Mozambique, London diaspora recommit to strengthening relations with Guyana

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DPI, GUYANA, Wednesday, April 18, 2018

President David Granger and his Mozambique counterpart, President Filipe Nyusi today, on the sidelines of the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being hosted in London, United Kingdom (UK), recommitted to strengthening bilateral relations between their nations.

The Head of State described the meeting as a renewal of a longstanding friendship.

Mozambique as a member of the Commonwealth has also thrown its support behind Guyana in the fight to maintain its territorial integrity and gratitude was expressed to that country in this regard.

President Granger noted that, “Mozambique is now a member of the Commonwealth and we are very grateful for the support the Commonwealth has given us over the territorial controversy with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, so again we were able to speak to Mozambique as a member of the African Caribbean and the Pacific States and as a member of the Commonwealth.”

The two leaders also committed to strengthening ties in areas of common interest and President Granger views the meeting as an opportunity to look to the future and build solidarity.

While the two countries have not yet discussed economic collaboration, the President said: “in political terms, we are interested in ensuring that the African Caribbean and Pacific States go forward into the new era as a united front.”

Earlier today, the Head of State met with several prominent members of the diaspora in London, who restated their commitment to Guyana’s continued development.

“They are very confident with their relations with Guyana and we are looking for the strengthening of economic ties between the diaspora and their home country particularly in the field of investment,” President Granger pointed out.

Investment in the area of infrastructure and development of Information and Communication Technology is of major interest to the Government.

The Head of State emphasised the need to build the institutions and mechanisms to ensure the diaspora relations with Guyana are strengthened.

The discussions he said, were fruitful with some persons expressing interest in acquiring housing settlements following their retirement in the UK.

More information on this engagement, the President noted, are forthcoming with a delegation from the diaspora to visit the country to examine investment possibilities in infrastructure, eco-tourism and several other areas.

While informal, the President said the meeting was very important and reinforced the need for deepening the existing relations.

The Head of State will continue his engagements on the sidelines of the CHOGM, with the formal opening slated for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, President Granger has the expectation that the 2018 CHOGM will provide its member states with a roadmap for the future, given the uncertainty of post- BREXIT relations.

“We would like to get certain guarantees about our economy, we would also like to look at the post-BREXIT relations and the post-COTONOU relations as well. We would like to get some assurances about investment in Guyana,” the President underscored.

Further highlighting the importance of the meeting, the President said 2019 will mark the 40^th anniversary of the Langkawi Declaration, which was issued on October 21, 1989, at Langkawi, Malaysia, during the tenth CHOGM, where Guyana committed to establishing the Iwokrama Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development.

 

By: Stacy Carmichael