GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—The new President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Daniel Best, has left Guyana following a successful three-day visit that included the commissioning of two schools.
The Exceptional Learners’ Centre, a special education school, and the new Onderneeming Primary School were constructed as two of several partnership developmental projects between the Guyana government and the CDB.
Best, who delivered remarks at the opening of the Exceptional Learners’ Centre, said it was a significant milestone in the government’s commitment to provide inclusive and equitable education for all children, regardless of their abilities.
During the opening ceremony at Onderneeming Primary School, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service Dr. Ashni Singh said the government is working to put the infrastructure in place to ensure that every child, even those who are differently abled, can get a good-quality primary and secondary education.
He added: “We are ramping up our school feeding program to ensure that our learners have access to a minimum threshold of good nutritional meals, the procurement and distribution of textbooks so that all of the primary and secondary school students have access to a minimum list of mandatory textbooks. That has never been previously achieved in our country. Today, it is being achieved.”
Before opening the two schools, Dr Singh and a team from his ministry met with Best and his visiting team. Discussions centered on how the government and the CDB could further their collaborative efforts on additional developmental projects in Guyana as the country accelerates its development agenda.
The meeting also referenced projects already in their implementation stages and their status, such as the Linden to Mabura Road and the Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute at Port Mourant, Berbice.
During the meeting, Minister Singh also expressed appreciation for the CDB’s unwavering commitment to a development partnership with Guyana and for choosing Guyana as the first country he visited since his appointment.
He said the CDB had been a reliable partner to Guyana, a founding member of the bank.
“Now, as we go through this period of transformation and navigate this very different time in Guyana’s economic history, we look forward to the relationship with the CDB evolving and adapting accordingly,” the finance minister said. “We intend to continue to be active shareholders in the bank, and we look forward to the bank’s active support and partnership.”
For his part, Best said Guyana had to be the first country he visited as CDB president because, when he examined the bank’s Guyana portfolio, he found it to be special in terms of the diversity of projects and the direction in which the economy is trending.
He also noted that Guyana has demonstrated that it is a friend of the Caribbean, and the current relationship between Guyana and the CDB will continue.
The CDB President and team’s visit aimed to reaffirm the bank’s commitment to Guyana and explore opportunities for expanded partnership in pursuit of national development goals.
The visit also provided an opportunity for dialogue on the government’s economic objectives and priorities and how CDB can continue to support them through its assistance and lending programs.
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