South African delegation paid courtesy visit on PM Nagamootoo
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVvTDrikulI” width=”100%” height=”315″]
─ “Guyana’s relationship with South Africa is one that has become unbreakable, unshakeable” – PM
─ “Guyana is presently looking for partners who can advance our cause” – Dr Bynoe
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, on Monday, received the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources of South Africa, Godfrey Oliphant, and a delegation at his office at the Ministry of the Presidency.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo, in welcoming the delegation, highlighted that over the years the two countries have strengthened their bonds through many mutual areas.
“As you know, Guyana’s relationship with South Africa is one that has become unbreakable, unshakeable,” the Prime Minister said, adding that both countries have struggled for national unity.
“My involvement in the six-party coalition is primarily to make a step forward in this struggle for national unity.”
As part of the discussion, Prime Minister Nagamootoo highlighted that Guyana and South Africa should share human capital from the two different parts of the world, “and certainly to established airlinks would be very advantageous to both parts of the world.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources of South Africa, Godfrey Oliphant said that he is happy to have made the journey to Guyana to reconnect the two countries and further strengthen their bonds.
According to the South African minister, his country is a very huge on mining.
“We have been mining in that country for over a hundred and fifty years, we have what it takes; the experience, the knowledge, the skills and we are still going to mine for the next hundred years.”
In this regard, the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources noted that he is happy to lend the expertise of his country to Guyana.
Echoing the Prime Minister’s sentiments, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who was also part of the local delegation, noted the crucial role that Guyana and South Africa play in the development of the world. Explaining the current political situation in Guyana, he stated that this should not deter development as the business of the country still has to be done.
Speaking on behalf of the oil and gas sector, Dr. Mark Bynoe, Head of the Department of Energy, said it is critical to garnering all vital information in this sector but he believes that investing in our human resources should come first. He hinted at the possible exchange of human resources as a probable collaboration in this sector. “Guyana is presently looking for partners who can advance our cause,” Dr Bynoe stated.
The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, is hosting the high-level team from South Africa until March 2, with the aim of exploring areas of collaboration between the two countries.
Rebecca Ganesh.
Images: Keno George.