Guyana’s role in enhancing food security was given significant focus during discussions between Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and Ms. Lystra M. Fletcher-Paul, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s newly accredited representative serving in Guyana.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and FAO’s representative in Guyana Ms. Lystra M. Fletcher-Paul as she presented her Letter of Credence.

She recently presented her credentials to Minister Rodrigues-Birkett at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, South Road.

Ms. Fletcher-Paul, a national of Trinidad and Tobago, is the holder of a B.Sc, Faculty of Agriculture, from the University of the West Indies, and a PhD, Plant Physiology, from the University of British Columbia.

Ms. Fletcher-Paul provides technical assistance in data processing and biometrics modelling, in the AGL Division at FAO Headquarters, Rome. Since 1998 to date, she has been Technical Officer, Integrated Natural Resources Management, FAO Sub-regional Representation for Latin America and the Caribbean.

In an invited comment, Fletcher-Paul said Guyana has one of the greatest potential in food security in the region, with its abundance of land for cultivation.

She also cited the importance of the country’s forests in mitigating Climate Change.

FAO has drafted a programme which aims to improve food security within poor households through the National Programme for Food Security (NPFS) and Regional Programme for Food Security (RPFS), while raising awareness among donors and other key decision-makers on issues related to agriculture, food and nutrition. All programmes are developed by the participating Government.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the FAO for establishing an office in Guyana, marking a significant achievement for the local agriculture sector.

The MOU was signed by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and FAO’s Director-General Dr Jacques Diouf, during the 34th Session of FAO Conference in Rome, Italy, from November 22 to 28, 2008.