Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have joined several countries in the so-called ‘Shield of the Americas’ in condemning a challenge to the integrity of the electoral process in Colombia.
A statement issued by the United States State Department said that the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries had joined the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Paraguay in condemning the action as part of the ‘Shield of the Americas’ that was created by President Donald Trump.
‘We observe with deep concern the recent statements and actions that, without duly substantiated grounds, cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process in the Republic of Colombia and generate uncertainty regarding the normal course of the institutional transition,’ the joint statement said.
‘In every constitutional democracy, the sovereign will of the citizens – freely expressed at the ballot box and formalized by the competent electoral authorities – constitutes the sole foundation of the legitimacy of public power,’ it said, adding that ‘disregarding the results officially proclaimed by said authorities constitutes a serious disregard for the popular will and for the principles that underpin the Rule of Law.’
The countries also said that they reject ‘any action, statement, or decision that seeks to delegitimize the mandate conferred by the citizens, to discredit without basis the competent electoral authorities, or to obstruct the institutional transition, known in Colombia as the empalme process.
‘The transition between governments does not constitute a political concession, but rather a constitutional and institutional duty designed to guarantee the continuity of the State, democratic stability, and the effective fulfillment of the popular will,’ they said.
The governments issued ‘a firm call to all Colombian authorities to act in strict adherence to the Constitution, the law, and democratic principles; to respect the results officially proclaimed by the competent electoral authorities; and to guarantee a peaceful, orderly, and transparent transition, in accordance with the highest standards of the Rule of Law.’
On June 24, Trump-backed Colombian right-wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella, 47, narrowly won the June 24 president election with Trump publicly showing his distaste for Gustavo Petro, a former rebel and Colombia’s first leftist president.
Colombian leftist senator Ivan Cepeda, who acceded in the country’s presidential race, had strongly condemned Trump for interfering in the country’s electoral process.
De la Espriella, who holds dual US and Colombian citizenship, is a close Trump ally and member the US Republican Party. He defeated Cepeda by just one percentage point, and pledged Colombia’s membership into the ‘Shield of the America.’
De la Espriella will commence his four-year term on Aug. 7.
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert R. Ramdin, said he is looking forward to working closely with de la Espriella and to ‘continuing the valued partnership between Colombia and the OAS in advancing the shared goals of the Hemisphere.’
Ramdin also acknowledged ‘the democratic attitude of candidate Ivan Cepeda Castro in accepting the electoral results’.