USAID has been a quiet force of progress in Guyana – Country Director

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said it has been a quiet force of progress here, extolling its many achievements, one of them being the landmark Soesdyke-Linden Highway, which according to the agency remains one of the legacies of U. S. cooperation with the people and government of Guyana and stands as a testimony to the long relationship between two countries.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of President John F Kennedy’s creation of USAID. In a message to mark the occasion, USAID Guyana Director Eric Kite said whether vaccinating children against preventable diseases, improving crop yields, or responding to disasters, the agency has been a quiet force for progress not only in Guyana but 100 other countries, fostering a more peaceful and secure world.

“On this occasion, USAID/Guyana takes the opportunity to reflect on our work with the Guyanese people to expand economic growth, protect Guyana’s unique biodiversity, improve health and strengthen democratic governance,” Kite said. Speaking about its assistance to Guyana, Kite noted that USAID’s programmes in support of economic growth have resulted in strategic, export-focused partnerships with the Guyanese private sector.

In the agriculture sector, he said, green houses and modern technology, such as drip irrigation, have been introduced to produce high-value crops, such as butternut squash, peppers, galia melons, and zucchini.

Additionally, he said support for farmers up and down the supply chain has built a critical mass of exporters, allowing for a negotiated decrease in air cargo costs with Caribbean Airlines. “This has increased the volume and consistency in shipments to Caribbean markets – which now benefits all exports from Guyana,” Kite said in his message.

In eco-tourism, USAID was instrumental in establishing Guyana as a foremost birding and eco- tourism destination, and several interior lodges have won prestigious international awards, Kite said. These achievements have led to vastly improved occupancy rates.

Further, USAID’s Democracy and Governance programme has provided critical support to the Guyana Elections Commission to fulfill its role in the holding of transparent, free and fair elections. “USAID also introduced the use of mediation to reduce the backlog of court cases, and as an alternative form of dispute resolution.According to Kite, as one of the U.S. government’s implementing agencies for PEPFAR, USAID, through its health programme, has tackled the threat of HIV/AIDS and strengthened health infrastructure to address wider health issues. He said working with the Health Ministry’s Materials Management Unit, USAID has developed computerised systems for requesting, tracking, storing, and distributing all drugs and supplies throughout the country. This system, he said, serves as a model for the Caribbean region and other countries and teams from Rwanda and St Lucia have visited Guyana to learn from its operations. “These are major accomplishments that could not have been realised without the commitment and involvement of all our partners, public and private. On behalf of all the men and women of USAID in Guyana, I would like to thank the Guyanese people for your partnership and friendship. USAID will continue to reflect our shared values, character and fundamental belief in doing the right thing,” Kite said in his message.