New US Ambassador nominee says will focus on border security, crime

New United States Ambassador nominee Perry L Holloway has pledged to work with Guyana in improving its border security, fighting crime and tackling the dreaded HIV/AIDS virus.

Halloway made the remarks during his confirmation hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 15, 2015. Halloway was nominated some months ago by President Barack Obama to become Guyana’s ambassador, but his confirmation had been delayed.

Halloway in remarks at his hearing said that Guyana was a key partner in bolstering regional security, noting that through the President’s Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, Washington was cooperating to counter the threats of transnational crime and terrorism.

He said improved security for all citizens of the Caribbean was essential to the Region’s future stability and prosperity, as well as to our interests. “I will work closely with the appropriate agencies of the US Government to strengthen our security cooperation with Guyana. Guyana is one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere. That is why we have historically worked with the Government and Private Sector to support efforts to diversify the economy and create new opportunities in agribusiness, aquaculture, wood products, and ecotourism. If confirmed, I will continue to work with the Government and Private Sector to strengthen Guyana’s market competitiveness, build its trade capacity, improve the investment climate, and promote greater two-way trade with the United States.” Halloway said.

Halloway added that if confirmed, he looked forward to working closely with the Foreign Relations Committee and all members of Congress to advance Washington’s interests in Guyana and the broader Caribbean Region.

Halloway told the Committee that he has had the honour to serve the US as a Foreign Service Officer for the past 26 years in nine countries. “I have served primarily in countries in the Western Hemisphere, so I am familiar with the types of challenges and opportunities that exist in Guyana. I have worked on programmes dealing with security, drug trafficking, democratic values and human rights, energy and the environment, Trafficking In Persons, corruption, and the exchange of people and ideas. I have extensive experience with interagency partners like USAID; [DoD] Department of Defence; Peace Corps; [DEA] Drug Enforcement Agency; and [DHS] Department of Homeland Security. If confirmed, I believe that my experience in the Region and my work with other agencies has prepared me well to lead the US mission in Guyana.”

He said Guyana was a country with tremendous potential with vast pristine rainforests, fertile agricultural lands, proven mineral resources, potentially large oil reserves, and a close affinity with the US. “It is also a country facing challenges from crime, poverty, corruption, HIV/AIDS, natural resource management, and drug trafficking. If confirmed, I will work with the Government and people of Guyana to confront these challenges and to continue to bolster economic growth, strengthen democracy and governance, improve the respect for human rights and rule of law, and promote opportunities for all. These are clearly areas of mutual interest,” Halloway said.

Multi-ethnic

Halloway told the Committee that Guyana recently held national elections and the party that had been in power since the country’s first democratic elections nearly 23 years ago was replaced. “The elections were deemed free and fair by the international community. This is an important indicator that Guyana is continuing to build on progress it has made since emerging as an independent nation in 1966 and instituting multi-party democracy in 1992.”

Halloway added that the new President and his multi-ethnic coalition Government have embarked on an ambitious transformative agenda for the county that centres on eliminating racial and ethnic exclusion, countering organised crime, combating corruption, developing infrastructure, broadening economic growth, and establishing sustainable management of the country’s natural resources.

Diaspora

Additionally, the US diplomat said Washington has a special link to Guyana through the many Guyanese who live in America. “It is estimated that there are more than 300,000 Guyanese in the United States and maybe another million people here of Guyanese descent. In Guyana itself, estimates are that over 70 per cent of Guyana’s citizens have family living in the United States. If confirmed, I look forward to collaborating with the hard-working diasporas in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and other states to find ways that they can contribute to a more stable and prosperous Guyana.”

Halloway is from South Carolina and is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counsellor.