PM Sam Hinds, Ambassador Geert Heikens speak of successful joint initiatives
–    During Europe Day event
According to EU Ambassador, His Excellency Geert Heikens at a cocktail reception hosted by himself and his wife at their residence last Friday evening to celebrate Europe Day, last Monday – 9th May, marked his 5th Europe Day in Guyana, which is annually marked on that day, except that during the celebratory period last year he had to undergo surgical intervention at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) of the Georgetown Hospital; and he used the opportunity to thank all those involved in his care and treatment for the optimum quality of care that he received at the CHI. He opined that the Delegation did well last year, having made great progress towards finalising the preparatory phase and moving towards implementing the most important parts of the EU’s regional programme. Addressing his guests,
Mr. Heikens expressed the hope that Financing Agreements for the EPA, the CSME and the OECS part of the programme could be signed before the end of the year.

Professing his satisfaction with the mutual co-operation between Guyana and the EU, Ambassador Heikens yet expressed the opinion of both himself and Guyana’s Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh that there is always space for further improvements. Itemizing the financing expended in 2010, he said that the Commission disbursed more than 21 million Euros (29 US$) for sea defence programmes, the Low Income Housing Scheme, and for the sugar sector, quoting the Enmore packaging plant as an example of the latter; and he also mentioned some smaller programmes in the area of the European Initiative for Human Rights and Democracy, as well as programmes from the budget for non-state beneficiaries.

Describing 2011 as a transition year, during which the EU will be closing the programmes, Mr. Heikens referred to sea defence, low income housing, under what is called the 9th European Development Fund (the 9th EDF). He stated that, logically, the 9th EDF is followed by the 10th EDF, which concentrates upon general budget support and sector budget support for sea defences, of which the total amount of EDF 10 amounts to 51 million Euros (more than 14 billion Guyana dollars).

Mr. Heikens cited another major sector which the Union supports, and that is an approximate 90 million Euros (about US$130 million), which has been made available to Guyana for “accompanying measures for the sugar industry”, of which significant parts have been disbursed to Guyana, although not all available money was provided to this country.  However, he noted that a total of 165 million Euros (an approximate US$225 million) has been earmarked to support the sugar sector. He expressed the hope that “these amounts will end up in the treasury and will be used to make the Guyana sugar industry a modern and a competitive industry”. 
.             
Expressing by word and inference his confidence in Guyana’s electoral process, Mr. Heikens reiterated the decision of the Union not to send monitors to Guyana’s general elections, due to be held during the latter part of 2011.

Mr. Heikens, who is also accredited to Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, said that in Guyana’s instance his Delegation attain results and outcomes primarily because of the efforts of all the bodies with which they work, inclusive of the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, Housing and Water, Transport and Hydraulics, the office of the Prime Minister, the contractors, among many others, to whom he expressed his thanks and his confidence that, with combined efforts – and the financial support from the European taxpayers, Guyana will further progress into the developed world.

In remarks delivered following Ambassador Heikens presentation, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds congratulated the Commission and expressed best wishes to the peoples of Europe “on this occasion which celebrates over six decades of peace, security and unity among European nations”.

The Prime Minister said: “Excellency, permit me to salute Europe for its many achievements over the years, which bear testimony to the peoples’ commitment and sustained political steadfastness to preserve the European Union – a Union which saw its genesis in the Treaty of Rome and which gradually developed over the years to witness socio–economic and political transformations.  From that single step the EU has matured into an institution embracing 27 member states. Europe today is the world’s largest economic zone and a role model for regional integration. These are achievements which the peoples of Europe are no doubt justifiably proud.”

Continuing, PM Hinds stated that the European Union’s momentum of working to promote the aspirations of the peoples of Europe for sustainable development continued to gain visibility in 2010 through the yearlong efforts to combat incidences of poverty and social exclusion, which are associated with the global financial and economic crisis, and other crises. 
He cited as noteworthy one special aspect of Europe’s development initiative, which is its resolve that is embodied in its 2020 economic strategy vision.  This strategy, he noted, has as its objectives the realization of sustainable growth and development and is premised on the priorities of employment, innovative research and development, climate change and energy, education and social cohesion.

According to PM Hinds, Guyana has been closely following Europe’s endeavours to promote socio–economic transformations, which he said are in sync with its national policies to promote people-centred development where there is social justice and equity.  He stated “We are confident that Europe and its member states will continue to make meaningful contributions to the current global efforts to address the global economic and financial crisis, food security, new security threats and the pervasive climate change threat – all of which underscore that no country – whether developing or developed, is immune from these 21st century threats.”

He opined that the successful adoption of the United Nations General Assembly resolution on May 3, 2011 will allow the EU to contribute effectively to the work of the United Nations and represents another significant achievement for Europe; and stated that Guyana is happy to be part of that process.  “In a spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit,” said the Prime Minister, “we hope to benefit from similar support from the EU for any future Caribbean Community (CARICOM) initiative at the United Nations.”

He used the occasion to pay tribute to the long-standing relationship between Guyana and the EU, which spans over four decades, noting that this  relationship commenced with the signing of the historic Georgetown Agreement in 1975, which paved the way for Guyana to benefit substantially from the EU development co-operation programme in the areas of agriculture, education, training, low-cost housing, health, improved development of Guyana’s public and private sectors, as well as its sea defence and coastal management.

Stating that the Government and people of Guyana anticipates and welcomes the continued support of the European Union in the ensuing years as Guyana seeks to implement its development projects under the current 10th EDF- which provides an overall budget of EUR 22, 682 billion, of which EUR 21, 966 million is allotted to the ACP countries, PM Hinds asserted that in the context of the EU-ACP framework the European Union has been a major trading partner for Guyana, on which it has relied heavily for the export of its sugar, rice and rum. 
According to the Prime Minister, Guyana has a very high share of these exports, which have in the past depended on preferential market access. However, he stressed that, with the new dimension of trade relations with the EU, which occurred with the conclusion and signing of the EPA with CARIFORUM member states, much emphasis is placed on the need for all of Guyana’s industries – including the sugar industry, to become more competitive.
Alluding to the modernization of the Skeldon sugar factory, the Prime Minister said that Guyana has witnessed progress in the direction of its competitive efforts and in this regard he expressed the appreciation of the Government of Guyana for the support being received from the EU under the European Development Fund and the Annual Sugar Plan.

Recalling that in January of this year the Guyanese National Assembly passed the Customs Duty (Amendment) Order 2011, which amends the Customs Act to include the EPA schedule of tariff rates; PM Hinds said that this makes Guyana among the first of the member states of CARICOM to implement the agreed EPA tariffs and fulfill the requisite obligations embodied in the EPA.
The Prime Minister said “Guyana values and remains committed to maintaining the existing close co-operation with the EU, particularly given the EU’s experience as a global player in today’s world of increasing interdependence.  The outstanding leadership of Europe on matters of climate change is indeed commendable and the pledge of 2 billion Euros annually for 2010 to 2012 to the “Fast Track Fund” bears proof of Europe’s commitment.”
He continued “We look forward to the continuation of this partnership, which among other spheres rests on a deep commitment for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals by the 2015 target date and Europe’s promise to commit 0.7 percent of its Gross National Income to Official Development Assistance to support developing countries in this universal aspiration.”  
The Prime Minister concluded his presentation by saying that the Government envisages that the regional and general elections will be peaceful, fair, transparent, and consistent with the climate of Guyana’s 2006 polls.