The US Embassy in Guyana seeks Washington’s support for election programs amid Trump administration budget cuts. Ambassador Nicole Theriot highlighted election support as a priority and proposed deploying a Technical Advisor to assist GECOM. The US International Development Agency’s staffing reductions affect local programs, including potential cuts to CAPA, an agricultural initiative. CARICOM nations express concerns over US policies.
The US Embassy in Guyana is actively seeking support from Washington for key programs, especially for the upcoming elections, amidst budget cuts under the Trump administration. Ambassador Nicole Theriot emphasized that the Embassy must prioritize requests for funding waivers, declaring election support as critical. The Ambassador noted, “We would love to continue all of our programmes, but right now, what they’ve asked us to do is prioritize the programmes that we would like waivers for.”
The proposed support includes deploying a Technical Advisor with expertise in election processes to assist the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). This advisor will work closely with GECOM’s leaders to ensure effective election preparations. According to Theriot, “our hope is that we’ll be able to put in place an advisor, a chief technical advisor who is incredibly skilled and experienced in election support.”
US President Trump’s cost-cutting measures have significantly impacted the US International Development Agency, causing staffing reductions both domestically and internationally. The Ambassador mentioned that locally, one contracted employee was already affected.
One specific program that may face discontinuation is the Caribbean Agricultural Productivity Improvement Activity (CAPA), which focused on enhancing crop exports from Guyana. The project had been supporting the development of crops such as West Indian cherries, coconut, and turmeric, with a budget of $1-2 million. Ambassador Theriot indicated, “It was a very small project and I think it was only US$1 million to US$2 million but it’s likely that that project won’t continue.”
Historically, the US Government has supported electoral processes and other initiatives in Guyana. However, several CARICOM nations have raised concerns regarding some policies of the new US administration, particularly those related to sanctions on countries leveraging Cuban medical assistance.
In conclusion, the US Embassy in Guyana is prioritizing support for upcoming elections despite budget cuts from the Trump administration. Ambassador Nicole Theriot has reaffirmed the need for a dedicated Technical Advisor to assist GECOM, while also expressing concern over the potential discontinuation of other important programs like CAPA. The Embassy’s commitment to Guyana’s democratic processes remains strong, even amidst broader international policy challenges.
Original Source: newssourcegy.com
