Robert KopeckýOver the period

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Today marks 40 years since the European Union started its relationship with Guyana.EU’s Ambassador, Robert KopeckýOver the period, more than 630M Euros ($150B) in combined funds have been coming this country’s way.According to EU Ambassador, Robert Kopecký, yesterday on occasion of the anniversary, it was on this day in 1975 that representatives from close to 80 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries met here in Georgetown to sign what was to become known as the Georgetown Agreement.This document created the ACP Group of States and became the ACP’s fundamental charter, laying down the rules for cooperation among the countries.This year, Kopecký said, also marks 40 years since the Delegation of the European Union was established in Georgetown.“Tremendous progress has been made since then. Over the last four decades, more than €630 million (equal to some $150 billion) of combined EU funds have been allocated to Guyana’s development.“To this day, the European Union remains the main provider of grant funding to Guyana, and also the biggest donor of development and humanitarian assistance both in the Caribbean Region and in the world.”In Guyana, European development funds have helped reconstruct and maintain the sea defences and the mangroves, and the rehabilitation of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the ambassador said. “The EU has also funded several infrastructure projects to help Guyana’s integration in the region. These include the expansion of Ogle Airport to accommodate international flights, the Corentyne ferry connecting Guyana with Suriname, and the technical upgrade of Cheddi Jagan International Airport in 2004.”Over 220 million Euros has been committed to measures directly supporting the sugar, rice and bauxite industries and the people depending on them.“Water supply systems have been put in place in Pouderoyen, Rose Hall and New Amsterdam, to provide fresh water to agriculture and households and many small businesses have gotten off the ground, thanks to the Micro-Projects Programme and the Linden Economic Advancement Programme.Currently over 30 million Euros is being put to use to further upgrade Guyana’s power utility network and improve water supply and sanitation infrastructure.“EU support to civil society organisations, non-state actors and local authorities, has reached out to beneficiaries in the most remote areas of Guyana, for example Southern Rupununi and Regions One and Two.”According to Kopecký, as the country look to the future, there are shared priorities in the area of climate change adaptation and continuous efforts towards the eradication of poverty, and the promotion of human and social rights.“Our political relations have always been excellent, and we look forward to many more decades of mutual EU-Guyana cooperation, friendship and partnership.”