President Irfaan Ali has said that Guyana’s prosperity will shared with CARICOM as he assured newly appointed Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett of the country’s continued support for regional development.
The Head of State was speaking during a courtesy visit by Barnett at the Office of the President on Tuesday.
Ali, according to a release from the Office of the President, said that as a member of CARICOM, Guyana will look to enhance the Regional Community. “I have made it very clear that our prosperity will be shared with the region, and that the region will benefit from a stronger Guyana.”
In her remarks, the Secretary-General, who took office on Monday, thanked President Ali for his warm welcome while she acknowledged that there is a lot on the agenda, particularly with matters concerning Haiti and the events unfolding there, including the upcoming elections.
The President told Barnett, a former Deputy Secretary General, that Guyana is also working diligently on a regional approach to food security. As such, he informed that the Ministry of Agriculture will support the work of the Community in pushing this agenda. Ali also used the opportunity to update Barnett on Guyana’s development agenda along a low carbon development pathway.
“We are pursuing an expanded agenda, and our intention is to continue on the Low Carbon Development Strategy, but an expanded strategy, especially taking into consideration the blue economy and balancing oil and gas with our focus on the environment. So that is a very important part of what we are seeking to achieve.”
With regards to regional developments, the Head of State said that Guyana is also concerned with the situation in Haiti following the devastating earthquake on Saturday. He said that while his Govern-ment is spearheading a national relief effort, officials are also working with CARICOM for a regional approach to assistance.
The two leaders also discussed upcoming events and regional participation and representation at international events, including at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12, 2021. Ali stressed the importance of a regional approach at COP26. “I think that we should find some way in which all of us include these items in our presentation so that the noise gets louder. So we welcome you. We know that you are very capable and strong, and you have all that it takes to lead the Region in the right direction.”
Barnett, a Belizean, spoke about the Region’s preparations for COP26. She pointed to the strides made by Guyana in addressing its sustainable development agenda.
“An interesting thing that you mentioned just now actually came up in our discussion with the Secretariat yesterday; the need to balance in our energy development, the carbon-based, and environment because there needs to be a balance and there can be a balance in which both things can evolve. I am really very interested in learning about what your approach will be. Guyana really has led the way in terms of its approach to sustainability of the natural environment”, Barnett stated.
