Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
(From left), Juan Carlos Espinola, resident coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jamaica and Delano Franklyn, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, chat with students from St. Hilda's Diocese on High School at the United Nations Association of Jamaica (UNAJ) forum held yesterday at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston. - BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
DELANO FRANKLYN, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, has proposed the overhaul of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.
Speaking on the theme: "Peaceful Co-existence among the World's Nations is Possible but Tenuous", he said this was necessary for the global body to effectively manage current issues affecting world order.
"Jamaica supports the view that the UN must be reformed," he said yesterday while addressing a United Nations Association of Jamaica forum held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.
"Included among the reform is the Security Council which still reflects the balance of power of 1945."
The UN was formed in 1945 with 51 countries. It now has 191 countries. Jamaica joined the UN in 1962. In calling for the reform of the Security Council, Mr. Franklyn stated that the body excludes major countries of global power in Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East.
Additionally, he said that Jamaica has been a vigorous advocate and supporter of a rule-based system of international co-operation for achieving global peace.
PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE
But Mr. Franklyn stated that peaceful co-existence included the prevention and elimination of poverty, and the removal of gross inequality between and among nations. He said peaceful co-existence also requires more powerful countries respecting the rights of smaller ones.
"A better global balance of permanent members is necessary to enhance the Council's legitimate right to rule on international disputes," said the Foreign Affairs State Minister. "In other words, Jamaica believes that the Security Council should be reformed to make it more democratic in nature, representative in scope, and transparent in operations and procedures."
To this end, Mr. Franklyn said last year UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan established a 16-member high-level panel to review the UN's principal organs. He said member-states will soon formally consider the panel's recommendations at the 60th Session of the General Assembly later this year.
"Jamaica is currently studying the report and will have a definitive position on the specific proposals," Mr. Franklyn said, adding that Jamaica's preferred position is to work within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for either a collective or majority position.
