ACMW/Canadian Govt launch “Our House” booklet with funding from the Canada funds for local initiatives, the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACMW), in collaboration with the Parliament of Guyana, on Friday launched a publication titled “Our House, an introduction to Parliament”.
The objective of the publication is to promote greater awareness of the contribution of the parliamentary system to transparent and accountable governance and genuine representation of the people of Guyana.
President of the Caribbean Media Workers Association, Wesley Gibbings, said the Parliament remains the heart of democracy and governance. He said democracy is also intertwined with press freedom, as they both extend the service of those who offer themselves to office.
Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Pierre Giroux, said the project will help foster much stronger communities and encourage participation of citizens.
He said the Government of Canada views the promotion of inclusive governance and matter which deal with diversity and human rights as key to successful and sustainable democratic societies.
“This is reflected in our foreign policy and international assistance, including our work through invaluable programmes such as the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives,” Giroux said in his statement.
Speaking also at the launching ceremony was Speaker of the House, Dr Barton Scotland, who was very supportive of the project. He said the project provides an opportunity to tell Guyanese more about the country.
He said the Parliament in recent years has recognised the need to encourage Guyanese to have an active interest in the affairs of Parliament. As part of this effort, he said, the office has embarked on several initiatives, including outreach programmes to schools, which include visits by himself, Members of Parliament, and other officers to schools across Guyana, the Parliament’s weekly newspaper column, “the Parliament Corner”, and a robust social media campaign.
“It is through programmes like these that the National Assembly will be able to reconnect with, and help to direct, the minds of the young and all citizens towards the work of Parliament,” Dr Scotland detailed.
He said the publication would aid the Parliament Office in its objective of bringing Parliament to life for Guyanese.
“It will enable the public to better appreciate the role of the Parliament, and to make informed decisions and express opinions on debates taking place in the National Assembly,” the House Speaker said.
“Our House” is a two part publication – one for Children and the other for adults. Its contents are divided into three parts and includes Parliament and Government, Rules of the Game, and Parliamentary Sign posts.
