U.S. commits to strengthening governance, security in Guyana

United States Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt said Washington looks forward to working with this country to improve its economy, while strengthening public safety and democratic governance.

Hardt made the remarks while addressing the 16th Annual Awards Presentation and Dinner hosted by Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) On December 2 at the Princess Hotel.

The U.S. envoy said that he looks forward to working with the government and people of Guyana to forge a mutually beneficial partnership for the 21st century.

During his presentation, Ambassador Hardt served up a four-part menu of measures which he said had been identified by U.S. President Barack Obama to build strong partnerships with governments, business communities, and civil societies in the Caribbean region.

The measures have been tailored to expand economic opportunities in Guyana, to strengthen safety and security measures, to improve public health, and to strengthen democratic governance.

In 2010, according to the ambassador, Guyana traded more with the U.S.A. than with any other country in the world, exporting some US$298.6 million worth of goods while importing US$290.4 million in American goods. Statistics for 2011 already indicate that trade values will likely surpass the 2010 values, the ambassador said, noting “this is good news”.

Many of the goods exported to the U.S., including sugar, seafood, fruit, plantains and other agricultural products, enjoy duty-free access under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Agreement. This agreement was extended last year to 2020. The ambassador stated that there is ample evidence that Guyanese and American private businesses are already partnering productively, citing the ebullience of Atlantic Tele-Network (part owner of GT&T); Seaboard Corporation (owner of NAMILCO); and Delta Airlines, along with the Pizza Hut, United Parcel Services and Federal Express franchises.

There are programmes already in place to boost Guyana’s exports to the U.S., prime among which is the USAID Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) project that is collaborating with local businesses to open up new opportunities for goods and services in non-traditional agriculture, eco-tourism, and wood products.

GTIS, Hardt said, is utilising technology to create direct linkages with farmers and large-scale producers and to help transfer such new-age technologies as drip irrigation and greenhouse farming. The ultimate goal is export of high quality GlobalCap certified fruits, vegetables, and tilapia to Caribbean and U.S. markets.

Promotion of Guyana’s tourism product and ecotourism also ranks high on the US’s agenda. Hardt indicated that efforts are being made to help attract high-end visitors to enjoy the ‘fantastic diversity’ of Guyana’s wildlife, for bird watching and sport fishing”.

“Only last week, USAID invited a group of sport fishing enthusiasts with film crews for a guided tour of Guyana’s interior (regions),” the ambassador said, adding that Guyana is clearly emerging as an attractive eco-tourist destination.

In addition, the U.S. government is very supportive of Guyana’s efforts to sustainably manage rainforests and protect the Guiana Shield. The objective is to help the Guyana government develop a more comprehensive Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system; a National Forest Inventory, and other specialised means of registering carbon capture in order to adhere more closely to REDD+targets.

The anticipated development of a viable hydrocarbon industry in Guyana also forms part of the U. S. menu of measures for Guyana’s development. The ground is already being prepared for new regulations and policies to govern the impending oil and gas sector and its downstream industries, and the U.S. has committed to partnering with relevant authorities to prepare the nation for its sustainable development.

Technical assistance will come from the U.S. Energy Governance Capacity Initiative (EGCI) to support industry oversight and oil revenue management in order to ensure that “oil wealth achieves broad-based economic growth and prosperity,” the ambassador noted.

Partnering in security

On the volatile subject of national security, Ambassador Hardt noted that Guyana and the Caribbean are facing a common challenge from widespread criminal activities that have become transnational.

He referred to the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), which President Obama launched in Port of Spain in 2009 to help Caribbean governments address the full range of security challenges facing the region. The core objectives are reduction of illicit trafficking, improving public safety, and promoting social justice.

“We can only succeed in this task by working closely together and adopting a comprehensive approach to strengthening maritime interdiction capabilities, professionalising law enforcement agencies, and limiting the appeal of ‘fast money’ by providing new opportunities for at-risk youths,” he said.

The CBSI has already emerged as a strong partnership that has brought together the countries of the Caribbean with the U.S., Canada, the UK and other EU countries in technical working groups and policy dialogues. The U.S. provided US$139 million over the first two years of the programme and the Obama administration has committed to continued involvement in this process.