Guyana appreciative of EU support to ongoing development efforts – President - during Europe Day
In a current global environment where economic instability is posing a severe challenge to economies both large and small, the Guyana Government is holding firm to the belief that fostering greater partnership with the international community is the best recourse.
At a reception in honour of “Europe Day” this evening President Donald Ramotar at the Bel Air Springs residence of Ambassador Robert Kopecky, the EU Head of Delegation to Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, said small countries like Guyana in its journey to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 2015 target, must build sound partnerships.
President Donald Ramotar and EU Head of Delegation
to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecky toast on the
occasion of Europe Day. Miss India Worldwide 2012
Alana Seebarran looks on
Guyana’s relations with the EU began with the signing of the historic Georgetown Agreement which paved the way for support to the Guyana Government in agriculture, education, training, low cost housing, health, public and private sector development, sea defences and coastal management.
The EU has supported improvement in the quality of life in hinterland communities through funding mechanisms such as the Toshaos’ building at Bina Hill and the North Rupununi Development project.
President Donald Ramotar delivering remarks on
“Europe Day” in the presence of EU Head of
Delegation to Guyana, Ambassador Robert
Kopecky and British High Commissioner
Andrew Ayre (right)
Only recently the EU and the Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) sealed a grant of 8.6 million euros aimed at improving policies and incentives to support productivity and profitability of the region’s small agri producers and entrepreneurs.
Termed the inter ACP Agriculture Policy Programme (APP) for the Caribbean, the four-year programme will see IICA partnering with the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to encourage applied technology, research and innovation, entrepreneurship development, local and market linkages to address the development needs of small producers/entrepreneurs.
EU Head of Delegation to Guyana, Ambassador
Robert Kopecky speaking at an occasion to mark
Europe Day. Beside him are British High
Commissioner Andrew Ayre (left) Miss India
Worldwide 2012 Alana Seebarran (right)
Beneficiaries will include all participating CARIFORUM nations with Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Tourism and other key regional institutions and universities partnering.
Considered a significant donor, the EU is at present finalising cooperation under the Tenth European Development Fund (EDF) 2007 to 2013, and is in talks to commence the eleventh multi-annual financial framework covering the period 2014 and 2020.
“I am pleased to acknowledge that the European Union has been helpful to us as we seek to implement developmental projects, through the provision of technical and financial assistance under the European Development Fund. We welcome the continued development assistance to the ACP countries,” President Ramotar said.
EU Head of Delegation to Guyana, Ambassador
Robert Kopecky and wife Eliska Kopecky
(second from right) introduces President
Donald Ramotar to their colleague during Europe Day
He took the opportunity to express the Guyana Government’s appreciation for assistance that has over the years been channelled by the EU to support the country’s efforts at national development, democracy and sustainability.
Ambassador Kopecky advised that beneficiary countries pursue efforts to strengthen economic, financial and political cooperation so that funding is rationalised and common markets for goods, capital and labour are improved.
Last November, the Joint Caribbean EU Partnership Strategy was adopted paying attention to regional cooperation and integration within the Caribbean, reconstruction of Haiti, climate change and mitigation, crime and security and joint actions in bi-regional and multilateral fora on global issues.
Amidst the commendations, President Ramotar echoed the Guyana Government’s concerns about the new policies and principles that will govern cooperation as defined by the EU’s new development Policy Communication Agenda for Change.
The concern, according to President Ramotar, has also been echoed by other CARICOM countries and relates to differentiation and the future challenges linked to this new approach for the region.
“Guyana underscored the need to maintain current levels of European bilateral development assistance to CARIFORUM as well as other ACP countries,” President Ramotar explained.
“Europe Day” celebrated on May 9, marks the day a declaration by then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman in 1950 brought into establishment the European Union (EU).
In commemoration of Europe Day, the doors of the EU are open to the public allowing citizens to get a first-hand look at the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the Commission, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, and the Office of the Ombudsman.