Newly-accredited Japanese Ambassador to Guyana Yoshimasa Tezuka said his country is looking forward to strengthening relations with Guyana, after he presented his letters of credence to President Donald Ramotar at the Office of the President last Wednesday.
In his remarks, Ambassador Tezuka spoke of the reciprocity the Guyana Government has shown his government, particularly in the international arena, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. He also conveyed on behalf of the government and people of Japan, the gratitude to Guyana for the donations and best wishes last year in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated East Japan, which is still going through a recovery process.
“Although we are well aware that the pain of that event will be in the memory of the Japanese people and indeed the people of the world for some time to come, we are conscious that the efforts towards overcoming this tragedy are buoyed by a spirit of resolve and patriotism,” Ramotar was quoted as saying.
According to GINA, Guyana’s efforts at adaptation and mitigation in the fight against climate change have been augmented with support from the Japanese Government based on a US$6.7M Joint Declaration on Enhanced Co-operation in Environment and Climate Change issues. The Declaration was inked between former president Bharrat Jagdeo and then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007, and is managed by the Japan International Corporation Agency, one of the key agencies through which the cooperation programmes are being realised.
The accord has led to several visits by Japanese engineering experts who have assessed and proposed the application of technological innovation to the effort of strengthening the East Demerara Water Conservancy. A $1.6B Water Treatment Plant at Queenstown, Corriverton, Berbice, Region Six two years ago also resulted from the Declaration, GINA said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Director-General at the ministry, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, also attended the ceremony.
