Government’s inclusive approach to development with National Bar Association (USA) discussed by PM

Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, today received a courtesy visit from the President of the National
Bar Association of the United States of America, Carlos Moore Esq and a delegation from that
organisation.
Phillips, who was accompanied by the Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail
Teixeira, informed the delegation of his Government’s inclusive approach to development and
commitment to the rule of law. He added that this also includes strengthening the country’s
democratic systems. “Since we took office, we have been implementing our manifesto in an
inclusive manner,” PM Phillips said.
The Prime Minister noted that his Government’s focus is also on strengthening the judicial
systems and a range of socio-economic initiatives. This, he said includes a robust housing
programme, job creation and infrastructural development, which will ultimately lead to a better
quality of life for all Guyanese. Minister Teixeira noted that the country has made several
progressive strides with regard to laws relating to sections of the society. She said among them
includes women, children and the LGBTQ community.  Teixeira said specifically that in August,
laws against cross-dressing were removed as an offence against the state.
Meanwhile, Judge Moore, who was named the first African-American Municipal Judge Pro Tem
for the City of Grenada, Mississippi last year, said that his organisation was impressed by the
meeting and looks forward to future collaborations with the Guyana Government.  “I’m excited
to take back to my members the things that are going on here in Guyana… the areas of housing,
energy, infrastructure we would like to invest in that… but I’m also excited about working with
the Guyanese Bar Association and the Judiciary to strengthen the rule of law and the
demonstration of justice,” Moore said. Judge Moore was joined by Chief Foreign Policy Advisor
Johanna Leblanc J.D, LLM; Executive Director Maurice Foster Esq and member of the South
Carolina House of Representatives, Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, for the meeting.
The visiting officials are also scheduled to meet with several other members of the Government,
members of the Judiciary and the Guyana Bar Association this week. It was pointed out that the
National Bar Association is the US’s oldest and largest national network of African-American
attorneys and judges. It was founded in 1925 and represents the interests of approximately
65,000 lawyers, judges, law professors, and law students.