Guyana appoints new Consul General to New York

Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 July 2016, 9:15 by Denis Chabrol

Guyana’s newly-appointed Consul General to New York, Barbara Atherly says one of her major objectives is to taking up the challenge to build social cohesion among Guyanese there.

Atherly, who replaces Brentnol Evans after his estimated 20 years in that position, told President David Granger that she welcomed the Guyana government’s thrust to deal with decades-old divisions.

“Over the years we tend to sweep the issue under the carpet and I am glad that it is now in the forefront of our discourse.

I say this from the standpoint that in New York we have a very large Diaspora and this will be one of the areas that I will have to deal with and so I want to assure you that in going to New York, it’s not going to be my own agenda but from the point of view of the Government of Guyana and to try to work to bring the Diaspora together in a very cohesive manner,” she said.

The Guyanese community in New York is largely split along race lines with Afros living mainly in Brooklyn and Indos in Queens.

Earlier in his remarks to the closing session of the one-week orientation workshop for newly-appointed ambassadors and other top foreign representatives, the President emphasised the importance of social cohesion.

Atherly worked as UNICEF Education Specialist in Mozambique, during 2008. She is a dedicated specialist in Child Friendly Schools and Life Skills Education.   Prior to that she worked in the UNICEF India Country Office as head of the Tsunami Recovery Programme in southern India.

Barbara has over 15 years of experience in UNICEF beginning as a National Project Officer (Education) she has since served in various capacities in Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Before joining UNICEF, Atherly worked at the Guyana Management Institute as a Researcher/Lecturer. She also served on the Government of Guyana/Inter-American Development Bank Primary Education Improvement Project.

Atherly holds a Master’s degree in Applied Social Sciences, a Bachelors of Social Science, and a Trained Teachers’ Certificate.

Barbara enjoys reading, listening to music and dancing.