We wish to focus today on two issues of national importance, both requiring responses from the Guyana Government:

First, that the government give some serious consideration to the call from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) for transformation in the management, academic programmes and overall functioning of the University of Guyana.
The GCCI’s renewed interest in elevating the UG’s operations to make it more functional as a vital institution in the overall advancement of this nation should  be welcome, given its earlier expressed interest in partnering with the university to enhance its credibility and image at home and abroad.
What is encouraging is that the Chamber’s expressed desire to see the evolution of the UG as a “hub for national research and development” followed a meeting last week between a delegation of representatives from this important private sector organization and the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Jacob Opadeyi.
Clearly impressed with the interest demonstrated by the GCCI’s delegation, Vice-Chancellor Opadeyi has been reported in another section of the media as saying he is willing to ensure full cooperation to help meet the needs of the UG, and enhance its standing as the nation’s highest educational institution.
For our part, we intend to closely monitor how assurances and pledges translate into practical initiatives by both the GCCI and Vice-Chancellor Opadeyi, with necessary active involvement by the government and as they directly relate to the Ministries of Education and Finance in particular.
The second issue that is also of national concern relates to the government’s decision to put on hold future cooperation with the Government of the USA in relation to the compilation of its State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report .
Evidently fed up with what amounts to constant misrepresentations of FACTS and biased interpretations, the Guyana Government has announced suspension of its cooperation until those involved at the  State Department (with assistance from its local embassy in Georgetown) are prepared for healthy mutual cooperation in dealing with this very serious human rights issue.
Angered by the US State Department’s latest TIP Report, as it affects Guyana, Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, officially made known last week the deep disappointment of the local Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Prisons (MTFTIP).
The Minister provided examples of outright inaccuracies and distortions of facts, while explaining the rationale for suspending cooperation with those of the US State Department involved in the production and circulation of the annual TIP Report.
It is to be assumed that a response to the Guyana Government’s stand would be forthcoming from the US State Department.
What, however, the Guyana Government should consider doing immediately is to share with its CARICOM partners the problems and challenges it has had to cope with from the US State Department in relation to the annual TIP Report on this country.
Sensitising CARICOM partners on this problem could prove worthwhile in developing a regional response for an enlightened and mutually satisfactory approach in future TIP reports.