SPEECH BY
HIS EXCELLENCY BHARRAT JAGDEO
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA
ON THE OCCASION OF EUROPE DAY - MAY 7, 2003

I confess that every time I participate in the celebration of Europe Day I do so with a profound sense of achievement. Achievement because it was in Georgetown, almost three decades ago, that a group of countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific region got together to form an alliance which was planned to interface continuously with the European Community, as it then was, on development matters.

That European Community is, of course, the precursor of the organisation which has since been transformed into the strong and well-entrenched European Union, the existence of which we now celebrate.

Guyana has benefited from a succession of European funded programmes. These have assisted in the expansion and maintenance of our infrastructure, the strengthening of our industrial base, the improvement of our social services and, perhaps most important, the enhancement of the capacity of many of our citizens, in a diverse range of disciplines.

The most recent Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Programme which were jointly formulated by the European Union, and Guyana which cover the period 2002 to 2007, are testimonials to the fact that the assistance provided by the Europeans to us is always focused on the vital areas of our development, priority being to sea defence and coastal management, education, water, low cost housing and health.

The total amount which has been committed to cover the five-year period is 48 million euros. In addition, other financial resources are available for our development from the Investment Facility established by the European Union in the European Investment Bank and from the Bank’s own resources.

It cannot be too strongly emphasised, however, that it is essential that sound programmes and projects be prepared, if we are to be better able to make the best use of all the resources that are becoming available from the European Union. Of equal importance, in this regard, is the reform of the sometimes cumbersome disbursement procedures that are followed by the European Union.

Mr Ambassador, one cause for concern among ACP countries is the new Economic Partnership Agreements, the negotiations for which are scheduled to begin in September this year. Indeed, I cannot emphasise too much, how important these agreements, could be, in respect of the future relationships between the European Union and the countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific group.

The first point which should be made is that the agreements will ultimately be, not between the Europeans and the whole group, but between the Europeans and various regional bodies within the ACP. For example, the Europeans will have one agreement with Caricom or Cariforum states; another with the West African Region; another with Southern Africa and so on. Therefore the unity which has so far provided strength to the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group is in danger of disintegrating unless we continue to insist on ACP solidarity and seek to coordinate our negotiating positions.

Mr Ambassador, Europe for decades has been a friend to the ACP, and therefore I hope that our views are taken into consideration and that issues such as continued preferential access to European markets and non-reciprocity in trade will be viewed sympathetically in the upcoming negotiations.

It has always been our contention that the mere liberalisation of trade would not be enough to ensure sustained economic development in developing countries. This must be accompanied by financial and technical support. Indeed, the liberalisation of trade without the concomitant improvements in production, transport and marketing facilities would inhibit, rather that foster development.

I am confident that the European Union is aware of this basic truth and we hope that the countries of the ACP Group will not be worse off at the end of the negotiations.

Please join me in proposing a toast to Europe, and to many more years of fruitful collaboration.

I wish to welcome Mrs Rosalyne Charles to Guyana and we look forward to viewing her exhibition.