Address of His Excellency Brigadier David Granger President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana at the Accreditation Ceremony of His Excellency Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai, High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
Georgetown, Guyana, February 5, 2020
Republic of Sierra Leone
I am pleased to accept your Letters of Credence accrediting you as High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
I congratulate you on your appointment and welcome you to Guyana. I ask that you convey my best wishes to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio for his personal well-being and for the prosperity of the people of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
Guyana and Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations on 25th October 1974. Our friendly relations are founded on the principles of mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, cooperation for mutual benefit, respect for treaties and international law, and the maintenance of regional peace and security.
Sierra Leone has embarked on the National Development Plan – Education for Development: 2019-2023 to target human capital development in its rebuilding efforts to promote peace, stability and sustained development.
Our two republics share this focus on human development. Guyana has embarked on a Decade of Development: 2020-2030 which highlights education as a pillar of human development.
Guyana is a low-lying coastal state. Our Green State Development Strategy will prepare us to respond more effectively to the challenges posed by global warming and rising sea levels. Climate change represents a threat to both of our countries’ economies and environment.
Guyana is in transition towards the establishment of a ‘green state’ which will place more emphasis being placed on the protection of our environment, the preservation of our biodiversity, the promotion of renewable energy and the adoption of practical measures to ensure climate adaptation.
Guyana welcomes the opportunity to explore areas of cooperation in t he protection of the environment, agriculture and mining. We look forward to sharing experiences in creating sustainable economies through the development of our human resources, preserving peace and improving the quality of life of our people.
I look forward with your appointment as High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Guyana to deepen our existing ties and expand our cooperation.
I wish you every success in the execution of your mandate and assure you of the full support of my government. Ω