Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has held talks with The King’s Foundation in Scotland as Guyana looks to deepen collaboration in skills training, community development, and sustainable urban planning.
During a visit to Dumfries House, Jagdeo toured a number of the Foundation’s programmes, which focus on equipping people and communities with practical skills and support that can lead to employment and enterprise opportunities.
The initiatives span areas such as construction, sustainable agriculture, heritage and traditional crafts, STEM education, health and wellbeing, and other forms of skills development.
According to a release from the Office of the Vice President, discussions also centred on the Foundation’s growing international outreach, including its work with Guyana in support of sustainable urban development.
That partnership, it was noted, is intended to complement President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision of ensuring that Guyana’s fast-paced urban expansion is guided by sound planning, strong design standards and long-term resilience.
While at Dumfries House, the Vice President also met with international students enrolled in the Foundation’s programmes, including students from Antigua and Barbuda, and received updates on the type of training being offered in areas such as sustainable construction and other practical skills needed in climate-resilient economies.
Following the visit, Jagdeo said Guyana has already made major strides in laying the foundation for national development, particularly through significant investments in infrastructure over the past five years.
He pointed to the construction of roads, bridges, housing and drainage systems, as well as wider access to services and economic opportunities across the country.
The Vice President said the focus now is to ensure that future development is not only rapid, but better integrated, higher in quality and more sustainable, so that economic growth results in real improvements in the lives of citizens.
