The agreement (Amendment No.6 to the Limited Scope Grant Agreement between the Guyana Government and the U.S. Government) authorized an additional US$1,193,794 for strengthening democratic activities in Guyana. This is the last addition to the programme's funding and will last until June 2004.

The programme, initially authorized in July 1998 for a duration of five years, provides assistance to the Government of Guyana (GOG) to build better governance and strengthen the rule of law, up to 2003, it is understood that some US$6,056,206 was released in phases.

Newly accredited United States Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Roland Bullen, and Mission Director of USAID in Guyana, Dr. Mike Sarhan, signed on behalf of the U.S. while Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Rudy Insanally signed for the Guyana Government.

The programme consists of five broad areas - legislative strengthening, the administration of justice, elections, civil society strengthening and local governance.

The signing ceremony took place in the Seminar Room of the Foreign Service Institute, New Garden and Charlotte Streets.

Ambassador Elizabeth Harper noted at the ceremony that funding for training and technical assistance are being provided through a cooperative agreement with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) and its partners, the Carter Center (TCC) and the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES).

She pointed out that NDI holds responsibility for legislative strengthening and local governance activities while the Carter Center is taking the lead in work with judicial administration and strengthening civil society organizations while IFES provides leadership in the area of elections.

According to Harper, the programme provides assistance to the Government of Guyana to build and establish more participatory and responsive governance and rule of law. She also noted that the Programme, which is now entering its fifth year, is mandated to work in five broad areas: legislative strengthening, administration of justice, elections, civil society strengthening and local governance.

Dr. Sarhan, in his remarks at the signing ceremony, noted that in the democracy and governance area, USAID's new strategy has been informed by the current programmes and the many lessons learned from them.

"It is shaped by our awareness of existing constraints, as well as the activities of other donors; and is responsive to new opportunities," he said.

Dr. Sarhan also indicated that USAID will pay a special attention to the area of conflict, governance and local governments with the aim of reducing conflict among the various ethnic groups and improving overall governance.

To this end, Sarhan said USAID will work with both public and private institutions, NGOs, and individuals. "Our goal is to help Guyana consolidate its democracy by promoting social harmony and greater citizen participation and accountability at all levels of government," he said.

He said, too, that the current Democracy and Government programme provides assistance in legislative strengthening, local governance activities, judicial administration, strengthening target civil society organizations (women, youth and Amerindians), and elections support activities.

"In the past 12 months our implementing partners have stepped up institution-building efforts in all five areas of our programmes, namely: Parliament, the judiciary, GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission), target civil society organizations, and local Government," he said, adding that USAID will continue to provide training and technical assistance in these areas, as appropriate.

Sarhan also noted that USAID had supported the Attorney General's efforts in compiling the Laws of Guyana, put them on CDs and widely distributed them to Judges, Lawyers and all interested citizens in a format that is uniformly accessible.

He said the administration of justice in Guyana continues to be "a labourious, time-consuming, process". "While cases do get resolved, eventually, the backlog continues to grow (and) there is a recognized need for additional Judges and Magistrates and improved case tracking in the supreme court registry," Sarhan stated.

He noted that the appointment of a Court manager was a step in the right direction, but said much more needs to be done to address the fundamental problems in the system.

To this end, Sarhan said USAID is working with the Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice to explore and encourage the utilization Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods to help resolve the backlog crisis.

"We also realize that in dealing with each of these problem areas, we must address the necessary structural and organizational changes that are necessary to provide a working environment that attracts qualified personnel, and then provides incentives for them to stay," Sarhan posited.

He noted, too, that the USAID's Democracy and Governance programme was instrumental in establishing a Permanent Elections Commission and Secretariat, and during the past year it continued to work with GECOM to strengthen those key components that need to be maintained between elections, and to prepare for the upcoming Local Government elections, including the establishment and maintenance of a valid and reliable registration database, and civic education covering elections systems and electoral procedures.

According to him, USAID/Guyana Programme recognizes the strong synergy among the various sectors. "...we know that broad-based economic growth, increased employment and improved real wages are essential for democracy to flourish.

"At the same time, we also know that stable institutions of governance, characterized by transparency and accountability are vital for continued economic growth," Sarhan stated.

Dr. Sarhan also assured Minister Insanally that USAID will not be wavering in its efforts to assist the Guyana government in broadening and deepening democratic institutions in Guyana.

"Democracy is the parent of peace and stability...without which sustained development and economic growth are virtually unachievable," Sarhan added.

Minister Insanally thanked the US Government and USIAD in Guyana for the assistance and expressed the hope that both parties would work assiduously to implement the programme. The Minister also said he is encouraged by the developments which have already taken place in Guyana as a result of the programme.

U.S. Ambassador, Mr. Bullen, said the technical cooperation programme is designed to help Guyana in its pursuit of the principles fortified in the Inter-American Democratic Charter. He noted that in that document, both the US and Guyana governments renewed its commitments to strengthen and perfect our democratic systems. "This agreement will renew our mutual commitment to work together to achieve these vital objectives," he said.

Bullen also pointed out that civil society participants have been assisted in engaging with policy makers on a variety of issues such as poverty eradication, the administration of justice and conflict mitigation. "We are very excited to be working with the justice sector to explore our alternative dispute resolution mechanism which will reduce the backlog of cases and improve the overall administration of justice in Guyana," the new U.S. Ambassador posited.

He noted that the first article of the Inter-American Democratic Charter proudly proclaims that the peoples of the Americas have a right to democracy and the governments have an obligation to promote and defend it.

According to him, "democracy is essential for the social, political and economic development of the people's of the Americas".