Embassy of the Republic of Suriname, Washington, DC

Brief Remarks by Henry L. Mac Donald LL.M., and LL.M,
at the Special Meeting of the Permanent Council on the
Fifth Anniversary of the Inter American Democratic Charter,
Washington DC,
September 12, 2006.

The close relationship between my country and the Inter American Democratic Charter goes back to December 28, 1990, when a Special Meeting of this Council was called just before the New Year that strongly condemned the political events that took place in Suriname on Christmas Eve that year.

A few months later, the OAS strongly ratified that decision at its General Assembly in the illustrious Resolution 1080, no doubt thinking of the example that could be set regarding the relapse of democracy elsewhere in Latin America.

OAS Resolution AG/RES. 1080 was the fundamental document that 11 years later lead to the discussions on and the adoption of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, (the Democratic Magna Carta of the OAS).

A document which just 5 years after its adoption, has become the sole international instrument exclusively committed to defend and promote representative democracy.

An effective Hemispheric tool that established a mechanism for collective political action in the case of a sudden or irregular interruption of the democratic political institutional process, or of the legitimate exercise of power by the democratically-elected government, in any of the Organization’s members states, thereby fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of the OAS members states to be in the position, to respond rapidly and collectively in defense of democracy.

Although, September 11 is a dramatic and tragic day in world history, this day is as well a day of encouraging symbolism. September 11 is certainly a symbol of democratic celebration in the hemisphere, because the Inter America Democratic Charter was adopted at that day.
We, technically adopted and signed a Resolution, but this mechanism has so far been able to stand up to its robust task, and in fact has become the focal point of the most serious work that the OAS has called upon to perform, due to the political importance that, “We”, the member states attach to it.

Even though this tool has proven to be working, some influential scholars and politicians had warned that it needs significant strengthening and better utilization. We therefore need to take a critical look at these criticisms, while recognizing that they do not undermine the enormous political value of the instrument

It has been said countless times that the subject of democracy can no longer be detached from other equally important issues of the American Hemisphere. Modern democracy is not limited anymore to civil and political rights, but is nowadays also closely linked to social rights, which includes the right to development as the Charter stipulates in its first article:

“Democracy is essential for the social, political and economic development of the Peoples of the Americas”.

The time has therefore come for the OAS to also help facilitate the social and economic development of the Hemisphere. It is for this reason that we are eagerly looking forward to an OAS Social Charter with a firm collection of principles and rights that should improve the living standard in all the Americas significantly.

Allow me to reiterate the full and complete support of the Government of Suriname to the principles enshrined in the Inter American Democratic Charter and to the task of respecting and promoting this instrument in the American Hemisphere.