By Jarryl Bryan
Agreements signed last Saturday with the People’s Republic of China would allow for concessional funding for the Information Communication Technology (ICT) and other sectors, as Guyana hosted the Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister on a State Visit.
The signing took place at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre following brief bilateral talks with Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
While one agreement was for a concessional loan between the two governments, another was for “economic and technical cooperation”.
Speaking on the agreements, Greenidge noted that proposals would now have to be evaluated to receive funding.
“During the meeting, we discussed how the two countries would move forward with the cooperation areas identified,” Greenidge explained.
“While the MoU includes broad areas of trade and people-to-people exchange, we must now identify specific proposals that can be evaluated at the technical level.
“We are committed to utilising the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as existing bilateral mechanisms to channel support to critical sectors, mainly infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy, health and ICT, in order to bring direct benefits to the citizens,” Greenidge explained.
He further explained that one of the projects signed into place was to implement the Guyana National Broadband Project, to upgrade networks for delivering services in the education, health and security sectors. The project for technical and economic cooperation, he explained, would also include funding for the Public Sector College.
Those aside, Greenidge revealed, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has commenced discussions with other Government agencies in order to get their input, assess their needs, and identify their priority areas for funding.
“These agencies are represented here, and we are committed to utilising this new framework of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as existing bilateral mechanisms to channel support to critical sectors, namely infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy, health, and ICT inter alia, in order to bring direct benefits to our citizens,” he noted.
“You also witnessed this morning the official handing over of China’s contribution towards our hosting of the Seventeenth Session of the Committee for the Review and Implementation of the Convention, CRIC 17, of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, (to be held) in January of 2019. I believe that it is the first occasion on which the Government of China has contributed cash to this very important undertaking,” Greenidge said.
In his address, delivered through an interpreter, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hailed the bond existing between the two states, and acknowledged Guyana’s status as one of the most influential in the Caribbean.
In fact, Minister Yi was optimistic that Guyana could play a part in China’s cooperation with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
“Today we covered much ground on our bilateral cooperation agenda. Also, we talked of future priorities for cooperation, including construction, fisheries, agriculture, renewable energy sources, ICT, education, sports and public health,” he declared.
“We will continue to do what we can to assist Guyana, our old friend. We would be happy to see our friend Guyana, another developing country, achieve faster progress and prosperity,” Minister Yi said.
Benefits
In an interview with the media following the signing, Chairman of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Floyd Levi, gave some more details in regard to the funding secured for the ICT sector.
“You’ve seen the signing today for the National Broadcast Network expansion. You may be aware that some of the towers we use with the e-governance network are all around Georgetown and the coast. Now, there are some gaps, and the signing today is meant to address those gaps,” he explained.
“In terms of tangibles, we’ll have improvements in our data centre… improvements in the capacity of our network. Our network includes fibre optic cables and microwave technology. We’ll improve all of those, and we’ll also have solutions geared towards the security sector that will focus on more cameras, (and) better location of the cameras; for instance, at points of entry and exit for Guyana. We’ll be improving the smart classrooms,” he promised.
Levi described some other aspects of the plans, some tangible benefits of which will include enhancements in Government’s data centre, and platforms for doctors to have sessions with patients remotely. The broadband project, he noted, costs some US$37.6 million.
When speaking of Chinese assistance to developing countries, the Belt and Road Initiative, or the Silk Road Economic Belt, is often cited. The project aims to connect the disparate regions in China’s near and distant neighbourhoods through a massive programme of infrastructure building.
Guyana became part of the initiative when Greenidge and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July of this year.
