Wednesday
July 9, 2003
‘I do not see ethnic conflict in Guyana’ - Nigerian
High Commissioner bids President Jagdeo farewell
Guyana’s perceived problems with its
multi-ethnic society does not constitute an ethnic-ridden
society, as interaction among the various ethnic groups has
been amicable.
This is the view of the out- going Nigerian High Commissioner
to Guyana Mrs. Nne Furo Kurubo, whose tenure has come to an
end.
The High Commissioner today paid a farewell call on President
Jagdeo at his State House Residence, Georgetown
.
In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA),
she described two-and-a-half-year tenure in Guyana as “good.”
“I came to thank the President and show my appreciation
for the cordiality and cooperation that has been extended
to me so far. I found it quite easy because the people are
natural and friendly,” she said.
Commenting on the question of whether Guyana is ridden with
ethnic conflict, the outgoing High Commissioner said, “I
do not see it. I know that Guyana has a number of ethnic groups,
but I have not experienced any conflict. I have been able
to interact with those who are said to be of Indian decent
and African decent and they have all extended a hand of friendship
to me. So I have not experienced any such… and I did
not have any difficulty in interacting with any aspect of
this society.”
The High Commissioner was accredited to Guyana, when she presented
her credentials to President Jagdeo during the early part
of 2001. Prior to that, she served in Trinidad for a year.
While here, she said, the High Commission has managed to set
the stage for bilateral cooperation between Guyana and Nigeria.
An agreement was drafted for cooperation and a draft was sent
to the Guyana Government.
“This would help Nigeria and Guyana to come together
and foster cooperation in the cultural educational, scientific
and technical arena,” she said, adding that “We
have also renewed the technical programme signed between the
two countries where Nigerians provide technical assistance
to Guyana.”
Nigerian professional volunteers, including nurses, doctors
and teachers, have agreed to serve in Guyana and in turn the
Guyanese Government provides the professionals with accommodation.
“We think that with this kind of cooperation, the South-South
countries will be able to come together and help themselves
and improve their own people politically and economically,”
she said.
Accompanying the out-going High Commission to the President’s
residence was the Nigerian Minister Counsellor Buba T. Tekune.
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