US Embassy Prioritizes Guyana Election Support Amid Program Cuts

The US Embassy in Guyana is working to secure funding for election support amidst budget cuts from the Trump administration, impacting several programs. Ambassador Nicole Theriot highlighted the need for swift approval to aid GECOM and establish an Election Observation Mission, while other initiatives, including agricultural projects, face potential discontinuation.

Numerous US-funded initiatives in Guyana are currently undergoing suspension due to cuts enacted by the Trump administration on international aid programs. During a recent press conference, US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, emphasized that support for the upcoming elections is among the Embassy’s highest priorities, which requires swift clearance from Washington to proceed.

Ambassador Theriot expressed a desire to maintain all existing programs but acknowledged the necessity for a focused request for waivers. She emphasized, “The high priority programme is our election support,” highlighting the imperative to commence this initiative as soon as funding approval is received, with plans to assist GECOM and establish an Election Observation Mission.

The proposal submitted by the Embassy includes appointing a Technical Advisor with extensive expertise in election support. “Our hope is… to put in place an advisor, a chief technical advisor who is incredibly skilled and experienced… to help them as they start to do more in terms of preparation for elections,” stated the Ambassador, underscoring the importance of guidance for GECOM in the lead-up to elections, tentatively scheduled for November.

The Trump administration has implemented several measures aimed at reducing government expenses, which significantly affected staff levels at the US International Agency for Development. Consequently, local programs, such as the US Agriculture initiative in Guyana, may face cuts. “It’s called CAPA… and it’s an agriculture project… one was West Indian cherries, one with coconut and the other was turmeric. It was a very small project, but it’s likely that that project won’t continue,” the Ambassador noted.

Despite the budgetary constraints, the US Embassy has a longstanding commitment to supporting elections and various initiatives in Guyana. Additionally, concerns have been raised by several CARICOM nations regarding new US policies, especially those that may sanction countries relying on Cuban medical support, in light of the long-standing embargo against Cuba.

In conclusion, the US Embassy in Guyana is prioritizing election support amid significant cuts to various international aid programs by the Trump administration. Ambassador Nicole Theriot is advocating for swift approval of funding for an Election Observation Mission and a Technical Advisor to assist GECOM. However, numerous other initiatives, including agricultural programs, are faced with uncertainty as the US government continues its cost-reduction measures.

Original Source: newssourcegy.com