these negotiations with a few overarching guiding principles.  Our legitimate 
expectations are, in no order of priority:    (i) At the conclusion of these negotiations Gu yana and all developing countries must not 
be worse off; 
 
 (ii) Special and Differential treatment s hould be a integral part of the DDA; and 
  (iii) Guyana is prepared to make a fair contribution and undertake obligations consistent 
with its level of development.  
 
 As predominantly agriculture based ec onomy Guyana places great emphasis on the 
Agriculture negotiations.  Reform efforts have  been ongoing to both increase competitiveness in 
current production activities such as rice and sugar, as well as to diversify our economy.  However, as 
a Small, Vulnerable Economy, Guyana, like small economies, especially the 14 member states of the 
Caribbean Community (CARICOM), is often constr ained by inherent characteristics from making 
optimal use of opportunities presented by the multilateral trading system.  For us, the multilateral trading system is as strong as its weakest members.  There is therefore need for a mutually supportive 
and complementary trade and non-trade approach to address the particular concerns of countries that 
exhibit these characteristics.  We therefore urged that greater attention be placed on speedy implementation the Small Economies Work Programme. 
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   On the trade policy side, for instance, we ar e very encouraged as well as concerned by the 
modalities applicable to SVEs in the December  2008 texts on Agriculture and Non-Agriculture 
Market Access.  However, at a minimum, should be  complemented by a simp le and effective special 
safeguard mechanism (SSM).  This is essential to address food security  concerns and to enable agro-
based economies achieve higher value production.  
 
 I now wish to turn briefly to address the Ai d for Trade agenda. Commendable work has been 
done by the WTO under the guidance of Director General Lamy to monitor the delivery of Aid for Trade resources.  Guyana welcomes the efforts, but be lieves that greater focus is  needed to ensure that 
such aid is predictable, transparent, additional a nd that the conditionalities are not onerous.  There can 
ultimately render the intervention ineffective.  This also demands e nhanced coherence among 
multilateral institutions, in particular the WTO and the Bretton Woods institutions.  The urgency in 
this regard cannot be over emphasised, particular ly in light of the effects of the financial and 
economic crisis.  
 The foregoing are just a few issues of param ount importance to Guyana.  Additional issues of 
importance are elaborated in the Declaration and Communiqué adopted by ACP Ministers on 
13 November 2009 in Brussels.  
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