Guyana hails bilateral ties with European Union

President Donald Ramotar last week hailed the four-decade old relationship between Guyana and the European Union (EU) as the latter celebrated the 62nd anniversary of Europe Day.

The occasion was marked by a toast between President Donald Ramotar and Head of Delegation to the European Commission (EC) Robert Kopecky at his residence on May 9 in the presence of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and members of the diplomatic corps.

Guyana’s relations with the EU began with the signing of the historic Georgetown Agreement which paved the way for support to the Guyana government in agriculture, education, training, low cost housing, health, public and private sector development, sea defence and coastal management.

In his remarks, President Ramotar hailed the supporting role played by the EU in fostering improvement in the quality of life for residents in hinterland communities through funding mechanisms.

Reference was made to the commissioning of a toshao building at Bina Hill in April, and the currently ongoing North Rupununi Development project for long-term stability and fisheries management.

Although lamenting on numerous occasions the negative implication which the EU sugar protocol had on revenue to the sugar industry locally, President Ramotar spoke of its support to Guyana’s action plan on sugar that will promote sustainable improvements in the competitiveness of the industry.

Only recently, Latin America and the Caribbean and European Commission Directorate of Development and Cooperation Jolita Butkeviciene concluded an assessment mission in Guyana for the country’s cooperation with the European Union (EU), reporting that Guyana’s decision to stay in the industry in the face of foreclosure around the region was justifiable.

The EU was a main funding partner in the expansion of the Ogle International Airport, which was commissioned on May 8, paving the way for larger categories of aircraft to be accommodated.

After taking on and implementing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) tariff schedule for goods last year, President Ramotar said it is the Guyana government’s hope to maximise trade opportunities through this mechanism.

Additionally, with the adoption of the joint Caribbean/ EU Partnership Strategy that targets, climate change, crime and security, regional integration and the reconstruction of Haiti, President Ramotar said there is optimism that the partnership between the Caribbean and Europe will deepen.

With the global environment affecting small economies, the president said he is looking forward to upcoming climate change talks in Rio in June, which places the green economy at the forefront of promoting sustainable development, food security and poverty eradication.

“It is our hope that RIO+ 20 will agree on an agenda which would be acceptable to the developing and developed countries,” President Ramotar said.

The concerns of the Caribbean including Guyana about the implementation of the recent EU policy prescriptions for the region, particularly the principles of differentiation proposal were echoed by President Ramotar. “The current proposal envisages differentiation in access to EDF resources and the exclusion of some ACP states that are middle income countries,” President Ramotar said.

The potential for solidifying and consolidating relations between Guyana and the EU seemed to outweigh the concerns and Ambassador Kopecky gave the assurance of intentions to improve bilateral trade with Guyana and the region.

He regarded the EU’s relations with Guyana as new, higher and reinvigorated.