Guyana will join delegations from the countries of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at several forums to discuss energy related and public governance and administration.
This is according to information provided by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at the post-Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, yesterday.
Sixth meeting of South American Energy council
According to Minister Harmon, Cabinet has approved the attendance of the Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson at the Sixth meeting of the South America Energy council of UNASUR, to be held in Quito, Ecuador.
Minister Harmon said that the meeting will review the progress with regards to commitments in relation to the development of an energy agenda of UNASUR. He said that among the issues to be discussed will be energy planning and the establishment of South America’s energy treaty, and the creation of an Energy Resource Institute of UNASUR.
The Minister said that along with the Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Electricity Advisor within the Ministry, Morsha Johnson would also attend that meeting.
Public governance, administrative training in Singapore
Cabinet has also approved Guyana’s participation in a training conference on public governance and administration to be held in Singapore from January 23-27, 2017, Minister Harmon said.
The Minister explained that the training course organised by the Government of Singapore under its Developing State Technical Co-operation programme is aimed at providing insights on that country’s human resource strategies.
Harmon said the participants of that training will be exposed to Singapore’s approach to governance, public administrative and financial reform initiatives, the importance of corruption control for effective public administration and key trends affecting human resource management.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Public Service Reginald Brotherson, will attend the conference.
World Bank Training
According to Minister Harmon, approval has also been given by Cabinet for Guyana’s participation in the World Bank Training in its new procurement framework schedule to be held in Grenada from November 8-10, 2016.
The training programme will be specifically for project procurement staff who will be required to manage projects under the Bank’s new procurement framework. Minister Harmon explained that Guyana and the World Bank are currently engaged in designing Guyana’s Education Sector Improvement Project to commence in 2017. One component of this project is the construction of a new health sciences facility at the University of Guyana, as such the university’s Procurement Specialist, Science and Technology Support Project, Devin Monroe, will attend the training.
Meeting of Region’s Immigration Chiefs
Cabinet also accepted the invitation of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACTS) for participation in a meeting of the Region’s Chiefs of Immigration to be held Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on November 7, 2016. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dale Alves will attend that meeting, Minister Harmon said.
Caribbean Leadership Development Programme
Guyana will also participate in the Seventh cohort of the Caribbean Leadership Development Programme that will be held in Jamaica from November 28- December 2, 2016. Minister Harmon explained that this programme is designed to strategically strengthen the next generation of Caribbean leaders and contribute to regional integration. The persons endorsed by Government for participation in the project include from the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Public Service – Human Resource Managers, Kemo Benjamin and Natasha Chase, and Manager of Scholarship, Soyinka Grogan. The Director of Industrial Development at the Ministry of Business, Shawn Alexander and Principal Personnel Officer, Ministry of Business, Shelton Daniels will also be a part of the training. (GINA)
