NEWLY appointed U.N. Assistant Secretary General/UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Ms. Jessica Faieta, on a tour of the Caribbean Region, was on Thursday last welcomed to Guyana at a reception in her honour at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown.

At the reception hosted by U.N. Resident Co-ordinator/UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Khadija Musa, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds joined Guest of Honour, Ms. Jessica Faieta in proposing toasts to the partnership.

Also in attendance were Presidential Adviser, Ms. Gail Teixeira and other members of the Cabinet; Chair of Latin America and the Caribbean team; Members of the United Nations Country Team and members of the Diplomatic Corps. Chairperson was Ms. Yolanda Durant-McKlmon, U.N. Coordination Analyst.
Meanwhile, kudos were extended by the Assistant Secretary General for the progress made by Guyana over the years, and graciously acknowledged by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.
Ms. Khadija Musa extended a very special welcome to the visiting Director, Ms. Jessica Faieta. Musa recalled with pride that, 23 years ago, Ms. Faieta was here in Guyana serving as UN Volunteer Coordinator, and today, has returned here in her new capacity as the UN Assistant Secretary General/Director of the Latin America and the Caribbean Group.
Musa disclosed to the gathering that the Assistant Secretary General is very impressed with the progress and the difference she sees in Guyana from 1991 to today, and hopes that it will continue.
Ms. Faieta is here on a tour of the Caribbean Region. It is her first visit to nations since taking up her appointment, Musa said, adding, “… and it really means very much, because she has given the Caribbean Region a focus to be here the first time that she left New York after being appointed. So we really appreciate that, and I am sure we can count on her to continue to support this Region and help us develop more dynamic programmes here, and also help us in leading the many issues that are on our plate.”

Ms. Faieta is also, at the moment, very involved in the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) which is also very important to the Caribbean, hence the partnership looks forward to joint work in this area.
Endorsing the sentiments expressed, Ms. Jessica Faieta, noted that it was a very special occasion, particularly, since she started her career here 23 years ago as a UN Volunteer.
She added: “And I have to say that it is really my tenure in this place that shaped my conviction…my conviction for development, my conviction for Human Rights…and throughout my career, I have always referred back to my roots in Guyana. So, I hope I hold a very big place for this country in my heart.” For this reason, she says, she considered it fitting to make Guyana and the Caribbean Region priorities on her list of tours.
And turning her attention to the progress realised by Guyana since she’s left here, Ms. Faieta reiterated: “I am tremendously impressed with the progress that Guyana has achieved in the last 23 years since I’ve served here. But I am also deeply impressed by the efforts of the people, and of Government.”
Conceding that there may still be many challenges in some of the things the country would want to achieve, she asserted, “But I still think that it is commendable and something that we have to appreciate and acknowledge.”
Ms. Faieta assured that the United Nations is very committed to the Caribbean, especially in this year when they will be holding the Third International Conference of the Small Island Development States (SIDS). She said too that the U.N. expects to work jointly with its partners to take this opportunity of the SIDS Conference and other events in the U.N. system this year, namely the Climate Change Special Session, as well as to raise the importance of the support for the development of Caribbean countries like Guyana.
The Assistant Secretary General, through Mr. Hinds, extended best regards to President Donald Ramotar, and her firm commitment that, “As I go forward in this function, you will see me often and you will always have my support.”
She thanked the Government of Guyana and the many other partners for the partnership enjoyed together with the UNDP. “I think we are a committed group of agencies of the United Nations who believe very much in standing behind the efforts of the people and the Government of Guyana to achieve more progress for this country,” she concluded.
In proposing his Toast, Prime Minister Hinds (who was at the time Acting President) expressed on behalf of the people of Guyana, profound appreciation that the U.N. Assistant Secretary General/UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, should choose to return here to Guyana where she started her career. “Let me also congratulate you on your promotion and let me also express our appreciation for your appraisal of Guyana and making it known how well we have advanced. We find those words very encouraging and hope they keep us all together to continue.”

(By Shirley Thomas)