Guyana bids US Ambassador farewell

DPI, Guyana, Friday, November 16, 2018

Guyana expressed its gratitude to the United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, whose mission to Guyana will come to an end in early December.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenridge, who is currently performing the duties of Prime Minister, acknowledged the critical role the US played in facilitating the process that led to the Arbitral Award of 1899.

Prime Minister performing the duties of President, Moses Nagamootoo, and his wife pose with outgoing US Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway and his wife.

Outgoing US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway raise a toast in the presence of his wife, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his wife, Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenridge.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, who is performing the functions of Prime Minister, in discussion with Ambassador Holloway and Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Guyana, Terry Steers-Gonzalez.

At a farewell reception hosted at the Ambassador’s residence on Friday evening, Ambassador Holloway was credited in “large measure” for leading the US calling for all parties to respect the 1899 Arbitral Award that delineated Guyana and Venezuela’s border.

“We are most delighted to receive that message and also to receive the message through the instrumentality of Ambassador Perry Holloway,” Minister Greenridge said.

The minister also expressed his gratitude to the Ambassador for his patience and attentiveness to the many concerns he addressed during his tenure.

Ambassador Holloway’s mission in Guyana concludes early December. The Ambassador arrived in Guyana in September 2015.

In his final address as Ambassador, Holloway said he took pride in the work his mission has accomplished across sectors in Guyana and reiterated the importance of Guyana’s oil industry to the country’s development.

“Many people still do not get how big this is. Come 2020, GDP will go up by 300 to 1,000 per cent. This is gigantic. You will be the richest country in the hemisphere and potentially the richest country in the world,” Ambassador Holloway pointed out.

The Ambassador also commended Guyana for hosting its second consecutive Local Government Elections (LGE) noting, “No matter what you say about the turnout, I would say democracy was the big winner because people did get a chance to vote. I hope this continues.”

Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, Terry Steers-Gonzalez, highlighted some of the Ambassador’s accomplishments during his tenure in Guyana.

Under his more-than three-year mission in Guyana, Ambassador was also credited for the opening of a Drug Enforcement Office (DEA) in Guyana in February 2016 along with facilitating funding and training for Guyana’s security forces.

The US invested over $524M (US$2.5M) in the training and equipment of more than 1,1298 law enforcement.

Under Ambassador Holloway’s tenure, more than 18,000 immigrant visas were issued while more than 86,133 non-immigrant visas were issued.

Ambassador Holloway will retire after nearly 30 years of service to the US government.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who is currently performing the duties of President, his wife Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo, Ministers of Government, Members of Parliament, the Opposition and the private sector were among those present to bid Ambassador farewell.

Tiffny Rhodius.

Images: Keno George.