-skills for youths to be one focus
In the wake of an upsurge in crime here and in the region, the United Nations is working on a programme to focus on security and this is to complement the ongoing Citizens Security Programme.
The programme is being developed and will come on-stream in the near term.
This was revealed yesterday at a press conference held by a high-level UN team comprising 15 Regional Directors and five Deputy Directors. They were here for discussions with Caricom Member States. The officials represent 13 UN agencies and it is the first time that so many high-level officials were together for one meeting.
Speaking at the press conference, Aboubacry Tall, UN Resident Representative, said that the UN is working on two main areas with regard to security in Guyana. One, focus will be placed on young people in terms of skills development and employment opportunities and two, to make citizens feel that they are included as a part of the process of change.
Nils Kastberg, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean said that yesterday the team met with the Government of Guyana and the Caricom Secretariat and discussed the issue of crime and security in the region.
He said that violence in the home environment needs to be addressed as a means of turning the tide against criminality. He said that to aid in this, the UN will work through the social sector to effect change.
Kastberg said that education is another way the UN will work since this will lead to employment and posited that there must be a matching of training offered and jobs available.
Harold Robinson of the UNFPA said that the discussions on the programme took place in the context of development. He added that the movement of people fuels crime and in like manner, crime fuels the movement of people.
Rebeca Grynspan, UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Assistant Administrator, said “The issue of citizens’ security is a challenge for the whole region.”
She said also that in the meeting with the UN officials, President Bharrat Jagdeo highlighted some of Guyana’s priority areas for support needed from the international community, speaking of the global changes that were having adverse effects on Guyana and the need for restructuring for dealing with the external shocks.
Grynspan said that Guyana has made important changes on the democratic rule of institutions and building processes.
She said that the UN through its agencies will continue to have an involvement in the strengthening of the entrepreneurial class, strengthening the social sector and look at the challenges of migration.
According to Grynspan, President Jagdeo expressed the need to avoid fragmentation of programmes and projects, since this taxes the capacity of local agencies to execute them.
“We are very honoured by the warm welcome,” she said, adding that the team is trying to learn much more about Guyana and how the UN might be able to help.
On the fight against climate change, Grynspan said that a lot is being done in Guyana with the support of the UN through the Global Environmental Fund. She said that the focus of much of the assistance in this regard is on renewable energy. She said too that the UN has offered support for training and participation for Guyana’s voice to be heard at international fora.
The UNDP is also working with the Government and stakeholders here on a US$4.05M building trust programme, billed as a successor to the UNDP’s 2002 Social Cohesion Programme which had aimed at progress towards social cohesion, access to justice and agreed constitutional reforms among other areas.
