GUYANA and Canada will, on Sunday, sign a Sovereign Loan Programme agreement geared at enhancing social services.

According to information from the Canadian High Commission, Canada’s Sovereign Loan Programme (SLP) provides loans on concessional terms to eligible countries, tailored to their needs and priorities as they relate to poverty reduction and peace and security.

Importantly, Guyana is the first country to benefit from the Sovereign Loan programme in the Western Hemisphere.
“The loan will be utilised to improve social protection under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security in the areas of digital transformation, old age pension, gender-based violence, persons living with disabilities and trafficking in persons,” the High Commission said.

The agreement will be signed by Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, who will be in Guyana from February 25-26 for several high-level engagements with the Government of Guyana and other partners, including the 46th Regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean community (CARICOM).

Hussen will be accompanied by the Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas, Mr. Glen Linder.
More details about the loan programme will be outlined on Sunday, and there will also be remarks from Guyana’s Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh; Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, and the High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Mark Berman.