Guyana: Dr Irfaan Ali says Caribbean Region cannot ignore its national assets

Guyana: Dr Irfaan Ali said that the Caribbean Region cannot ignore its national assets and must use them for the advancement of its people.

President Ali made the assertion this morning while delivering the keynote address of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Fourth Meeting of the Regional Committee of the Latin America and Caribbean Region at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The Head of State said that the funds earned from Caribbean nations utilising their natural resources should be used to finance mitigation and adaptation measures for climate change, which severely affects Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The conference will conclude on Friday, August 5.

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips and the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, also made brief remarks.

Several other cabinet ministers and government officials, and respective ministers from various the Caribbean and Latin American countries were also at the event.

He also said that said he wants the Guyana Defence Force’s Air Corps to be the premier Air Corps in the Region.

The Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief made the statement this afternoon while addressing the ranks of the Air Corps at the Air Corps Hangar in Timehri. “This must be the Air Corps for any country in the region seeking training or seeking to build their capacity.”

The President said that the GDF’s Air Corps would become the best in its class, providing training for persons transitioning into the aviation sector.

National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia; Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Godfrey Bess and other government officials and senior ranks and officers of the GDF and the Air Corps were also at the event.