More donors beginning to better understand Guyana's problems - British Minister by Linda Rutherford Guyana Chronicle September 14, 2000 MORE international aid donors are beginning to better understand Guyana's difficulties and are likely to follow Britain's lead pledging full debt forgiveness. This mood of optimism was created by observations by British Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Baroness Scotland of Asthal at a news conference yesterday at the British High Commissioner's residence prior to her departure after a hectic four-day visit here. "We do want to encourage other donors to do that which we are doing and we do see a willingness amongst them," the Baroness said. Repeating herself for emphasis, the Baroness said: "We have seen support from other donors and an increase in understanding and Britain is indeed very proud that we have been at the forefront of this initiative and the energy which I think has been demonstrated since 1997 when the Labour Government came in hasn't diminished; it has grown." She said that Britain appreciated Guyana's difficulties and problems and felt that the approach it has taken has helped the country take advantage of the opportunities it has charted out for the future. Baroness Scotland had said on Monday, when she signed a debt-relief agreement here on behalf of her government, that Britain was not only committed to the HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries) Initiative, but was willing to go even further and exonerate all those countries so designated of all their foreign debts and not just 90 per cent as initially agreed. She had said also that Britain will continue to press others in the international community to do likewise by setting the tone and leading by example. Asked yesterday whether Britain's unwavering support of an enhanced HIPC Initiative, agreed a year ago in Paris, had anything to do with a recent meeting between British Secretary of State for the Department For International Development, Ms Clare Shortt and representatives of the multilateral funding agencies, Baroness Scotland replied in the affirmative. She referred to Monday's exercise at the Finance Ministry, when she and Finance Minister Mr Saisnarine Kowlessar both signed, on behalf of their respective governments, the agreement to officially reduce Guyana's debt to Britain by an additional 11.5M pounds sterling. She also reiterated an observation she had made during Monday's signing that it was hoped that Guyana will be able to meet all the criteria set out under the HIPC Initiative, to enable Britain to forgive it all its debts. As was previously said also, she said that Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Gordon Brown, had "made it clear that that was his aspiration and that...of Her Majesty's government". Asked whether she agreed with popular opinion that HIPCs should have more say about how the forgiven funds should be spent, Baroness Scotland said: "I think we're talking about how we work in partnership together. You will have noticed that the way in which we in Britain have worked is that we have listened; we listened very carefully and we made partnership a reality". She said that if the way in which Britain was able to write off the debts of HIPCs were to be carefully analysed, it would be found to be one which was entirely satisfactory. "So I do understand that there is anxiety about that issue but what I would say is that the dialogue that enables those difficulties to be overcome is what's really important and that dialogue has been open as I understand it and will continue to be explored in an appropriate way," the Baroness said. "We'll do our part to make sure that when we're having discussions we explain the understanding that we've been able to cull from our opportunities to speak to the different countries," she promised. Conceding that her visit was as instructive as it was engaging, the Baroness said: "I have been warmly welcomed everywhere that I've been". Of her meeting with President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday morning, Baroness Scotland said: "It was a very instructive and informative occasion which I very much appreciated". She also met Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Home Affairs Minister Mr Ronald Gajraj, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier Michael Atherly and Opposition Leader, Mr Desmond Hoyte. Recalling the warm welcome she received at Anna Regina on the Essequibo, where she was treated to a lively cultural show, the Baroness said: "I think I will go away with a very clear impression of the youth of Guyana; their vibrance; their intelligence and their immaculate good behaviour". She said she now fully understood what Prince Charles meant when he told her how thrilled and impressed he was all at once about his visit here. At a function late Tuesday, she had said that no one could have been more interested in coming to Guyana than she. "Guyana has been a place that I've wanted to come for many years, and so for me, it is very much having achieved the Grail I find it," she said. She said she leaves "with not only a very clear understanding of Guyana's great gifts but also a clear understanding of her problems and her difficulties." "Her Majesty's Government has pledged itself to being a good partner to Guyana and I think the way in which we're already working together demonstrates the fruits of that partnership," she concluded. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today