REUBEN Hamilton Robertson has been appointed the new representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to Guyana with effect from January 10, 2015.He presented his credentials to Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett Monday, and succeeds Lystra Fletcher-Paul, who was the previous FAO representative in Guyana.

The Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said it is pleased to announce that Robertson, a national of St Vincent and the Grenadines, is a holder of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture, and a Master of Science Degree in Agriculture Economics, both from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus.

He spent most of his working life in various senior positions within the Agriculture Ministry of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Prior to taking up his appointment in Guyana, he served as FAO Consultant and Technical Advisor to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Guyana has been an active member of the FAO since attaining Independence in 1966. The FAO country office was opened in May 2009, which allowed the Government of Guyana to benefit in a more direct and strategic way from FAO support in the implementation of its agricultural policies, particularly as they relate to sustainable development and food security.

The appointment of Robertson will allow for continuity in helping Guyana to achieve tangible results in terms of food security and eradication of hunger through sustainable agricultural and rural development while ensuring coherent natural resource management.
Robertson will also play a key role in helping the Government of Guyana to execute its FAO Country Programme Framework for 2012-2015.