The Canadian High Commission in Guyana on Monday hosted a reception to commence a CDN million Caribbean Leadership Programme (CLP), which will see officials from Guyana benefiting from a project aimed at creating a sustainable leadership development programme for countries across the Caribbean region.
The training programme, which will be delivered from September 12-16 under the theme “Leading through others”, will be held in Guyana for the first time. It will be held at the Ramada Princess Hotel.
A section of the gathering at the welcome reception of the Caribbean Leadership Programme and for Jan Sheltinga, New Counsellor, Development Cooperation
Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana Pierre Giroux, at the reception held at his residence, underlined the significance of the CLP in Canada’s portfolio of initiatives in the area of governance and sustainable economic growth to assist the Region in the development of a new cadre of Public Sector managers, to effectively meet the emerging leadership roles in resolving complex governance, environmental and economic challenges within Guyana and the Caribbean. Alluding to the success of the programme so far, the High Commissioner also acknowledged the Canada School of Public Service and its partner institutions for their effective delivery of the programme and applauded the Government of Guyana for its support.
Guyana and other Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries were commended for ensuring that representatives participated in leadership development initiatives.
The CLP is a $20 million project supported by the Government of Canada that aims to create a sustainable leadership development programme for the Caricom Region. Twelve participating countries, including Guyana benefit from the programme. Since its launch back in 2013, 93 persons have participated, including three senior officials from Guyana. Currently, three Guyanese officials are completing training in the present cohort.
Present also at the event were Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Deputy Secretary General, Caricom Secretariat Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan; Permanent Secretaries; Deputy Permanent Secretaries; Members of the Diplomatic Corps; and Regional participants; coaches and trainers of the CLP, and other key Public Sector officials. Prime Minister Nagamootoo in his remarks emphasised the importance of training for the Public Sector as he welcomed the initiative and highlighted Government’s commitment to working to resolve the current challenges in the Public Sector and promoting a decentralised public system.
Ambassador Soeknandan encouraged the participants to learn from each other given the similarities and uniqueness in the Region as they work towards an enhanced Public Sector.
The event also welcomed Jan Sheltinga, the new Counsellor for Development Cooperation.
Sheltinga expressed her appreciation for the warm hospitality and also welcomed the CLP participants to Guyana. She relayed her enthusiasm to contribute significantly towards Canada’s Regional Development Programme, given her extensive knowledge and experience in international development. Twelve countries are participating in the training in the six months course.
