CANADA’s relationship with Guyana is characterized by successful partnerships that have been mutually beneficial to both countries and have helped to deliver upon their shared priorities.So said Her Excellency Dr. Nicole Giles, High Commissioner of Canada, as she addressed guests at a reception to celebrate the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) 2014-2015 Projects in Guyana on Thursday evening.
The venue was the Official Residence of the High Commissioner of Canada in Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown.
The Canadian High Commissioner said evidence of the foregoing can be seen in the partnerships such as the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives — being celebrated on that occasion, and honouring four successful local partners.
Dr. Giles outlined that the CFLI is based on the principle of local ownership of projects, to ensure sustainability and maximized benefits to local stakeholders. To this end, small awards are provided by the Government of Canada to successful partners to execute projects that respond to specific local needs, she said.
On this momentous occasion, four partners in Guyana, having been successful in securing funding under the 2014-2015 Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, were being recognized. The successful partners were:
* Help and Shelter, and Rainbow House: for a Sexual Violence Awareness Project;
* The Guyana Women Miners’ Organization: to refurbish a safe house for victims of trafficking in persons;
* The Ministry of Home Affairs: to purchase two-way radios and video cameras for law enforcement officers to carry-out investigations;
* The Guyana Elections Commission: to help strengthen elections management in Guyana through the provision of laptops.
The winners were selected based on the proposed contributions of their projects to their shared priority areas. These are: advancing democracy, preventing sexual violence, strengthening economic governance (including building free markets and an effective enabling environment for business), and strengthening security institutions.
Dr. Giles said the Americas is a foreign policy priority for Canada, and it is driven by a vision of a more prosperous, secure and democratic hemisphere.
Further, the Government of Canada delivers upon this vision by working towards three main goals, which are: increasing mutual economic opportunity; strengthening institutions, and fostering lasting relationships.
She said, too, that Canada is promoting freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law by strengthening professionalism and accountability of public institutions throughout the Americas.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Alluding to Canada’s capacity building efforts, Dr Giles said these are helping institutions to become more transparent and responsive to the needs of citizens. She added: “Canada’s security cooperation is helping to build effective and efficient security systems, with institutions that citizens can trust and with which international partners can collaborate.”
Of Canada’s relations with Guyana, the High Commissioner said Canada remains committed to working with all stakeholders, including the partners being celebrated; GECOM, all political parties; the private sector, and civil society.
GECOM
The CFLI has provided GECOM with over 100 laptops, which will further strengthen elections management in Guyana, the High Commissioner said.
Noting that GECOM has been a longstanding partner of the Government of Canada, the High Commissioner expressed confidence that GECOM has the ability to deliver free and fair elections on May 11, 2015.
She said, too, that Canada is hopeful that the upcoming electoral process would be a catalyst for constructive debate to address the issues that are facing Guyana.
“Canada remains committed to working with all stakeholders, including GECOM, all political parties, the private sector and civil society to support free, fair and peaceful elections,” Dr. Giles reiterated.
Ministry of Home Affairs
This year, Canada partnered with the Ministry of Home Affairs on an Investigative Techniques training course delivered by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
This project was funded by Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Programme (ACCBP), and was the first bilateral ACCBP project to be delivered in Guyana.
The training enhanced the investigative techniques of the local law enforcement officers, and Dr. Giles said the CFLI Project that was designed to be complementary provided support to purchase the radios and cameras needed to operationalize the training.
HELP AND SHELTER AND GWMO
The help from CFLI is geared towards building capacity to improve the socio-economic conditions and promote the protection of the rights of women, children, youth and other vulnerable groups.
Canada’s support to the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation is helping to provide a safe space for victims of trafficking in persons to be in the process of rebuilding their lives.
Statistics published by UN Women, sadly, demonstrate that the fight to prevent sexual violence and to curtail trafficking in persons is far from over, Dr. Giles said, citing chilling statistics to support this claim.
In regard to the Help and Shelter Rainbow House Sexual Violence Awareness project, she said a four-month advocacy campaign had poignantly addressed the issue of sexual violence. The campaign targeted several groups, including members of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community; service providers; and men and women from all walks of life.
Accordingly, Gr. Giles affirmed: “It is an honour to work with the Guyana Elections Commission, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Help and Shelter, the Guyana Women Miners’ Organization, and all other stakeholders towards achieving our common goals of preventing sexual violence, strengthening the rule of law, and promoting democratic governance.”
Meanwhile, reporting on their respective projects were: Ms. Luana Falconer, past president of the Rotary Club of Stabroek, and Ms Denise Dias on the Sexual Violence Awareness Project.
Among the invitees were Government ministers and Parliamentarians; Members of the Opposition; Members of the Diplomatic Corps; members of the Private Sector and Civil Society, the partners being honoured, and other distinguished guests.
