The new U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway says the United States stands ready to work with Guyanese to eliminate impediments to national development.
Presenting his credentials at the Ministry of the Presidency this morning, Holloway also pledged his country’s support n the fight against transnational crime under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
A copy of Holloway’s prepared remarks follows:
H.E. Brigadier David Arthur Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,
The Honorable Minister of State and Acting Foreign Minister Joseph Harmon,
Distinguished Guests,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The United States of America and Guyana have enjoyed a long and productive partnership, working together to promote our shared values of democracy, human rights, economic freedom, and social inclusion both in the Caribbean and in the broader international arena. I look forward to continuing the work of my predecessors in these critical areas and in broadening the friendship and cooperation that already exists between our two governments and peoples.
For the past fourteen months, I have relished the opportunity to study Guyana from my vantage point as Ambassador designate. I look forward to putting this preparation into practice and to seeing how well the reality on the ground matches the analysis that I was provided in Washington.
I watched with great anticipation and at times some degree of trepidation, the momentous events of 2014 and 2015, which ultimately resulted in the free and fair elections of May 2015. I look forward to working closely with the government to build on Guyana’s growing democracy. I wish to pledge my government’s continued support to the holding of local government elections before the end of 2015 — hopefully with the use of electronic tabulation so that we can all have a few less sleepless nights as we await the results.
Your Excellency, when you pledged to be the President for all Guyanese during your inaugural address, you issued in essence a challenge to your compatriots and to the international community. You reminded us both of the historic divisions that have marred the development of this society and the need for all of us to work in partnership to achieve social inclusion. It is my intention to partner closely with your government as you work to achieve this lofty goal. Together, we can ensure that all Guyanese enjoy equality of opportunity without regard to race, ethnicity, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Doing so will not only assist political reconciliation, it will also promote national development.
Guyana is a land of tremendous natural resource potential. It is past time, however, to harness that potential responsibly and sustainably for the benefit of the Guyanese people, while ensuring preservation of your unique biodiversity for the next generation. The United States of America stands ready to work with our Guyanese friends to eliminate impediments to national development. We will work with you to combat transnational organized crime under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. We will support the government’s efforts to bring about increased transparency and accountability in the management of public resources and to protect the environment. We will continue to mobilize private sector resources for the development of cheaper sources of renewable energy. I am confident that through public sector reform and public-private partnerships, Guyana can create the business climate necessary to drive socio-economic development for all its people.
Your Excellency, thank you once again for the gracious welcome that you and your government have extended to me and to my wife Rosaura. We both look forward to exploring this “Land of Many Waters” over the course of my assignment. May our cooperative efforts continue to build closer relations between our two countries.
Thank you very much.
