(MOTP) President David Granger, on Friday evening, called on the Guyanese diaspora to use their skills, resources and education to help to transform the manufacturing sector of the country for the greater good of all citizens.

The Head of State made these remarks at a ‘Meet and Greet’ Reception with some members of the Guyanese diaspora in New York, United States of America, where he has been attending the 72^ndSession of the United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking at the reception, which was organised by Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Rudolph Ten-Pow and Guyana’s Consul General in New York, Ms. Barbara Atherly, the President said that Guyana has abundant resources, which can provide the type of income needed to revolutionise the country’s economic and social landscape. The Head of State said that the Guyanese diaspora has the technical knowledge, financial resources and skills to help change the reliance on raw resources, which has defined economic activity in Guyana.

“We have to go into manufacturing and these new industries. We are going to ensure that new industries fit into our landscape and fit into the economic plans of our country and that is where I turn to you, the members of the diaspora. Guyana is ready to take off and we need your intellectual capital. We need to tap into the expertise and experience, which you have gained here in the diaspora. We have the resources and you have the intellectual capital and with our resources and your intellectual capital we can bring the two sides together,” the President said.

The Head of State said that in order for the transformation of Guyana’s economy to move forward Government, private sector and members of the diaspora must build capacity in the areas of education and technical expertise and technology.

“We have the raw materials and we have the resources but we must be innovative. We welcome your investments. Guyana has the resources and the doors are opened to investment. We cannot do it alone. We need factories. We need manufacturers. We don’t want to export raw lumber; we want to export the best furniture in South America.  We don’t want to export raw gold; we want to export the finest jewellery in the region. We need investment to move our raw materials into the realm of well-manufactured products. We can do it. Other countries have done it. Other countries use our gold, timber, fish so we need your investment to help to develop these industries so that we can become an important manufacturing country and not just an exporter of raw materials,” he said.

President Granger also told the gathering that as the Caribbean region continues to grapple with the devastation wrought in the various islands by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, it is important that people see Guyana’s ‘green’ state agenda as part of the world’s fight to reverse the effects of global warming.  In addition, he said that the states of the Caribbean have to work together to improve the lives of its citizens.

“It is time that we understand that the entire region is under threat and that we have to protect our people. We have to ensure that their civil rights are not denied to them. We must remove and eliminate illiteracy and poverty and the protection of our people ensuring that they can enjoy a good life, good education and full employment. One of the reasons why we are here in New York is to work with the international community to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We want to remind the United Nations that it has a duty to protect small states like ours. So our being here is not a ritual; it is work. We have work to do to ensure that you have a home to come back to,” he said.

The event was attended by First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge, Minister of Public Affairs within the Ministry of the Presidency, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Audrey Waddell.

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