Home  News Regional News Initiative to help ease ethnic tension
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Initiative to help ease ethnic tension |
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Saturday, 23 August 2008 |
GEORGETOWN – Guyana has signed a three-year multi-million dollar program with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to help reduce divisiveness in the multi-ethnic society.
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and UNDP's Officer-In-Charge, Carlos Del Castellio, signed the US$7 million "Enhance Public Trust, Security and Inclusion (EPTSI)" project that officials said is aimed at creating social cohesion through peace building initiatives at the national and regional levels.
Singh told reporters that the project, which begins this month, would focus on three broad areas including youth empowerment and livelihood, enhancing community dialogue and social cohesion and reduced risks.
He said that 600 youths would be trained annually to meet the project's objectives.
The Finance Minister said the project would also encourage the establishment of co-operatives and small enterprises across the country and there would also be training for persons in negotiation, leadership and conflict resolution, as well as sports and cultural activities.
The EPTSI was introduced following two mass killings – one at Lusignan, on the volatile east coast corridor, and another in the mining town of Bartica.
A total of 23 persons were killed in the attacks that were carried out by heavily-armed gangs believed to be controlled by Guyana's most wanted fugitive, Rondel 'Fineman' Rawlins. He has a G$50 million (US$250,000) bounty on his head.
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