- discusses support for Guyana

Georgetown, GINA, April 1, 2008

One day after Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo and Cabinet members met two Regional Directors of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a follow up meeting was held today with a larger delegation to continue talks on the UN support to Guyana.
The visiting team included several UN Regional Directors of Latin America and the Caribbean.
They were the World Food Programme (WFP) the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Labour Organisation (ILO) the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony and Minister within the Ministry of Finance Jennifer Webster and UNDP Resident Coordinator Aboubacry Tall who attended yesterday’s meeting were also present today.
During the discussions a number of areas were highlighted which included restructuring of the productive sectors and ways in which the UN can be supportive to foster growth.
Citizens’ security and crime in Latin America and the Caribbean were also discussed and were acknowledged as common challenges.
The President used the occasion to outline several initiatives being undertaken by government regarding democratic rules and institutions and the importance of building on these institutions.
He also spoke about the importance of the entrepreneurial sector and the challenges faced by migration.
At the end of the meeting the UNDP Regional Director Rebeca Grynspan who was also part of the meeting said the discussions were highlighted by fruitful exchanges and the UN is committed to making a fervent effort to support many of Guyana’s priorities.