U.S. AMBASSADOR Perry Holloway has met with two Guyanese who recently returned from the United States after participating in the embassy-sponsored International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) exchange on “Combating Corruption” from March 6 – 16, 2016.According to a press release from the U.S. Embassy, the participants, Mrs. Judy Stuart, Senior Legal Adviser, Ministry of Legal Affairs and Office of the Attorney General Chambers; and Mr. Neil Marks, President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) shared their programme experiences, and discussed how they hoped to apply the insights gained from their experience to the benefit of their organisations and communities as a whole.

It was noted that during the programme, Mrs. Stuart and Mr. Marks, along with their counterparts from the Caribbean, visited several cities, including Washington, D.C., Manchester, New Hampshire, and Raleigh, North Carolina where they met with government officials, members of the private sector, and media houses.

“These visits provided varied insights and understanding into the vital role of public/private partnerships and media in supporting good governance and discouraging corruption. The programme afforded participants the opportunity to examine the dynamics of political campaign financing and government procurement. Participants also examined the mechanisms that enable citizens to foster good governance, ethical standards, and accountability at the local, state, and federal levels,” the release further noted.

Among the highlights of the programme was a visit to the Center for Whistleblowers, and according to the release, Mrs. Stuart noted this was indeed timely as the Government of Guyana is in the process of drafting legislation for Whistleblower and Witness Protection aimed at preventing corruption, encouraging ethical leadership and transparency, and ensuring accountability and responsibility to the public.

“Mr. Marks’s participation in this programme has amplified his awareness of the critical role that the media play as “watchdogs” as part of civil society in promoting good governance and human rights.”

It was noted that Ambassador Holloway encouraged them to build on the many professional linkages they made with U.S. institutions and other IVLP participants to strengthen their work within their respective organisations and in communities throughout Guyana.

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange programme. The IVLP brings together emerging leaders in their respective professions to learn how U.S. experts in their professions operate, and to share best practices with the other programme fellows who hail from across the globe.