Guyana and Venezuela commit to strengthening relations at all levels

– as new Ambassador is accredited

The relations Guyana hold with neighbouring Venezuela at the political, diplomatic and bilateral cooperation levels were described by the new Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana Reina Margarita Arratia Diaz as “unstoppable.”
She presented her letters of Credence to President Donald Ramotar on Wednesday bringing a message from President Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian Government about their commitment to continue strengthening ties for the benefit of the people of the two countries.
Chavez was re-elected president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela after a comfortable victory in the country’s October 7 presidential elections, with 54% of the votes.
President Ramotar had extended congratulations in a letter conveying his aspiration for continued friendship, cooperation and mutual respect which have characterised the relations between the two countries in recent years.
He told the new Ambassador that, “Guyana and Venezuela are benefitting from a relationship which has gathered momentum over the recent years and which has resulted in regular political dialogue at the highest level.”
Bilaterally and through the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) several discussions were held with Venezuela focusing on a range of development opportunities.
The two countries built on progress in trade relations after signing off on rice exportation agreements that last year saw 30,000 tonnes of white rice at the cost of US$800 per metric tonne and 50,000 tonnes of paddy at the cost of US$480 per metric tonne going to Venezuela.
In June 2005, Guyana signed onto a Petro-Caribe Agreement along with Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Suriname, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, that facilitates access to fuel from Venezuela on a credit basis which extends over a period of at least 25 years on an interest-free basis.
The deal allows small countries a chance to fuel development without the immediate impact of exporting foreign exchange.
Chavez had offered to shore-up the quantity of oil shipped to Guyana under the agreement from 5,000 barrels a day to 10,000 during a state visit by former President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2010.