Statement from Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings On the Signing of Memorandum of Agreement for the United Nations House

Director General and Director of the Ministry, Mr.Navindra Persaud, Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Development Programme.

The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on UN House today, signals the continued strengthening of the partnership between the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the UN agencies and its funds and programmes.

The United Nations Development System has a long record of delivering results. Over the decades, it has generated ideas and solutions that have changed the world especially through the pursuit, for instance, of the MDGs. It is increasingly realized that achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the SDGs and addressing the many new challenges facing the world now require a greatly re – envisioned UNDS, with a new generation of country teams s upported by bold and accountable leadership.

In our collective journey towards sustainable development, the Government of Guyana is fully convinced that the United Nations Development System, for the foreseeable future, will remain a reliable partner to a ssist our country in its efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals, and our Green State D evelopment Strategy: Vision 2040 (GSDS).

We have therefore been active in the discourse on the positioning of the UNDS to optimize its contribution. The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement puts the word to deed.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Guyana is fortunate to be one of the four CARICOM countries of the Caribbean in which a UNDP country office is located. We will ensure that the United Nations in Guyana is adequately equipped to carry out its work and to even grow and expand its presence while enhancing its efficiency.

Member States like ours have been fully involved in the design of the new system and in the restructuring of the Resident Coordinator and U N Country Team systems in order to better meet the specific needs of CARICOM Member States.

The Government and people of Guyana are pleased that the UN House advances the reform agenda of the UN Development System to “Deliver as One” and to achieve coherence and efficiency in their business operations and development effectiveness.

We look forward to the continued partnership as development assistance from UN agencies, funds and programmes continue under the Country Implementation Plan as part of the Multi-country Sustainable Development Framework in the Caribbean for 2017-2021.

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