'Ties between Canada and Guyana are close' --Dr Bowker
Overshadowed by the inauguration of Guyana's sixth executive President was the departure of Canada's High Commissioner to Guyana. Dr Alan Bowker, who left these shores on Thursday after nearly three years, had presented his credentials to then President Cheddi Jagan in October 1996, in effect making him the only Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana to have served while four executive Presidents - Cheddi Jagan, Samuel Hinds, Janet Jagan and the newly inaugurated Bharrat Jagdeo - were in office. Speaking to Sunday Stabroek days before his departure, Bowker said that he retained special memories of Guyana and its people, who were renowned for their hospitality. He was satisfied with the progress of relations between the two countries, he said, and was happy with the assistance Canada had been able to offer this nation. Making reference to the beginnings of the two-country association which dated back to the days of trading ships when molasses and sugar were exchanged for fish and lumber, Bowker spoke of the relationship between Guyana and Canada over the years as having been very broad and full of substance. Canada, he said, had been instrumental in giving development assistance to Guyana through some of its darkest times, ensuring that the latter would be given help from international financial institutions. It had given it debt relief on a number of occasions as well as assisting in ensuring free and fair elections in 1992 in support of the democratic process. He referred to the close trading and investment ties between the two countries which had led to the exchange and promotion of goods and services and the continued investment of OMAI, the largest Canadian investment in Guyana and the Bank of Nova Scotia, among other businesses. He felt that the ties between the two peoples were very close and because of this Guyana and Canada had been able to carry on dialogue on a broad range of issues. Bowker, who served in the United States Bureau and was involved for many years with the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, acknowledged success in encouraging Canadians to invest here and Guyanese to buy Canadian goods and services. He was happy with the work done in expanding two-way trade, supporting the progress of democracy locally and helping in whatever way to address some of the problems this country has had. The former High Commissioner was proud of the assistance that the Commission had offered to persons affected by the El Nino phenomenon in 1997 and 1998. This assistance, he said, was not only in the form of emergency supplies but included cassava sticks, water pumps and tractors, among other things, which ensured a full recovery by the persons affected. He made mention of other forms of social assistance which included the building and repair of schools, hospitals and contributions toward the modernisation of government and advice to businesses through the provision of experts and volunteers. With reference to Guyana's political problems Bowker said that Canada had been a sympathetic observer and had helped in whatever way it could in terms of encouraging dialogue and compromise.
When asked about areas of future cooperation between the two countries Bowker pointed to the need to promote the competitiveness of Guyana. He expressed the view that in a world of globalisation Guyana needed to take its place through the agency of a more educated and trained population, a government which supported private business, and industries which were marketing products that were competitive and met international standards. He also cited the need to negotiate trade agreements and to attract investment and tourists. To this end Canada had offered assistance in the form of programmes in education and human resource development and the modernising of government, as well as offering continued support to regional integration and the democratisation process in Guyana through support of the constitutional reform process. Like all Guyanese Bowker said that he too had been frustrated by the political developments that had held back development and progress, but had been heartened by the response to the Herdmanston Accord, which, according to him, was a very statesman-like recognition of the problems and provided a framework in which solutions could be found. He saw it as a major challenge for the people but noted that there was great hope that the challenge would be met as evidenced by the hopeful signs of continued dialogue on constitutional reform and the beginnings of real dialogue in all segments of the society. It was his hope, that while Canada continued to offer its sympathetic support for the process, that Guyana would emerge stronger as a result. Bowker, who was Coordinator, Cabinet and Parliamentary Liaison from 1990 to 1993 in Canada emphasised the importance for Guyanese from all walks of life to commit themselves to progress and to continue to talk to each other. He told of meeting hundreds of persons with the same patriotism and desire to see Guyana succeed which had made him confident that with that underlying attitude Guyana would surmount its present difficulties. Bowker leaves Guyana to take up a two-year appointment at the Foreign Affairs office in Ottawa. When asked by Sunday Stabroek what advice he would offer the new High Commissioner as to the approach he should take when working in Guyana, he replied that he should be prepared to be smothered with friendliness, overwhelmed with hospitality and attacked with goodwill. Bowker graduated in Modern History and English from the University of Toronto in 1965 and completed his Masters and PhD at the same university in 1966 and 1975 respectively. Born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Bowker joined the Department of External Affairs in 1973 and served in Dar-es-Salaam and Harare. In Ottawa he served in the United States Bureau and was involved for many years with the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) as CSCE Co-ordinator within the former USSR and Eastern Europe Relations Division and in the Office of CSCE Affairs. From 1990 to 1993 he was Co-ordinator, Cabinet and Parliamentary Liaison and after 1993 served as Co-ordinator, Access to Information and Privacy Protection. Dr Bowker is married to Dr Carolyn Bowker and they have two children.
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