UK looking to help Guyana update old National Development Strategy

Aug 25, 2017 News

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
For some countries, oil is a blessing, for others it is a curse. Many of the Ministers who make

UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn

up the Government of Guyana have been preaching their determination to ensure that oil turns out to be a blessing for Guyana. For this to happen, the revenues derived from the commodity have to put to the best use possible. The success of these politicians will be measured by the development Guyana sees.
Development is usually guided by a plan. Indeed, Guyana has such a plan. However, the National Development Strategy (NDS) is being viewed as outdated.
Recently, United Kingdom High Commissioner, Greg Quinn was asked about his confidence in Guyana to make the best economic use of its oil money.
In this regard, Quinn pointed to the existence of the NDS. However, he noted that that document is old. The envoy said that there has been talk that someone, “probably us (the High Commission)” needs to help the government with looking at how the development strategy will be updated to take oil and gas into consideration.
Quinn said, “If you are going to make this work, then you need to have an overall statement of what you want and where do you (government) want to see the country 20 or 25 years down the line.”
He said that once the main pillars are erected “Then everything sort of comes down from it, in terms of what needs to be done to highlight the specific areas of development.”
Quinn said that the UK highlighted to the government the need to look at the strategy which provides a basis to move forward. He said that the UK is even willing to help to update the strategy.
“Yes there is an interest from the UK to help develop the strategy, but the question is for the government to decide what the basis of starting such progress is.”
Quinn said the government has to decide whether it wants to start from scratch or wants to build on the strategy that already exists “that’s not a question for the UK to answer, but certainly there is an interest on our side to help put a structure in place.”
Quinn indicated that the ball is now in the government’s court for it to decide on the way forward.