United Nations officials have highlighted Guyana’s rapid development and growing international profile as the country marks its 60th Independence Anniversary, describing the nation as one undergoing historic transformation.
In independence messages, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Katy Thompson, and Senior United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Subregional Advisor for the Caribbean, Ceaser Guedes, reflected on Guyana’s development journey and the evolving role of the UN in supporting the country.
Thompson said Guyana is currently experiencing an extraordinary period of growth and change, driven by its economic expansion and increasing global attention.
“Being in this country at this present time, it’s such an honour, and not least because the rapid economic transition is promoting so much change,” Thompson said.
She noted that citizens are looking ahead with optimism as opportunities continue to emerge across various sectors.
The UNDP representative pointed out that the agency has worked alongside Guyana since Independence and intends to continue supporting the country’s development as it advances toward high-income status.
“The UNDP and Guyana are accompanying each other through the transition from being a developing country to being a high-income country,” she stated.
According to Thompson, the organisation’s support will increasingly focus on providing specialised technical expertise while continuing to assist efforts aimed at sustainable development, environmental protection and democratic governance.
Meanwhile, Guedes reflected on his first visit to Guyana as a volunteer in the early 1990s, when the United Nations was expanding programmes and partnerships to address the country’s development needs.
“Things eventually began improving with the work done by the UN, the government, donors, which was achieved by all working together to make Guyana a better place,” he said.
Guedes noted that Guyana has since made significant strides and is now attracting attention within international development circles because of its economic progress.
He stressed that while the country’s circumstances have changed dramatically, the UN remains committed to supporting its next phase of development.
“The country has made enormous progress, but still, the UN stands next to Guyana in a different way, in a different facet, to help with the ongoing transformation the country is going through.”
He added that the changing realities of the country also require the UN to adapt its approach.
“This is a Guyana 2.0. and we need by default, a UN 2.0 so that we are able to provide the best of our capacities to meet the needs of this country that is transforming for the better,” Guedes said.
