PRESS RELEASE

Permanent Mission of Guyana to The United Nations

New York 17 January 2020

MORE COMMITMENTS OF SUPPORT FOR G77 AND CHINA CHAIRMANSHIP

On the final day of meetings in New York to launch Guyana's Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China for 2020, Foreign Minister Dr. Karen Cummings met with staff of the Guyana Permanent Mission to the United Nations to thank them for their hard work and dedication to service. She noted this as a special moment of pride and honour for all Guyanese, especially with the outpouring of support and commendations, at all levels, that were received in the course of this week. However, the hard work has just started with a high level of expectation placed on Guyana's Chairmanship. Minister Cummings urged staff to continue to give of their best, assuring them of the full support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Government.

In meetings with the Administrator of UNDP, Mr. Achim Steiner, and H.E. Ambassador Mona Juul, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo received additional commitments of support for the critical responsibility the country has undertaken.

Mr. Steiner recalled the long and productive relationship between Guyana and UNDP, with the UNDP Country Office and the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean steadfastly supporting Guyana's development efforts. Mr. Luis Lopez-Calva, Regional Director, and Mr. Jairo Valverde, Resident Representative, accompanied Mr. Steiner to the meeting. Prime Minister Nagamootoo noted that Guyana relies heavily on UNDP for unbiased technical cooperation and advice at the national level and is grateful for its support for Guyana's G77 Chairmanship.

Ambassador Juul noted the convergence of issues and areas of work for ECOSOC and the G77, expressing the hope that a fruitful and close collaboration during Guyana's Chairmanship would result in meaningful progress on the development concerns of the Group, but particularly for Small Island Developing States. She 

noted that Norway and Guyana have had excellent bilateral relations which can be built upon to advance their current responsibilities at the United Nations. Prime Minister Nagamootoo thanked her for Norway's support over the years, and the commitment to work closely during this year to advance the international development agenda. He noted that Norway is seen as a model for Guyana, on the use of conditional cash transfers and the application of the benefit of oil revenues for its population.

Foreign Minister Cummings met also with Mr. Liu Zhenmin, United Nations Under­ Secretary General for Economic and Social Development and Head of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). The Under-Secretary General noted that his Department plays a key role in supporting all UN Member States under the SDG agenda, but especially those belonging to the Group of 77 and China, to which DESA has a close affiliation. He agreed with Minister Cummings on the importance of advancing the Action Agenda elaborated by the Secretary General as part of the Decade of Action. The USG stated that further follow up discussions will be held with the Permanent Representative of Guyana on how best to materialize this collaboration.

On Friday afternoon the Group held its first Organizational Meeting under Guyana's Chairmanship, to agree on its work programme priorities for the year. At the start of the meeting Minister Cummings addressed delegates, thanking them for their commendations and promise of collaboration, and introducing them to the beauty of Guyana by showing a short video. This meeting was Chaired by Ambassador Ten­ Pow. Several representatives who were unable to speak at the Hand Over Ceremony due to shortage of time, expressed congratulations to Guyana and offered to work closely with us in achieving the success needed. The Group of 77 and China were briefed on the status of the Perez Guerero Trust Fund established by the G77, as well as on progress of preparations for the Third South Summit to be held in Kampala, Uganda. The Organizational Meeting concluded after identifying several critical work priorities for 2020.