Jagdeo told a gathering here on Saturday that this opportunity will allow Guyana to contribute to policy decisions that will impact the region.

"Next year we will take over the leadership and all, the Latin Leaders are within UNASUR and we are trying to create greater opportunity for our people within this region in addition to being part of Caricom so that e don’t have to take policy direction from the north or the developed countries of the world which always felt that they have a monopoly over where countries and what should go and what decisions they should make… and I think being at the helm of the body next year we will be able to make a positive impact in the decision making process of this body and we will make our contribution accordingly ” Jagdeo told a recent Congress of a trade union here

The Caricom chairman noted that Guyana will not be engaged in the “speechifying” of progression by Latin American countries but rather be going head on with concrete position to push the integration of South America “we have to avoid the rhetoric without action, we have to clear with whatever we say we match it with action, if not we will forever be speaking about problems without resolving them” Jagdeo said

Jagdeo, who is also chairman of Caricom, says member countries should recommit to integration as they grapple with unprecedented global challenges.

This decision was taken during the UNASUR heads meeting where the 12 South American heads signed the Quito declaration vowing to strengthen regional integration.

The declaration addresses cooperation issues such as energy, the economy, health and education and called on the UNASUR energy council to map out an energy strategy, an action plan and an integration project.

It also calls on the economy ministers to complete research on the creation of a bank of the south, a fund of common reserves and the possible use of a regional payment and compensation system.
The leaders have also agreed to prioritize public health over economic and commercial interests, considering medicine as a public good in cases such as pandemics.

The creation of the council of human rights, and councils on the fight against drug trafficking, infrastructure and planning, social development as well as education, culture, science and technology has been mooted.

Ecuador president Rafael Correa has taken over the rotating presidency of UNASUR at that meeting and will hand over the reins to Jagdeo in 2010 when they meet in Georgetown, Guyana,

UNASUR was set up in 2008 among Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.