Third batch of Chinese volunteers arrives in Guyana

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Yu Wenzhe on June17 signed an agreement acknowledging the dispatch of the third batch of Chinese youth volunteers of Guyana.

The move is within the framework of the Agreement on Technical and Economic Cooperation between the governments of Guyana and China.

The third batch of Chinese youth volunteers here is yet another representation of the excellent relations enjoyed by both countries through people-to-people contact. This batch of 17 youth volunteers comprises specialists in the fields of environment engineering, geology, physical education, sports (table tennis and karate), computer technology, agriculture and ornamental horticulture. The volunteers will be assigned for one year to the Home Affairs, Education, Agriculture and Culture Youth and Sports ministries as well as to the Office of the President and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, Guyana has benefited from a similar project in 2007 and 2009, which saw the volunteers contributing to capacity and institutional strengthening in the sectors in which they were placed. The Foreign Affairs Ministry held a welcome ceremony on Friday at the Foreign Service Institute, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, where Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elisabeth Harper, emphasised that the dispatch of the Chinese volunteers indicates the commitment of the Chinese government to continue assisting Guyana in developing the skills that are critical to national development.

She expressed appreciation to the Embassy of China for sustaining the programme of cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Wenzhe acknowledged the orientation the volunteers had with the senior officials and representatives of the government agencies at which they are attached. He noted that the session was rewarding, and that the volunteers were made more aware of Guyana, its people, government and the environment. He urged the volunteers to use their skills and knowledge to serve the Guyanese people, and to learn as well. In this regard, he emphasised that the youths have room for improvement, particularly in mastering the English language.

During the next year, in addition to serving the people, the volunteers will have the opportunity to learn to improve their language skills.

Ambassador Wenzhe said the people- to- people contact between youths of Guyana and China is crucial to the continuation of relations between the two nations. Director of the Chinese Youth Volunteers Association, Yang Ye Gong, noted that with the promotion of the volunteer programmes in Guyana, it will be a better way to improve the relationship between the two countries. He expressed appreciation to the government for making the necessary arrangements for the volunteers, who will be sharing their knowledge and skills with the agencies they are assigned to. The services provided by the Chinese youth volunteers are in keeping with Guyana’s National Development Agenda, which in part focuses on the enhancement of human resource development and output in the various sectors. Guyana is appreciative of China’s continued assistance in the provision of expertise through the volunteer programme.