Minister Carolyn
Rodrigues-Birkett
Guyana and Barbados are expected to sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the areas of fisheries, education, investment, civil aviation, transport, tourism/ hospitality and agriculture in the next few months. One of the agreements being finalised by the two countries will see the issuance of a joint fisheries licence for fishers of the two countries operating in the area that overlap their maritime boundaries.
This was disclosed by Barbados Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Maxine McClean and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett after the completion of the second session of the Guyana-Barbados Joint Commission meeting last Friday.
Scholarships
With regard to education, five Barbadian students will benefit from scholarships to the Guyana School of Agriculture while Guyana will receive help from Barbados in pork production and rearing of Black Belly sheep.
Guyanese hydromet officers will be attached to the Barbados Hydromet Office since Rodrigues-Birkett noted that Barbados has more experience in this area.
The two countries will also move to twin schools in Barbados and Guyana by offering exchange programmes for both teachers and students.
“We will like from a very young age our student learning more about the Caribbean, Caricom, and their neighbours… within the next year, we are hoping to have our first visit,” she said.
Guyana will soon employ a flight operation inspector who will receive addition training in Barbados.
Meanwhile, with respect to tourism and hospitality, Senator Maxine McClean noted that given her country’s long involvement in the sector, there are a number of areas where collaborations are possible.
“There is the intention to conclude a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) which should give an indication of how we can collaborate between our countries,” McClean said.
She said too that the two countries will so be twinning their destinations for prospective and repeat visitors.
On this note, McClean stated that Barbados has air connections, and Guyana can tap into this area.
Barbados will be offering training in the tourism sector, and being aware that Guyana is seeking to establish a hospitality institute, McClean said her country can also share its experiences in this regard.
