Canada will continue to deepen its technical support to Guyana across multiple sectors through the Canada-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism (CCEDM), Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Sébastien Sigouin has confirmed.
Speaking at the launch of a restorative justice training programme for local practitioners, High Commissioner Sigouin underscored Canada’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Guyana’s institutional capacity.
He noted that more Canadian experts will be deployed to assist in key areas of development as the need arises.“It’s a privilege for us to be here, and I’m pleased Canada can support this initiative,” Sigouin said. “This training reflects the strong cooperation between our two countries and highlights the value of our partnership.”
The CCEDM programme has already facilitated the deployment of Canadian specialists like Alan, one of several professionals assigned to Guyana and other CARICOM nations. Sigouin emphasised that Canada’s assistance is not limited to the justice sector but spans a wide range of priority areas.
“Our collaboration with Guyana has a long and meaningful history,” he added. “For instance, we’ve worked with the Justice Education Society of British Columbia to support trauma-informed training for police, prosecutors, and the judiciary, with an emphasis on empowering women and Indigenous communities and improving access to justice for the most vulnerable.”
Beyond Guyana, Canada has partnered with other organisations to help modernise legal systems across the Caribbean. This includes improving case management, reducing judicial backlogs, and enhancing overall justice delivery in the region.
The CCEDM project also provides expertise in other high-impact areas, including trade policy and regulation, governance and public sector reform, tourism management, and environmental policy. Countries currently benefiting from Canadian technical support under the CCEDM initiative include Jamaica, Suriname, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Saint Lucia, and Dominica.
