By Svetlana Marshall

A STRONG, prosperous and inclusive Guyana means well for the U.S., Ambassador Perry Holloway said on Wednesday evening.“Our hope is that our relationship can lead to a more secure, prosperous, and inclusive Guyana. Not because we are overly altruistic, though sometimes we can be altruistic. It is because we are neighbours, trading partners, allies, and we share a cultural, historical, and literally a genetic shared history,” the U.S. Ambassador said Wednesday evening at a ceremony held at the Guyana Marriott to mark “The Fourth of July.”
“A secure, prosperous, and inclusive Guyana is good for the United , because it means less crime in the Region, less danger from terrorism, more trade, better standards of living for both countries and hopefully more tolerance and acceptance in both countries and between both countries,” Ambassador Holloway added.
Though the ceremony was organised to commemorate the U.S.’s 240th Independence Day, it was also a celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Guyana and the U.S.
“We started out in 1966 by turning over the lease to Atkinson Airfield to the new country of Guyana.
“You young folks may not know that the U.S. originally built Atkinson Airbase in 1941 to protect this area against German Underwater or U-Boats and to protect the bauxite deposits, which could be used by Germany to make aircraft. It eventually became Guyana’s international airport,” Ambassador Holloway said.
In the 1960s, the U.S. overseas development arm, USAID, played a critical role in the construction of the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. The U.S. had also jumped to the country’s rescue during the 18 years of its worst economic times by supplying the country with wheat, so that there could have been bread in Guyana.
“President Jimmy Carter and others have participated in a number of national elections as observers and President Carter himself has long been a friend and admirer of Guyana, providing support and advice at key moments and earning the respect of all,” the U.S. Ambassador recalled.
In recent years, the Caribbean Basin Initiative, and the PEPFAR Programme on which more than US$30M has been expended to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDs and to treat those who are infected, have taken centre stage as the countries continue to display “strong” diplomatic ties.
“We opened a DEA Office, which very soon will pay off with big dividends. We have provided equipment, training and technical assistance to CANU and SOCU,” he added.
Guyanese have also been contributing to the U.S., Ambassador Holloway posited, while noting that there are approximately 800, 000 people in the U.S. of Guyanese descent. “They are teachers, doctors, scientists, store-owners, members of the police force and military, business people, artists, and everything else that is good.”
Ambassador Holloway addressed the gathering in the presence of his wife Rosaura, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Bryan Hunt, Guyana’s First Lady Sandra Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his wife Sita Nagamootoo, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and other Members of Government, members of the diplomatic community, and members of private and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo, in his address, underscored the mutual relations that the Guyana and U.S. share, noting that in recent times, the central focus has been on transnational threats ranging from global security to climate change to diseases and crime.
“The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) – an initiative of the United States Government prove the value of cooperation on both sides,” the Prime Minister posited, emphasing that it has contributed significantly to the reduction and control of the spread of HIV and AIDS. “It has also benefited Guyana by creating greater awareness, encouraging citizens to make responsible choices and by boosting Guyana’s national capacity,” he added, while expressing appreciation to the U.S.
Guyana and the U.S., he stressed, must continue to model cooperation agreements to address the respective interests of both countries.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo said too that Guyana is encouraged by American Oil Firm ExxonMobil’s oil find. “The discovery of petroleum reserves will allow Guyana to realise its true economic potentials…,” he said, while adding that the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund will ensure that future generations are not denied the benefits of economic development.
In this regard, he said Guyana looks forward to sharing best practices and experiences with the Government of the U.S.