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Maternity Unit Opening - Guyana

Speech delivered by the Honourable David Kilgour,
Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)
At the opening of the Maternity Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital
Georgetown, Guyana
May 22, 1998

Your Excellency President Janet Jagan, Honourable Minister of Health Dr. Henry Jeffrey, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials and hospital staff, distinguished guests, members of the media. It is an honour and privilege to be here today, on behalf of the government and people of Canada, at the opening of the maternity unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

This auspicious occasion marks another milestone in development cooperation between Canada and Guyana. It exemplifies the close and friendly relations that have existed for many years between our people. As I look around today I see many friends. We can all feel a sense of accomplishment at what has been achieved through our cooperation.

What better expression of friendship, shared aspirations and hopes for the future could there be than the construction of a maternity unit where Guyanese children can draw their first breath and receive their first care and nurturing, where families are created and strengthened, where the nation is renewed and blessed?

All development is an investment in the future, but this is a special investment which will have a particular and personal impact on future generations of Guyanese people. We are pleased to have been part of it and we congratulate those who conceptualized, designed and worked to bring us this beautiful maternity ward.

This maternity unit has been constructed as part of a CIDA project called the Social Infrastructure Project (SIP) which began in 1995. Under this project 7.3 million Canadian dollars were allocated for the provision of fertilizer by Canada to the Guyana Sugar Industry. The fertilizer was paid for in Guyanese dollars by GUYSUCO and the funds were then directed to strengthen selected projects within the Guyana government's Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) which includes the construction or rehabilitation of health, education, water supply and sanitation facilities in every part of Guyana.

The SIP project, as we call it, is an excellent example of how to make money grow things twice. The fertilizer grows sugar which is sold to grow the economy. The money raised from the sale of the fertilizer grows people, in Guyana, through investment in health and education. We intend to continue our involvement in these fields, working in cooperation with you. We have earmarked 7.5 million Canadian dollars for further projects in these sectors. We are also supporting many Canadian and Guyanese NGOs, who are working together in these fields.

Our aid program goes beyond the social sector. Canadian assistance also strives to promote economic growth, social equity, sustainable management of environmental and natural resources, as well as poverty alleviation. Special attention is paid to women in development and gender equity, the role of aboriginals and youth, and Caribbean regional integration. We will continue to manage and develop projects that target these objectives.

I would like to mention a few by way of illustration.

The CESO business advisory project has been highly successful in strengthening the operations of Guyanese manufacturers, primary resource businesses, and various public and private sector organizations by providing Canadian expert volunteer advisers.

The Guyana economic management program is upgrading public sector management in ministries within the government of Guyana. Emphasis is placed on financial and economic management, as well as the development of knowledge and systems to improve the strategic use of limited resources.

The Canada Fund provides financial assistance for small-scale projects promoting economic, technical, educational and social development at a grass-roots level.

The building community capacity project focuses on strengthening skills and institutional capacity in national and community-level NGOs in Guyana. The program includes components that stress gender equality, as well as hinterland programming to assist Guyana's indigenous population.

The human resource development project will aim to strengthen the training and coordination capabilities of private and public sector organizations to enable them to meet the demands for skilled labour in a competitive economic market.

The Gender Equity Fund supports initiatives to improve Guyanese women's economic, political and social situations by improving access to health care and education, empowerment, and reducing domestic violence.

We are wrapping up some successful projects. For example tomorrow I will go to see an artisanal fish port and a successful fish processing operation that has been established adjacent to it.

We are planning new projects in environmental protection, human resource development and teacher education.

Add to this our support for Guyana's debt relief, including the most recent HIPC initiative, and for multilateral assistance through the UN system and the financial institutions. Guyana also benefits from our assistance to CARICOM, including support for institutional strengthening, fisheries management, health, and the regional negotiating machinery.

Although the rain that has fallen suggests that perhaps El Niño is abating, we know that the people most affected by the drought will continue to need assistance for some time to come. Madam President, as you know Canada responded quickly to the emergency. Our original allocation of C$200,000 for agricultural and deepwell pumps was followed by $110,000 for seeds and cassava sticks and their transportation to the hardest hit remote regions of Guyana.

But let me get back to the maternity unit.

This new maternity ward has several modern features including a centralized oxygen and nitrous supply system and air conditioners. From what I see here and from the reports I have received, it appears that the contractors have done a very good job.

The happy signs are all around. I understand that 6,261 babies were delivered in the old maternity ward in 1996 and about 500 more or 6,779 last year.

I believe this pleasant environment will invite many more mothers in the years to come. So, if over the next two years we find the population of your beautiful country skyrocketing we can safely blame it on the staff of our High Commission and those who worked so assiduously with the government and people of Guyana to provide this inviting facility.

Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, once again on behalf of the government and people of Canada it is my pleasure to be here at this opening and to hand over the keys to the Minister of Health.

Canada and Guyana

 
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