Guyana seeks closer defence ties with Brazil

President David Granger confers Brazil’s Minister of Defence Raul Jungmann with the insignia of the National Award, the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH), as acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards looks on at State House yesterday. Jungmann is heading a delegation currently in Guyana on an official visit. (Photo by Keno George)

President David Granger yesterday told visiting Brazilian Defence Minister Raul Jungmann that Guyana wants closer defence cooperation with Brasilia in light of what he said was the “present situation in the northern coast of South America.”

According to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, Granger said at a meeting at the Baridi Benab, State House, that Guyana wanted to review the Joint Communiqué of 2012 on defence.

“We would like to review the Joint Communiqué to determine its applicability to present-day circumstances. That agreement contained seven points, which are being implemented but in light of the present situation in the northern coast of South America we would like to review that agreement… to put greater emphasis on surveillance and our involvement in the Amazon Surveillance System,” President Granger said.

Granger did not elaborate on