ST GEORGE’S, Grenada – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman, Tillman Thomas, today welcomed the peaceful transition of power in Egypt describing the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak as “a momentous occasion”.
“I think it is a transition that we all be supportive of because they have a situation where the people are calling for more democratic rights and you have the military actually cooperating with the transition,” said Thomas, who is also Grenada’s Prime Minister.
He told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the resignation “should send a message to the world that the time has come for autocratic to be out of office .
“The world is becoming more of a global village with the advent of the Internet and communication, people are seeing what is happening and it is difficult to suppress people’s rights permanently as it has been done in the past.
“So it is really a victory for democracy and the democratic forces and i expect all those who support democracy and democratic institutions to give whatever aid and assistance to help Egypt build a borad based democracy,” he added.
Mubarak, who has been in office for more than three decades, stepped down after three weeks of demonstrations by various groups calling for more openness, transparency and the lifting of undemocratic measures in the North African country.
Thomas told CMC that he was not concerned about more violence in the country given the fact that the people there have now found a new found freedom.
“It is certainly natural for people to be open to be free, it is in man’s nature to live in an atmosphere where he is free to express his or her views and elect whoever that they want to represent them.
“There may be some initial problem like any change in situation but if you look at the development of civil society it is natural for people to want to live in an environment where they could elect their representative or where they have freedom of expression, freedom to associate, a trade union, a free press, democratic elections, everybody welcomes this,” he added.
Thomas said that it is likely that the matter would be further discussed at the CARICOM Inter-sessional summit that will be held here February 25-26. (CMC)
