President Granger receives courtesy call from British Minister of State

President David Granger was paid a courtesy call by British Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Rt. Hon. Baroness Anelay of St. Johns DBE. The British Minister, who is visiting Guyana for the first time, is on a three-country tour in the region. She had met Granger last week in London.

President Granger first met Baroness Anelay on the sidelines of the United Nations’ 71st General Assembly in September 2016, where they discussed the revival of the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP), the Ministry of the Presidency explained yesterday.

The President had also been in discussion with former United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron and British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, on the matter.

Last year, a team visited the country to perform scoping works to prepare for the arrival of the senior advisor and in January of this year, British Senior Security Sector Reform Advisor, Mr. Russell Combe arrived in Guyana.

The programme had been scrapped in 2009 by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration after the British Government had requested oversight of the programme.

“Since taking up office, however, President Granger had made a priority the re-engagement with the British to ensure the implementation of the plan, stating that security sector reform is important to ensuring that Guyana’s borders are properly protected, and that its police force is strengthened,” the statement said.

During this visit, Baroness Anelay will also meet with the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, and members of the private sector.

The British Minister had announced that she would be visiting Guyana from May 1-3 at the Caribbean Council’s House of Lords Annual Reception on April 25. (Kaieteur news)