GUYANA is on the list of six countries in the Caribbean targeted by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) International for projects to bolster local economic development. The initiative will be facilitated in partnership with stakeholders at the local government level, and is aimed at supporting expansion of entrepreneurship endeavours by small producers and manufacturers.
The concept was introduced to President Donald Ramotar by FCM International Director, Sebastien Hamel and Project Director, Naresh Singh, in the company of Canadian High Commissioner, David Devine, and Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, Lucy Slack.
The new project will be targeting communities across the country, including those in the hinterland and on the coast, with intensive investment on the ground for the first three years, and a model to be shared with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at the culmination.
Hamel told the Government Information Agency in an invited comment that FCM International holds the prestige of 100 years experience in the field of collaboration with municipalities in various countries.
After the interaction, President Ramotar endorsed the idea, much to the satisfaction of the visiting team.
“Both the head of the Presidential Secretariat and the president have a deep interest in this project,” Hamel said.
High Commissioner Devine views the project as another step towards closer sustainable relationship between the Governments of Guyana and Canada, through partnerships in various sectors. The team also met and engaged other senior government officials, including Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, and Minister in the Ministry of Local Government, Norman Whittaker.
Minister Whittaker said that new project, if intialised, will serve to provide the kind of guidance that is needed in the full utilisation of the country’s resources. Guyana has tremendous resources, but what is needed is some building of capacity, some guidance on choices of how to use the resources to help create jobs and provide more earnings for people, he said.
This is the initial stage of the project that seeks to introduce itself to the various political bodies of CARICOM countries, to get a sense of the countries’ interest in the project.
The next stage will see a technical mission implemented that will see the conduct of baseline studies in the countries to assess their suitability for the project.
This study is set to commence in March and will conclude by mid-April.