Remarks by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Hugh Hilton Todd, at the Virtual Guyanese Republic Jubilee Awards Ceremony and Cultural Presentation

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Ms. Anyin Choo, Consul General, Consulate General of Guyana in Toronto Honourees.

I am delighted to be given this opportunity to address tonight’s gathering in a setting that has not only become the new normal for people around the globe, but one that nevertheless is providing us with the opportunity to open up new connections with our Diaspora.

I am particularly honoured to be sharing this platform with His Excellency President Irfaan Ali who, extremely mindful of the significant contributions of the Guyanese Diaspora to our country, is keen to ensure that there is an enhanced collaboration between his Government and the Diaspora. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation serves as the primary conduit between the Diaspora on the one hand, and the Government and people of Guyana on the other and we are anxious to work for the practical implementation of the Government’s policy of enhanced Diaspora engagement.

I wish to commend the organisers, Consul General Ms. Anyin Choo and her team at the Consulate General of Guyana in Toronto, as well as the Guyana 50th Republic Anniversary Celebration Committee, for their tenacity in ensuring that this event has come to fruition at this time.

I am quite certain that this will be an enjoyable night filled with the richness of Guyana’s culture and the ingenuity of our people.

Ladies and Gentlemen, over the last decade, the entire world has come to recognise the extremely valuable role that Diaspora communities can play in their home country’s development.   This well researched, evidence based and strategic approach to Diaspora engagement has helped to ensure that the concept is factored into the economic and social development plans of countries world over, Guyana being no exception.    The available skills, expertise, and resources that the Diaspora possesses, are of extreme importance and can only be suitably utilised through a structured approach to our interactions with Guyanese nationals around the world- through what we call Enhanced Diaspora Engagement.

It is no secret that Emigration has long been a significant aspect of our country’s relationship with the rest of the world and this phenomenon has helped shape our development at home, for better and for worse.   Therefore, as Guyana enters into an era of economic transformation, it is vital that our country prepares to embrace new migration trends and to create incentives that will encourage the return of Guyanese to participate in and promote this new Guyanese economy.

For too long there has been a disproportionate focus on the transfer of remittances as the pinnacle of Diaspora relations.   While it is true that remittances from migrants to their families has contributed greatly to the economies of developing countries, I believe that it is now opportune that we prioritise investment by the Diaspora as a key element to our Government’s plan for long-term economic development.  

The Government of Guyana is committed to strengthening the relationship with our nationals living abroad to assist interested investors in developing and implementing their business ideas at home.   We will ensure that efforts are made to address the hurdles to doing business in Guyana and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will work closely with our partners like the Guyana Office for Investment to ensure that this goal of attracting sustained Diaspora investment is accomplished.

Another key aspect to our engagement with the Diaspora, is re-migration.  We know, as is evidenced by those being honoured tonight, that the Diaspora is a community rich with skills and knowledge across a wide range of sectors.   As is clearly outlined in the Manifesto of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, the Government of Guyana in pursuit of encouraging skilled Guyanese to return home, will reverse any adverse changes to the re- migrant scheme and will implement policies to facilitate the return of Guyanese in a manner that is simple and mutually beneficial to the Diaspora and the people of Guyana.

The Government sees a role for Diaspora investment not only in the new oil and gas sector, but also in the traditional sectors of the Guyanese economy, those sectors that have always been the pillars of our economic activity and national development.     

As the Guyanese economy expands, as is predicted, there will emerge more and more opportunities for sustained investments and expertise in the areas of Education and Health.   In this regard, the Diaspora can provide a pool from which Guyana can harness talent for development.    It is for this reason that the Government of Guyana believes that the conversation with the Diaspora must not only be construed as being necessary, but also must be frequent and meaningful.

Guyana has been fortunate to experience the goodwill of our Diaspora Communities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has had the pleasure of working to assist philanthropic missions, and we know there are countless others whose philanthropy, both large and small, has provided life–saving support to their fellow Guyanese.  I am aware of the work and achievements of many of the individuals who are being honoured tonight, and I wish to assure you that the Government of Guyana is committed to providing increased support to credible efforts that would result in mutually beneficial collaboration.

Perhaps within the context of all the plans for the sustainable and beneficial collaboration between the Diaspora and the Capital there exists a need for our major Diaspora centres in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, to connect within a collective arrangement and ensure that a common Diaspora policy permeates relations between the Diaspora and the Capital.    

The portability of Diaspora skills and resources can be facilitated through such a structured approach, thereby filling gaps and matching needs with available resources in a timely and sustained manner.

The Government of Guyana’s Enhanced Diaspora Engagement has swiftly moved from a Manifesto promise to a policy decision, and in this regard, it is vital that our rhetoric is followed by action.    

However, our actions must be guided by coherent policies that will guarantee our success while ensuring that there is both transparency and accountability. In short, our goal is to implement an all-encompassing Diaspora Engagement Strategy and Action Plan that addresses the concerns that members of the Diaspora have expressed over many years.  In this regard, I am happy to inform you that over the past five months, we have worked closely with the International Organisation for Migration and other relevant stakeholders on further refining and making fit for purpose such a policy document. This policy once implemented will guide Government’s action for many years to come and as such it is of utmost importance that it is designed with respect for the interests of the Diaspora and the residents of Guyana, and is supported by carefully gathered and reviewed data.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation looks forward to working with you towards the achievements of these objectives for the development of this country of ours, Guyana, which we all deeply love. My best wishes for the Season and for a Happy, Prosperous and Productive New Year.