Prime Ministe Mark Phillips yesterday received a courtesy visit from the President of the National Bar Association of the United States of America, Carlos Moore and a delegation from that organisation.
The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, informed the delegation of his Government’s “inclusive approach” to development and commitment to the rule of law, including strengthening the country’s democratic systems.
“Since we took office, we have been implementing our manifesto in an inclusive manner”, a release from the Prime Minister’s office said.
Phillips said that his Government’s focus is also on strengthening the judicial systems and a range of socio-economic initiatives, including a robust housing programme, job creation and infrastructural development.
The release said that Teixeira added that the country has made several progressive strides with regard to laws relating to sections of the society, such as women, children and the LGBTQ community. She said that in August, laws against cross-dressing were removed as an offence against the state.
Judge Moore, who was named the first African-American Municipal Judge Pro Tem for the City of Grenada, Mississippi last year, said that his organisation was impressed by the meeting and looks forward to future collaborations with the Government of Guyana.
“I’m excited to take back to my members the things that are going on here in Guyana… the areas of housing, energy, infrastructure we would like to invest in that… but I’m also excited about working with the Guyanese Bar Association and the Judiciary to strengthen the rule of law and the demonstration of justice”, he was quoted as saying.
Moore was joined for the meeting by Chief Foreign Policy Advisor Johanna Leblanc; Executive Director Maurice Foster and member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, Rosalyn Henderson-Myers.
The officials are also scheduled to meet with several other officials of the Government, members of the Judiciary and the Guyana Bar Association this week.
The release said that the National Bar Association is the US’s oldest and largest national network of African-American attorneys and judges. It was founded in 1925 and represents the interests of approximately 65,000 lawyers, judges, law professors, and law students.
