Some quite spirited interventions took place during last week’s two-day

‘Investment Forum’ at the Guyana International Conference Centre during working sessions that included lead participants from the government of Guyana, resident foreign diplomats, the local private sector, as well as technocrats from regional and external institutions.
Although some differences on sensitive issues pertaining to security and corruption were reflected in presentations and interventions, it was undoubtedly a useful initiative for which key players included top representatives of the USA and Canada, the latter via the well known and helpful Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
We have had cause to previously express misgivings about statements attributed to, and political postures adopted by, a few credited diplomatic representatives to Guyana’s responses to challenging issues like human trafficking and perceived public corruption.
Let there, however, be no minimising of the importance of last week’s Investment Forum because of apparent differences in approaches. Indeed, an honest and intelligent effort should be pursued by the principal organisers and sponsors of the event, with a view to identifying the core factors that emerged and which deserve to be sensibly pursued in good faith.
We think that such an approach would be consistent with enlightened partnership and claimed commitment for national security and development. The government and its local and foreign partners should therefore pursue the path of constructive engagement without, of course, any bartering of Guyana’s sovereignty.
Also to be critically evaluated should be the claim, perhaps referred to in good faith,  by Mr Francis Forbes, Executive Director of CARICOM’s security agency, IMPACS. It relates to his contention that Guyana’s successes in economic development could be at “’risk”, unless it pays more serious attention to corruption.
Now that the Investment Forum is behind us, it is to be assumed that the  IMPACS Executive Director would be prepared to share with the government how he came to such an understanding.