UNDP Deputy SG impressed with Guyana’s development
Written by Gina Webmasters, Published in News, Georgetown, GINA, July 17, 2014, Source - GINA
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Secretary General, Ms Jessica Faieta and UNDP’s Resident Coordinator, Ms Khadija Musa toast at the reintroduction ceremony for Ms Faieta
Twenty years ago she visited Guyana at the beginning of her career with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a volunteer, and now two decades later, Jessica Faieta is here once more and very impressed with the positive changes and the level of progress that Guyana has made.
As part of her ongoing tour of the Caribbean, after being appointed as the new UNDP Assistant Secretary General/UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, members of the UNDP Office in Guyana hosted a cocktail reception in her honour at Cara Lodge on Thursday.
UNDP’s Assistant Secretary General, Ms Jessica Faieta speaking to invitees at a cocktail reception in her honour
Apart from members of the media and the local UNDP office, also in attendance were singing group, Circle of Love whose members entertained the invitees with a number of national songs, members of the diplomatic corps, parliament, and civil society, and Presidential Advisor Gail Teixeira and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.
Faieta said she was grateful for the partnership that the Guyanese Government and the UNDP share; because of how committed the Government is when it comes to developing Guyana.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Presidential Advisor Gail Teixiera, amongst attendees
When asked about new and ongoing projects that Guyana and the UNDP are working on, Faieta said that the organisation is collaborating closely with the Government on projects related to the environment, sustainable development, climate change and human rights.
Projects with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs are currently in progress, from land titling to opening different windows of opportunities for the indigenous people in the hinterland. A US$10.7 million agreement between the Guyana Government and the UNDP in 2013 will cater for 13 Amerindian communities to be issued with titles, while 33 others are to be demarcated.
Ms Jessica Faieta receives a token of appreciation from UNDP members
The Youth Empowerment, Inclusion and Reconciliation Project (YEIRP), executed by the Local Government Ministry is funded by the UNDP. This project addresses challenges of inadequate youth participation in governance, and the persistent social challenges which deprive youths of fulfillment of their rights.
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development recently signed an agreement with the India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) Trust Fund through the UNDP for the implementation of a US$1.9M Solid Waste Management Project.