FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER JOINS COMMONWEALTH IN SUPPORT OF GUYANA

Foreign Affairs Minister, E.P. Chet Greene, joined a cohort of Commonwealth Ministers, Sunday, to decry the ongoing border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela and to reiterate support for Guyana’s territorial integrity.  Minister Greene was attending the 70th Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Full statement below:

Concluding Statement of the Seventieth Meeting of the
Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
21 September 2025

1. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) held its Seventieth meeting in
   New York City on Sunday, 21 September 2025. The meeting was chaired by Hon Dr
   Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of
   Malta. Honourable Ministers and distinguished representatives from Antigua and
   Barbuda, Botswana, Canada, Grenada, Malaysia, Mauritius, Samoa, and Zambia were
   in attendance.
2. The Group reaffirmed its commitment to the fundamental values and principles of
   the Commonwealth as enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter.
3. The Group welcomed the report from the Secretary-General on her Good Offices
   engagements with member states, a mechanism to protect and promote
   Commonwealth values and principles.
4. The Group received reports from the Gabonese Republic. Following the decision to
   lift Gabon’s partial suspension at their last meeting in July 2025, Ministers reviewed
   recent developments and commended Gabon on their continued progress on the
   election timetable for the conduct of upcoming legislative and local elections. The
   Group also encouraged the Government to utilise all the available technical support
   from the Commonwealth to deepen the rule of law, and to further peace,
   democratic stability, and good governance.
5. The Group endorsed the outcomes of the 11 September 2025 meeting of the
   Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana (CMGG) and reaffirmed its steadfast,
   strong, and unconditional support for Guyana’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and
   Guyana’s right to develop its whole territory for the benefit of its people. The Group
   welcomed the CMGG’s encouragement to the parties to continue to engage with the
   International Court of Justice as the Court proceeds in 2026 to the oral hearings on
   the merits of the case.
6. The Group reiterated the importance of the Commonwealth’s support for the
   territorial integrity and sovereignty of all member states.
7. The Group applauded the Secretariat’s work to strengthen partnerships with
   regional and international organisations, and with the international development
   community to promote sustainable development, democracy, good governance,
   stability, and peace.
8. Ministers also welcomed the work of the Secretariat in strengthening democratic
   institutions, respect for human rights and the rule of law through the whole of
   electoral cycle approach in member states.
9. Ministers reflected with concern on the growing pressures to democracy, the rule of
   law, judicial independence, human rights, and democratic space faced by all
   countries, including those within our Commonwealth family. The Group encouraged
   members to support the Good Offices of the Secretary-General and the work of the
   Secretariat to accompany the members of our Commonwealth family as they work
   to entrench the values of the Commonwealth in their nations.
10. It was agreed that the next meeting of CMAG will be convened in March 2026 in
    London during Commonwealth Week.
    

21 September 2025