–President urges diaspora, says security concerns being addressed
PRESIDENT David Granger has called on the diaspora to return to Guyana because the country has made, and will continue to make, progress in a variety of areas.Addressing members of the diaspora who gathered at the Guyana UN Mission in Manhattan for a lunch reception on Friday, President Granger said, “I have no doubt at all that the course we are plotting is one that is going to be beneficial to all from every point of view: economic, environmental… We feel we are on the right course,” he said.
Dubbing Guyana as “the place to retire”, the President urged members of the diaspora to return to Guyana and invest in new industries, thereby demonstrating to all that they don’t have to remain in the US all their lives.
In his short address, the President said he is aware of the concerns of many within the diaspora, and he noted that efforts are being made to ensure that citizens are safe. “We are going to make sure that the concerns you have about safety [are addressed]… We are aware of your concerns, major territorial security problem; but entirely, we are engaging with the European Union to restart the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP)… There will be more mounted police… [we will be] acquiring additional assets,” President Granger stressed, while noting that the Guyana Police Force will be undergoing continuous training to ensure citizens’ safety.
“Guyana is going to be a much safer place,” he assured, as he noted that aside from safety and security, his administration is placing much emphasis on education and the number of school drop-outs.
Promoting his 3Bs Initiative, the President told members of the diaspora that they, too, can contribute a bus, boat or bicycle to those in dire need, so each Guyanese child has access to education.
“If you want to sign up for it, kindly do so… There is much hope, and reason for hope, and we are very confident that this year we have turned the corner on some of the problems that have caused you to leave your homeland,” the President told the gathering.
He also informed the gathering that he has opened the door to the Caribbean, while stressing that Guyana is the gateway between the Caribbean and South America.
“Why not come into Guyana? We are the heart of the Caribbean,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the President congratulated Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Michael Ten-Pow, and Consul General Barbara Atherly on their recent appointments. He noted the growing number of Guyanese working within the UN system, and said he is “happy and proud of the advances and advancement (those Guyanese have made) in the UN system, and here in our Permanent Mission and Consulate”.
The President reminded the gathering of the importance of looking out for each other, and emphasised the need to work together to overcome the many challenges facing Guyana and its citizens.
“It has started to happen,” he said, noting that the change he has seen represents a shift in the mindset of the diaspora, and an increasing interest in the country’s development.
Also present at the reception was Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge; former Commonwealth Secretary General Sir Shridath Ramphal; Under-Secretary General for the General Assembly and Conference Management, Catherine Pollard; and Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela, Cheryl Miles, among others.
