Georgetown : Newly-appointed Non- Resident High Commissioner of Barbados Mr Robert Morris presented his Letters of Credence to President Donald Ramotar and vowed to fulfill commitments made by his government to enhance cooperation in several areas.
Receiving the High Commissioner’s letters, President Ramotar said that his accreditation is a testament to the strong bonds of friendship between the sister Caricom states since the establishment of formal relations on June 5, 1969.
“Our countries shared valuable contacts and exchanges long before that. While together we form part of the family of the Caribbean Community, and are therefore jointly committed to the ideals of the regional integration movement. I am formally of the view that growth and development, and indeed integration itself can be buttressed by efforts aimed at greater integration and collaboration at the bi-lateral level”.
The president said that he was pleased at the renewed efforts being made following the 2013 Guyana Barbados Joint Commission meeting. He added that the challenge is to endeavour to cement benefits for our peoples and the region. He noted that the opportunities available for collaboration between the two countries’ private sectors are vast, “once we are willing to be bold in our undertaking”.
High Commissioner Morris said that the two countries have a long standing relationship “characterised by shared history, family ties, common desires and a determination to nurture Caribbean unity”. He noted that it was on the basis of bettering regional integration that an agreement was signed between Guyana and Barbados, in 2002, to deepen bi-lateral cooperation,
“That agreement aims among other things to strengthen traditional ties of friendship and association. It also expands the common determination to deepen the relationship between our two countries in the areas of trade investments, marine affairs, tourism, air services, education, agriculture sports and youth affairs”. He said in closing that he is currently meeting with stakeholders, with a view to fulfilling commitments made by his government, to deepen and strengthen the bi-lateral relationship between the two countries.
The High Commissioner’s appointment comes after last year’s visit by Barbados Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Senator Maxine Mc Clean who was an official guest at the 2013 Guy-Expo and also co-chaired the second session of the Guyana Barbados Joint Commission, which engaged the Private Sector Association of Guyana, and toured the Santa Fe based Simpson Agriculture Project, an investment made possible by the Jagdeo Initiative.
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