Jamaica and Guyana Sign Mutual Cooperation MOU

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between Jamaica and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana for mutual cooperation in state media, mass communication and public affairs.

The MOU was inked by Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), with responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, and Guyana’s Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Information and Public Affairs, Hon. Warren Kwame McCoy in Georgetown, Guyana on Friday (May 3).

In his remarks at the signing ceremony, Mr. Morgan said the MOU is of great importance, as it further demonstrates the brotherhood and sisterhood of the people of Jamaica and Guyana.

“Knowledge exchange and best practices is a core part of this memorandum of understanding. We know within the Caribbean that different countries have various expertise that can be of assistance to others, and as a community it is very important that we have cross-pollination so that we can improve our own situation back at home,” Mr. Morgan said.

The MOU will establish a practical and programmatic framework with the primary goals of strengthening and deepening relations and building shared capacity through a mutually agreed menu of measures and activities.

Mr. Morgan said that the expectation is that, from time-to-time, different groups from Jamaica and Guyana will travel back and forth in order to facilitate knowledge sharing.

“There is also the possibility of content sharing. Jamaica has a very robust and very effective public education system and we use the same curriculum for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). Jamaica can really assist Guyana in transferring some of those produced content for the benefit of your children, and I am sure Guyana can do the same thing,” he pointed out.

Minister Morgan committed to working with the various ministries to encourage seamlessness of the knowledge transfers.

For his part, Minister McCoy welcomed the signing of the MOU, noting that his government is fully committed to forging enhanced relations among sister states of the Caribbean community to achieve synergies across various sectors.

“We can utilise techniques and methods. Why reinvent the wheel if a model works for one place with [which we have] great similarities?” he asked, adding that the learning experiences will take both countries to greater heights.

Minister Morgan is visiting Guyana for UNESCO World Press Freedom Day observances.

He is scheduled to return to the island on May 4.