Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd and his Trinidadian counterpart, Dr Amery Browne have reaffirmed the commitment of their governments to bolster ties between the two countries.
The reaffirmation came at a virtual meeting yesterday between the two ministers, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.
Yesterday’s meeting followed a period of tension between Georgetown and Port of Spain over several matters.
The release yesterday said that the ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening and expanding cooperation between their two countries.
“The Ministers undertook to bolster efforts at enhancing cooperation between their countries in the areas of trade, investment and energy through mechanisms such as the Framework Agreement on the Deepening of Bilateral Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Sector Cooperation, respectively”, the release said.
It added that the Ministers agreed to pursue implementation of the mechanisms with a view to meetings of the High-Level Bilateral Commission, Executing Committee and Joint Working Group within six months of their meeting.
The Ministers further agreed to continue collaboration in CARICOM on Advancing the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Agenda: Prioritising Regional Food and Nutrition Security since Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago sit on the Special Ministerial Task Force on Food Production and Food Security and given mutual concern about the regional food import bill.
Todd, the release said, also took the opportunity to convey Guyana’s gratitude for Trinidad and Tobago’s continued support for the preservation and maintenance of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Ministers also voiced appreciation for the “outstanding service” of the Secretary-General of CARICOM, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, who will soon conclude his term of office. They also looked forward to working with the Secretary-General designate, Dr Carla Barnett, once she assumes office.
The Ministers agreed to meet again in the near future at a mutually convenient date and time.
Discord had arisen between Georgetown and Port of Spain over several matters including a view here that Trinidadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had disparaged Guyana’s COVID-19 vaccination programme when he said that the country was using a vaccine which had not been approved by the World Health Organisation.
There was also contretemps over a recent offer of assistance from Trinidad in relation to flooding here. Georgetown declined the offer of food and other supplies and said that all that it was interested in was drainage pumps.
