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FM
Former Member

Prime Minister attends African Diaspora Summit in South Africa

Georgetown, GINA, May 24, 2012

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, his Personal Assistant Roopchand Bissesar and Antoinette Sithole, sister of  Hector Pieterson, after whom a museum is named in Soweto, South Africa. At right is the famous photograph of Hector Pieterson being carried after he was shot and Antoinette running (left)

 

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds represented President Donald Ramotar at the African Diaspora Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, held over the past two days under the theme: β€œTowards the Realisation of a United and Integrated Africa and its Diaspora”.

 

The event hosted by the African Union attracted African leaders and African diaspora including from the Caribbean, the Americas and elsewhere.


Early this year, the Union’s leaders agreed to launch the Summit in South Africa and had asked the African Union and South Africa to team up to arrange the event.


It is the belief of the organisers that the event would help build a solid foundation for reviving the African family across the world.


While there, the Prime Minister visited the Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto and met Antoinette Sithole, the sister of Pieterson.


 In 1976, then 12-year-old Pieterson was shot by police during the Soweto Students’ Uprising. He was picked up by Mbuyisa Makhubo, who, together with Hector's sister, Antoinette Sithole, ran towards a press car, and was taken to a nearby clinic, where he was pronounced dead.


What has now become famous is the photograph taken of the child moments after being shot. He is shown being carried by someone and his sister Antoinette running alongside.

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PM Hinds confirms CARICOM support for global African Diaspora

 

Georgetown GINA, May 26, 2012

Source - GINA

 

Guyana's Prime Minister Samuel Hinds is welcomed by South Africa's President Jacob Zuma at the Global African Diaspora Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. President Zuma received Heads of State and Government before the gala dinner organized for the Summit

 

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds represented Guyana at the First Global African Diaspora Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa earlier this week at which  the work done and the outcomes of the Diaspora conference held in Jamaica in 2005, and meetings of the Diaspora held in Senegal in 2004, and Brazil in 2006 were reviewed.


Addressing the Summit on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Mr. Hinds noted that, β€œFor the first time in our history, the leaders and representatives of African, Latin American and Caribbean nations and the African Diaspora will gather to recognise and celebrate the diverse and rich threads of the African Diaspora that are continuously woven into a single tapestry that is Africa.”  The Prime Minister added that African culture, resources, history and aspirations have constituted a wellspring of inspiration for people around the world.


He conveyed the affinity and solidarity of the Governments and peoples of the African Diaspora in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) with the Governments and peoples of South Africa, and the African Continent.

 

PM Hinds pointed out the significance of the Summit’s theme Towards the Realization of a United Integrated Africa and its Diaspora, on Africa Day, β€œa day which marks the annual commemoration of the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity, and its successor, the African Union.  It is therefore, fitting that we pay tribute to the African Union for its visionary role in bringing together the continent of Africa, to collectively address Africa’s challenges – in particular those which threaten peace and security, and the socio-economic advancement and environmental preservation of the nation-states of Africa,” he stated.


The Prime Minister said that the high level of participation at the Summit underpins the commitment of African leaders to collectively ensure that the continent of Africa can fulfil its potential towards sustained economic and social development, and the attainment of a satisfactory standard of living for its peoples.

 
β€œThis decisive step towards realising this dream is embodied in the ideals of the African Union Diaspora Initiative;  an initiative dating back to 2003, when a proposal was made for the AU Constitutive Act to be amended, to formally integrate the Diaspora into the policy framework of the Union of the β€œSixth Region” of the AU.  Today, a number of Africans in the Diaspora are recognized as wielders of economic, political and cultural power, and have a key role to play in the further advancement of this great Continent.”


Africans at home on the continent and around the world, have over generations prevailed against all challenges, including war, famine, slavery, racism, apartheid, poverty and armed conflicts.

 
PM Hinds observed that while many of the challenges have yet to be satisfactorily resolved, β€œIt is in the spirit of solidarity that has ensured our survival to date, that we gather.”


Pointing out to the gathering that while tribute was paid to Marcus Garvey, the late Guyanese Dr. Walter Rodney produced seminal works, β€˜How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’ and the β€˜History of the Upper Guinea Coast’, which, β€œhave contributed to a greater understanding of our beloved motherland;  supported also by the private sector and civil society of the global African Family;  imbued with resilience, endurance, creativity and grace that characterise our people, and fortified by the networks that have been stepping stones to our individual successes in the Continent  and in the Diaspora, we meet to forge a common way forward.”


PM urged participants not to see the Summit as just a ceremonial event, but as a grounded gathering to define a practical, progressive, action-oriented and results-driven framework for mobilising the human and financial capital of Africa, and the African Diaspora.


β€œTo this end, this gathering will consider concrete proposals for political, economic, and social cooperation, leveraging the capacities of our governments, intellectuals, private sector and civil society, to promote trade and investment, science and technology, travel and tourism, communication and transportation, education and training, health and culture,” he added.


Mr. Hinds reiterated CARICOM’s consideration of the Summit’s objectives, and its continued support for Africa in all its aspirations.


While participating countries are expected to adopt the Summit’s Draft Programme of Action and Implementation Strategy, PM Hinds expressed confidence that the Summit would realise its expectations, β€œand maintain the momentum of the Leaders and peoples of the African Continent, the African Union and the African Diaspora, towards the emergence of a stronger Africa in the twenty-first Century.  This embodies the vision for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa and its Diaspora – driven by its own citizens, and representing a dynamic force for good in the global arena.”

FM

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