MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, participated in a videoconference, on Wednesday, with counterparts from Latin America, the Caribbean and Germany during which the Foreign Ministers discussed joint measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as a course of action to counter the economic impact.
The videoconference was hosted by German’s Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, and was catered for under the framework of Germany’s Latin America and Caribbean Initiative, which was launched in 2019.

In her address, Minister Cummings expressed appreciation for the support and cooperation of partners such as Germany. She explained that in Guyana the public health measures that are being implemented are costly and negatively affecting the economy.

“The cost of medical equipment and supplies, along with the human resource scale up required at this time, is challenging for some small countries like Guyana, where already we grapple with a vast coastland and difficult hinterland terrain. Nevertheless, Guyana has taken the bold step to establish a Centre for Disease Control. However, there is still need for critical financial support to undertake other significant and costly health systems strengthening initiatives required to competently manage the spread of the Coronavirus in Guyana. In order to effectively address the COVID-19 pandemic, small economies like Guyana must rely on the availability of concessional resource availability,” Dr. Cummings said.

She highlighted, too, that Guyana’s response to the crisis, through the prioritisation of public health and preservation of human resources, has resulted in the diversion of already scarce resources, and the seeking of new resources to combat and manage the spread of the coronavirus, when the ability of some of the countries to earn revenue from tourism, trade and their related sectors has been severely impacted.

As such, Minister said Guyana remains convinced that the region’s consistent call for the adjustment of the criteria for access to concessional financing must be heeded by those who exert the greatest influence on the system, to give consideration to the specific vulnerabilities faced by the Caribbean.

“We also remain concerned about the continued placement, without consultation, of States on blacklists despite compliance with, and adherence to, international financial standards and best practices. Such continuing actions compound the region’s efforts towards sustainable development. Guyana’s President, David Granger, in addressing last week’s High Level Event on Financing for Development in the era of COVID-19, pointed to the need for structured and sturdy systems to save lives and secure livelihoods with medium and long term measures, aimed at building capacity to respond effectively and efficiently to health crises; and achieving food security, through sustaining agriculture, manufacturing and services to allow capability for rapid production and progress on reopening. Such measures, set out in consultation with developing countries, will be crucial as Agenda 2030 programmes are implemented with the aim of attaining the Sustainable Development Goals,” Dr. Cummings pointed out.

In this regard, she said that Guyana commends Germany for its support for debt relief for the hardest hit developing and emerging economies, its recognition of the important role multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and the World Health Organisation are playing, and will play, in the response to the virus, and for its pledge of €525 million towards the development of vaccine and medicines for COVID-19.

“The support and cooperation of partners like Germany are welcome and it is our hope that the partnership will spur a stronger international response that is all-encompassing to ensure equitable and fair access to medical and financial resources; allow sustained response to the pandemic; the development of holistic recovery plans; and the creation of more resilient health, social, economic, technological and research-led systems,” she stated.