–at swearing in of new Peace Corps volunteers

UNITED States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway said Monday that should all go well, Guyana has a bright future ahead of it, now that it has found oil.
“The confirmed petroleum reserves guarantees Guyana the revenue to allow it to develop industries and infrastructure, and create a broad-based economy with true value-added, which means jobs and prosperity, if done right,” Holloway said.
“It also means that Guyana will have the money to fund activities that will allow it to be even ‘greener’ than it already is,” he told guests at a function here at the Umana Yana to welcome a new batch of nine Peace Corps volunteers, who have been tasked with assisting Guyana in managing its environment and natural resources in various regions across the country.
The volunteers — Jonathan Witkop, Matthew Widen, Thomas Saleh, Samantha Rock, Carolyn Rthenburg, Kirsten McLeod, Daniel Coffee, Dylan Karl and Lance Caldwell — were on Monday sworn in to represent the US government in serving the people of Guyana for the next two years. They are the first batch of volunteers to have been trained in environmental education and natural resources management.

CLOSER TIES
Noting that the US government is working to forge closer and a more productive partnership with the government and people of Guyana for the building of a more prosperous, secure, democratic, and healthy nation, Holloway said this close tie of which he speaks can only be made possible through “diplomatic engagement, targeted development assistance, and an active two-way flow of people, ideas, and information.” He said, too, that the US Mission in Guyana, of which the Peace Corps is a part, is dedicated to working with the government “to solidify the gains in democratic governance, bolster economic growth, and promote equality and opportunity, particularly for young people, women, the diasabled, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex communities.”
Holloway said he finds the operations of the US Peace Corps to be important, admirable and truly reflective of the best of the USA, through a strong sense of charity.
“The Peace Corps truly reflects the strong sense of volunteerism that marks our nation, our openness to other people and cultures, and a strong spirit of adventure. The Peace Corps forms an important part of the US Mission in Guyana,” the US diplomat said.

NATURAL BEAUTY
Besides hailing Guyana’s natural beauty and potential for massive development through the petroleum industry, Ambassador Holloway also spoke about its incredible waterfalls and virgin forests which envelope a unique combination of South American wildlife and Caribbean culture.
“Guyana is a country for nature lovers and adventure seekers; it has an irresistible combination of fascinating and breathtaking natural beauty, including pristine rainforests, incredible waterfalls, and amazing wildlife, which is joined to a vibrant culture, a diverse and rich heritage, and some of the most hospitable and friendly people in the world,” Ambassador Holloway said.
He warned, however, that despite the “intense beauty and tremendous potential”, the country faces considerable challenges as a developing nation; challenges such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, ethnic and racial divisions, crime and security threats, and education gaps, all of which the US is committed to helping Guyana to overcome.

SPREAD THE WORD
To the volunteers, whose stint here, he warned will be challenging as well as rewarding, Holloway said:
“I hope you recognise that you will all be ambassadors for our nation in your communities. I know you will represent our country with distinction, and earn the respect and goodwill of the people you meet. “And when you return to the US in two years, I trust that you will spread the word about the beauty of Guyana and its people to your friends and family, and promote the spirit of understanding that President John F. Kennedy knew such exchanges would create among Americans and our friends, whether here in Guyana or elsewhere in the world.”

PEACE CORPS
The Peace Corps first came to Guyana during its year of Independence in 1966, and served the country’s development interests for five years. It returned in 1995, to work in the health and education sectors.
The Guyana Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Peace Corps earlier this year, on June 30, to support activities for the continuous programmes for environmental protection and sustainable use and management of Guyana’s natural resources.
“Though times have changed,” Ambassador Holloway said, “the Peace Corps continues to adhere to the unchanged twin goals of its founding: Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, and helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of peoples served and a better understanding by Americans of the peoples.”