Guyana to attend OAS Summit, other international forums

DPI, GUYANA, Sunday, April 8, 2018

Guyana will be represented at several international forums in the coming weeks, the first being the 72nd Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee from April 9-13, 2018 in London, United Kingdom (UK).

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who made the announcement recently, said the remit of the Marine Environment Protection Committee includes the control of ship sourced pollution such as sewage, garbage and greenhouse gas emissions.

The committee is also concerned with water management and pollution preparedness and response.

The meeting, Minister Harmon noted, will address issues such as international certification for the carriage of dangerous chemicals and will provide a forum for knowledge sharing on the environmental impact of oil spills and the mitigation of its adverse effects.

Director General of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Claudette Rogers, and Director General of the Frontiers Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Barbara Haley are attending the meeting.

This is followed by the country’s participation at the 8th Summit of the Organisation of American States (OAS) slated for April 13-14, 2018 in Lima, Peru under the theme, “Democratic Governance against corruption”.

The summit is aimed at coordinating concrete action among member states in the fight against corruption, which hinders sustainable development and transnational threats across the Western Hemisphere.

“Guyana’s participation will reiterate the Government’s continued commitment to fight corruption at the national and regional levels,” Minister Harmon noted.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, Guyana’s Ambassador to the OAS, Dr. Riyad Insanally, and Guyana’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Charlene Phoenix will comprise the Guyanese delegation.

Cabinet also granted approval for attendance at the World Bank’s 9th Forum of the Debt Management Facility in Brussels, Belgium from May 28-29, 2018.

Focus will be placed on policy relevant research, topics related to debt policy and management and the current challenges faced by developing countries with respect to debt policy, sustainability and management.

The growing complexities of portfolios and uncertain market conditions, the State Minister pointed out, will be addressed.

Head of the Debt Management Division, Ministry of Finance, Donna Heywood will be representing Guyana.

Further, Guyana also participated in the 9th Mid-term Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement which was held from April 4-6, 2018 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

It allowed participants to exchange views on how to respond to challenges facing member states individually and generally due to the changing economic, social and security environment.

Minister Harmon said participation at the Ministerial Conference allowed Guyana the opportunity to demonstrate its continued and strong interest in the founding principles of the Non-Aligned Movement and engagement in proactive diplomacy with regard to the preservation and sanctity of our borders.

Minister Greenidge, along with the Director of Multilateral and Global Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Troy Torrington, and First Secretary of Guyana’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN), Marissa Edwards attended the conference.

Additionally, Preparedness and Response Manager of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Sean Welcome, from April 5-6, 2018, participated in the Regional Summit on Disaster Risk Management held in Dominica.

The summit involved the sharing of lessons learnt during the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season, especially the effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

 

By: Stacy Carmichael