A release said the course, conducted at its North Road and King Street, Georgetown offices, was another in a series aimed at preparing women for local government elections.

NDI said, in continuing its work with Guyanese women to ensure their participation in the decision making process at the local level, is training interested females, regardless of political affiliation, to participate in non-partisan activities designed to promote and increase dialogue and encourage them to take part in local government polls.

NDI Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr Geraldo Le Chevalier assisted in this week’s exercise.

NDI Country Director, Mr Michael Murphy said Le Chevalier has a wealth of practical experience and global expertise from which the women involved will benefit considerably.

The release said Le Chevalier has acted as NDI Field Director in Paraguay, Bosnia and Haiti and undertaken political consultancies and electoral observation in 14 countries.

His work related travels took him to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa and he served in various positions in the Government of his native El Salvador.

Le Chevalier was popularly elected as a deputy in the Salvadorean Legislative Assembly from the National Committee of the Christian Democratic Party.

During the tenure of Presidents Jose Napoleon Duarte and Alvaro Mangana, Le Chevalier was Director of Tourism and Secretary of Information, respectively, the statement said.

It added that, since the NDI programme began in June 2001, it has helped women all over Guyana to gain leadership skills and, with funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and in partnership with Carter Center and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), is implementing ‘The More Responsive and Participatory Governance and Rule of Law’ project.