Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton on Monday reaffirmed the Government of Guyana’s commitment to upholding human rights and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to empower citizens and address the challenges faced by developing countries.
Hamilton was delivering remarks at the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD4), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This year’s theme is “Africa and People of African Descent: United for Reparatory Justice in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Over the next four days, the forum will feature speakers from across the globe presenting their roles and key contributions to the global agenda for reparatory justice. Discussions will center on human rights, access to opportunities for women and girls of African descent, policies addressing systemic racism, and the application of AI in developing nations.
Hamilton told the forum that the Guyanese government is making deliberate efforts to prioritise access to opportunities for its citizens—particularly Afro-Guyanese—through the use of AI.
He noted that Guyanese benefit from several support initiatives, including cash grants to offset back-to-school costs and platforms that enable free access to tertiary education.
“In terms of the right to education and human resource development, the Guyana Academy for Online Learning (GOAL) has awarded thousands of scholarships over the past four years,” Hamilton said. “This is aimed at creating a modern workforce, including by facilitating access for residents in rural and remote areas.”
He added that technical and vocational training is provided free of cost at government-operated training centres, equipping citizens with skills needed in sectors such as oil and gas.
Hamilton also highlighted the government’s commitment to the human right to adequate housing. He said a robust housing programme has already distributed 40,000 house lots to benefit 200,000 Guyanese, with additional support provided through subsidies and mortgage relief to ease the financial burden of homeownership.
Women, he noted, are a primary focus of many of these initiatives.
Turning to the forum’s focus on AI, Hamilton emphasised the importance of developing ethical and inclusive AI systems that safeguard the human rights of people of African descent. He stressed that AI can be a powerful tool in advancing racial justice.
Developing countries face enormous challenges in promoting equal opportunities, he said. However, AI offers the potential to overcome many of these barriers.
“As we intensify our efforts, we are fully aware that artificial intelligence can significantly aid development—but the digital divide between developed and developing countries must be narrowed.
“Guyana will therefore continue to advocate for digital justice. Let us continue to advance the fight for reparatory justice—and AI must be part of that conversation,” the Minister said.
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