–British MP warns against heavy dependence on oil and gas sector

By Alva Solomon

GUYANA is to benefit from the receipt of £$53M in financial assistance from the United Kingdom, and that country has noted its willingness to assist in development of the local business sector, including in oil and gas initiatives.This was revealed on Tuesday by visiting British Member of Parliament (MP) James Duddridge during a press briefing at the Bel Air Gardens residence of British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn.

In Guyana to meet with various bodies, including the Government, the Opposition and civil society among others, Duddridge told reporters during a briefing that the financial aid will be expended

in various sectors of the economy, including infrastructure, health, economic development, and governance. The fund is part of a wider £360M fund which the British Government will expend on the Caribbean region on various projects.

Speaking on the specifics of the fund earmarked for Guyana, Quinn said proposals from Guyana on various projects have been sent to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), which will administer the fund on behalf of Britain.

He said funds will be directed to projects such as water supply networks and hinterland airstrip development, the latter being aimed at improving access to “difficult-to-reach areas”.

He said that funding would also go towards the development of ports and habours, as well as dredging of the Demerara River.

Questioned on assistance to the oil and gas sector, Duddridge said the British Government is interested in providing any form of assistance to the development of the sector here.

He said there are British companies which are involved in oil and gas exploration, and noted his country’s experience and technical expertise in this regard.

He, however, cautioned that some countries have had oil “and it is no longer economically viable”. He added that “oil isn’t a single answer to a single country’s problems”. To this end, he noted that diversification of the economy bodes well for prosperity for Guyana.

Duddridge noted that Guyana is positioned well to explore its business potential. He spoke of the country’s “good, educated workforce” as well as its English speaking ability, the latter which he termed the language of business. Guyana, being ranked at number 137 on the international index of countries with ease of doing business is significant, he said.

He said British Prime Minister David Cameron has called for the resetting of relations with the Caribbean, a move which he noted gives Britain an opportunity to “pivot” and examine its relationship with the region.

The visiting British MP was expected to discuss a range of issues when he met with Government officials. Security sector reform is a key item on his agenda. He was expected to present an assessment of the security sector in the form of a document to Government officials last evening. The document provides an analysis of the current state of the security sector in Guyana, and what steps can potentially be taken to reform the sector.

The visiting MP is also expected to raise the subject of the death penalty. He said that in Guyana the legislation regarding persons being put to death for criminal matters remain in place, and that is a situation which leaves Guyana in the cold, since such legislation does not exist in any other nation on the continent.

“The British Government’s position is that the death penalty is inappropriate for any crime that has been committed,” Duddridge has affirmed.