President Maduro scheduled to visit Guyana by month-end

Georgetown, GINA, August 12, 2013

Incumbent Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, successor to the late Bolivarian Republic’s Leader Hugo Chavez is scheduled to visit Guyana by month-end, President Donald Ramotar confirmed over the weekend.

Maduro was installed as Venezuela’s new President after the April 14 polls, following the death of Chavez in March.

The visit will be his first since becoming President of the Bolivarian Republic, to a country that has maintained a longstanding, fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship for a number of years.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

As former Venezuelan Vice President under Chavez’s fourteen- year rule, Maduro visited Guyana on several occasions, and often led the welcoming party when Government officials from Guyana visited that country.

He had described his counterpart, President Donald Ramotar, as an extraordinary man of the Caribbean, after taking the oath of office as Venezuela’s interim President, hours after Chavez’s widely publicised state funeral.

During that occasion, he hailed his predecessor for completely changing the foreign policy of Venezuela with the goal of resolving outstanding issues between Guyana and Venezuela based on brotherhood and non- hatred and war.

The two countries have transformed diplomatic ties to one characterised by mutual trade in goods and services. The Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration constructed with part funding of US$2M from the Venezuelan Government is one such example.

Guyana is a beneficiary under PetroCaribe, a stewardship initiative under Chavez which has allowed signatory nations to benefit from cheap Venezuelan fuel. In includes a reciprocal agreement that has opened up Venezuelan markets to rice exports from Guyana.

During his Presidential inauguration on April 19, President Maduro vowed to continue in his predecessor’s footsteps by perpetuating his social programmes, and at the same time tackling corruption and crime.

At the commissioning of the Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice on August 10, President Ramotar said the Government of Guyana applauds President Maduro for continuing the legacy to pursue policies for the advancement of the people of Venezuela and of Latin America.

 

President Ramotar also reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to work with the Government of Venezuela for the enhancement of relations through the consolidation of existing programmes of cooperation, and exploration of new areas that will engender mutual benefits and preserve a climate of mutual respect.

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