A Guyana delegation will be heading to French Guiana shortly to pursue talks on security, the environment and rice cultivation following the first bilateral meeting held with a 16-member French team on Thursday last.
A Government Information Agency (GINA) press release said President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Ambassador of France to Suriname and Guyana, Richard Barbeyron discussed cooperation in various sectors, the provision of satellite images to help with environmental issues, drug trafficking and maritime piracy at the meeting.
“We are advancing a lot in the cooperation and in strengthening our links in Guyana.
This kind of meeting is historic because it is the first time some people are coming from Paris and the Embassy in French Guiana so we are very happy,” Barbeyron said.
The agenda also included key issues of mutual interest including regional cooperation and management and enhancing political dialogue. The meeting spoke about the global financial crisis and climate change. The two sides viewed the meeting as a practical step towards the deepening of ties between them and exploring new areas of cooperation.
The French delegation also welcomed the request for the local private sector to visit that country in June.
Further, Guyana commended the French government’s decision to strengthen its staff at its Embassy accredited to Guyana, in Paramaribo with an official from the French Agency for Development.
It welcomed too France’s renewed interest to extend the level of bilateral development aid to Guyana.
The countries also agreed to establish a formal mechanism for regular bilateral consultation between them which would afford both sides the opportunity to host political dialogue on various issues and foster greater cooperation.
The ambassador also presented crime analysis software to Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad deputised as Foreign Affairs Minister at the meeting which was co-chaired by Director General at the foreign ministry Elisabeth Harper and the French Ambassador.
The meeting was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal.
