English: After introducing WIPO and the purpose and objectives of the mission, the WIPO representatives fielded questions and participated in a discussion on topics such as: the need for appropriate laws protecting traditional knowledge that may readily be implemented and enforced; ongoing projects concerning, for example, the screening of plants for medicinal and other properties; the need for local capacity building; the National Biodiversity Action Committee; the possible role of immigration laws and structures to control the movement of natural resources; the fact that the enforcement of "conventional" intellectual property rights in, for example, musical works is difficult enough in a country such as Guyana (where [at the time of writing] the intellectual property legislation is outdated, based as it is upon early and mid-19th century British legislation), let alone new rights to protect traditional knowledge; the view that increased intellectual property protection may inhibit research; the communal nature of traditional knowledge; globalization; the reality that a country such as Guyana cannot afford to close itself off or be too protectionist; the role of UNESCO; the need for WIPO to further publicize its work in this field; and, the potential role of the existing Working Group on Intellectual Property in Guyana, coordinated by Mr. George (Ambassador Abraams stated that the Working Group would soon be convened to discuss the matters raised at this meeting). After this meeting, the WIPO representatives met with Mr. Clement Rohee, the Honorable Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs.
French: Mme Patricia Hopkinson-Carter, de la Faculté de droit de l’Université du Guyana; M. John Caesar, doyen de la Faculté de sciences naturelles de l’Université du Guyana; Mmes Juliet Sattaur et Carolyn Paul, sous-directrice et directrice adjointe de l’enregistrement des titres près les tribunaux; M. Charles Fung-A-Fat, conseiller parlementaire principal adjoint au Ministère des affaires étrangères; M. Neville Totaram, coordonnateur, du Comité consultatif national chargé des négociations extérieures, du Ministère des affaires étrangères; M. Randolph Williams, conseiller technique (projets) au Ministère de la culture, de la jeunesse et des sports; Mme Jennifer Wishart, spécialiste en anthropologie au Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology; Mme Janette Forte, chercheuse, de l’Unité de recherche sur les populations amérindiennes de l’Université du Guyana; M. Gobind Rameshwar, conseiller technique chargé du Traité de coopération amazonienne au Ministère des affaires étrangères; M. Bhupal Uditram, chef de département et assistant spécial auprès du Ministère des affaires amérindiennes; Mme Elizabeth Cox, spécialiste du programme destiné à l’agriculture au Ministère de l’agriculture; Mme Mildred Lowe, spécialiste des affaires culturelles au Ministère de la culture, de la jeunesse et des sports; Mme Carmen Jarvis, secrétaire générale de la Commission nationale pour l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’éducation, la science et la culture (UNESCO); M. Forbes July, agent du service extérieur, du Ministère des affaires étrangères, et M. Lloyd Searwar, directeur de l’Institut du service extérieur, du Ministère des affaires étrangères.