Date: Tuesday 25th April 2017
Time: 9.30-11.30
Venue: Army and Navy Club, 36 Pall Mall, St James’s, London, SW1Y
On Tuesday 25th April, The Caribbean Council organised an Investment Seminar with the President of Guyana, H.E. Brigadier (Ret’d) David Arthur Granger, MSM, MSS from 9.30-11.30 at The Army and Navy Club.
Chaired by our President, Rt Hon. Lord Bruce of Bennachie, the event offered a rare opportunity to hear in London from the President about the economic development of Guyana and his vision for the country’s future particularly in the light of the major recent offshore oil and gas discoveries which have placed Guyana firmly in the international spotlight.
The expectation of dramatic future growth driven by oil and gas discoveries mean that many of the long-standing infrastructure requirements and needs for public services can now be addressed presenting potentially a wide range of commercial and investment opportunity for UK and other international firms. A brief profile of President Granger can be found below.
The seminar offered attendees a unique chance to hear directly from President Granger about his vision for the country’s future, and the measures his government is putting in place to support the growth of the private sector and promote sustainable development.
The President was joined at the event by Vice President of Guyana and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Carl Greenidge; the High Commissioner of Guyana to the United Kingdom , HE Mr Hamley Case, and the British High Commissioner to Guyana, HE Mr Greg Quinn. We were also delighted to have private sector foreign investors participating on the panel who shared with the audience their experience of working in Guyana:
- Mr Andy Thorne, Group Chairman, Kestrel Group
- Mr Gil Holzman, President and CEO, ECO Atlantic Oil and Gas
Attendees were able to put their own questions to President Granger and other panellists, and there was also time for networking to facilitate further discussion.
This was a fascinating seminar and attendees were able to learn more about the commercial landscape of Guyana during this exciting period of change and growth.
We are grateful to our Event Partners: Kestrel Group and Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas who supported this event.
Profile of President of Guyana, H.E. Brigadier (Ret’d) David Arthur Granger,MSM, MSS
Brigadier David Granger was sworn in as the ninth President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on 16th May 2015.
He was educated at the University of Guyana, the University of the West Indies and the University of Maryland and attended courses at the University of California; the National Defense University and the Joint Special Operations University.
Brigadier Granger is a former Commander of the Guyana Defence Force and National Security Adviser to the President. He received his military training at the Mons Officer Cadet School and the School of Infantry in the United Kingdom, the Jungle Warfare Instruction Centre in Brazil, and the Army Command and Staff College in Nigeria.
He was elected to the presidencies of the History Society, Guyana Heritage Society, University of Guyana Guild of Graduates and the Guyana Chess Federation. He was also formerly a member of the University of Guyana Council, Association of Caribbean Historians, Caribbean Studies Association, Guyana Press Association, Guyana Book Foundation, Guyana Legion and the Guyana Veterans Foundation.
Brigadier Granger is the author of several books including National Defence: A Small State in the Subordinate System; Caribbean Geopolitics: Security, Stability and Sovereignty in Small States; Public Security: Criminal Violence and Policing in Guyana, and Public Policy: The Crisis of Governance in Guyana.
His academic awards include the President’s Medal; Dennis Irvine Prize; Council of the University Prize; Elsa Goveia Medal of Excellence; Guy de Weever History Prize and the Earl Attlee History Prize from the University of Guyana.
His military awards include the Efficiency Medal, the Military Service Medal and the Military Service Star for distinguished military service.
Brigadier Granger is married to Sandra, née Chan-A-Sue, and is the father of two daughters.
Photo credit: David Stanley, ‘Brazil-Guyana Border’, http://bit.ly/2BkkyxV, Flickr
