THE United States has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with Guyana with a view to helping the country realise its potential both at home and in the Region and enhance good governance, transparency and accountability.

New US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, gave the assurance at a welcome reception which was hosted at her Cummings Lodge residence on Friday afternoon.
The ambassador, who assumed the post seven weeks ago, said too, the US will continue to partner with Guyana on the security front. On this note, the US envoy made mention of a US-Guyana security collaboration that made history last week. The two countries had worked together on a highly-successful extradition of alleged murderer, Troy Thomas, the first extradition to the US in well over a decade.

Among the distinguished audience were her husband, Kevin; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and wife, Sita Nagamootoo; Attorney General, Basil Williams and other government ministers; Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo; Members of the Diplomatic Corps; Deputy Chief of Mission, Terry Steers-Gonzalez; Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs); members of the US business community; young entrepreneurs of `Brand Youth’; US Embassy staffers and other invited guests.

According to Ambassador Lynch, while she has met with almost everyone who was present at the function, she said she realised that there is still much more that she needs to learn about the “land of many waters.”

She evoked much laughter as she recalled being in the National Park over the Easter weekend and “learned about flying a kite,” adding, “I must thank the children in Georgetown for holding back their laughter as I attempted to follow their instructions in all that is involved with this critical diplomatic skill – a lot is in the wrist action, as it turns out!” She promised to do much better next year.

Ambassador Lynch spoke too, of participating in another of this country’s cultural festivities, Phagwah, and “proudly wearing pink streaks in my hair” for a very long time, until the Indian High Commissioner, Venkatachalam Mahalingam and Mrs. Mahalingam, “very kindly, and diplomatically” offered their assistance in having the streaks removed.
Commenting on the Guyanese cultural events, Ambassador Lynch said the delicious food and drinks she has experienced, binds the country in the most special ways, adding that she has happily enjoyed delicacies such as seven curry, channa, mammee fruit and “the most refreshing coconut water in the world.”

“As part of that bond, it is clear that all of Guyana wants to be part of the tremendous opportunities that await this country in the very near future,” she remarked, adding that she is just as committed to Guyana’s success as everyone else.

As Ambassador Lynch thanked all of Guyana and those who made the occasion a success, including the Embassy and residential staff, Cara Loge that prepared the delicacies and DCM Steers-Gonzalez, she said that she and her husband have been received throughout her time here by many Guyanese. These include vendors at Bourda Market, shopkeepers in Corriverton, children in the National Park and some young entrepreneurs who she met at the Band Youth 40 Entrepreneurial Awards Ceremony on Thursday night, all of who have been extraordinarily warm and kind and made her feel at home.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo, in officially welcoming Ambassador Lynch and her husband to Guyana, said he has noted that already, she has begun to blend well into the Guyanese society. He wished her the well as she settles down and enjoys this beautiful land of Guyana.