The 4^th Session for the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent opened today in New York with Guyana’s Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton telling world leaders that the Government of Guyana is taking decisive action to advance the development of the people of Guyana.

Minister Hamilton said the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent not only presents an opportunity for global leaders to advance the calls for Reparatory Justice in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), but also for nations to share their experiences.

In Guyana, he said, the development of Afro-Guyanese, and Guyanese in general, is a priority for the Government.

“Development of Afro-Guyanese and Guyanese as a whole in Guyana, a multi-ethnic nation, is a priority for my government. We have embarked on a transformative agenda, which is rapidly changing the economic and physical infrastructure of the country. This is deliberately matched with initiatives that ensure great inclusion and participation of all citizens in the goods, services, and opportunities available to reduce poverty, geographic disparity, ethnic insecurities and inequality,” Minister Hamilton said.

The Labour Minister told that forum that in the area of Education, the Government is providing free education from nursery to university, with thousands of Guyanese reaping the benefits.

“In terms of the right of education and human resource development, the Guyana Online Academy of Learning has awarded thousands of scholarships over the last four years, providing free online education. This is aimed at creating a modern workforce, including by facilitating access for residents of rural and remote areas. As of this year, free education at our tertiary level is now offered to all Guyanese; an annual cash grant is given to every child from nursery to secondary level; technical vocational education and training is free at all technical institutes, thus making more people skilled and employable,” the Labour Minister reported.

Citing another example, he pointed to the Housing Sector, and explained that as part of its national housing programme, the Government has distributed over 40,000 house lots benefiting over 200,000 people.

“Notably, 43% of the owners are women, no ethnic group is excluded. In addition, several subsidies are provided for low-income households such as mortgage relief at low interest rates,” he said.

Minister Hamilton said as the Government intensifies its efforts at transforming the lives of Guyanese, it is cognizant that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly aid development. However, he said it is important for the digital gap between developed and developing countries is narrowed.

He explained that Guyana will therefore continue to advocate for digital justice even as it continues to advance the fight for reparatory justice.

Guyana is also being represented at the forum by its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, as well as delegations from the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), and the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly Guyana (IDPADA-G).

The event is being hosted under the theme: “Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence.”

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