In the quest of a new paradigm in relations, Guyana and Barbados yesterday discussed a range of natters including how they can work together to lower their food import bills.
A joint statement on their bilateral discussions in Barbados said that President Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Mia Mottley alluded to their desire for a new paradigm in relations that would allow the peoples of both countries to benefit from an expanded programme of cooperation.
They expressed a determination to succeed with a model for the region built on enhanced trust and cutting through red tape to achieve their objectives within the shortest possible time for implementation.
Several initiatives were discussed to advance cooperation and investment in agriculture and fisheries, oil and gas, mining, forestry, tourism, the hospitality industry, transportation, housing and water resources.
Significant attention, the statement said, was paid to exploring how the agriculture potential of Guyana and Barbados could be employed to reduce food importation bills as part of the overall regional food security plans.
It was agreed that a monitoring mechanism would be established to oversee the implementation of an action plan.
Counterpart meetings were also held at the Ministerial level and between the private sector representatives of both countries with a view to advancing the decisions of the Heads of Government of the two countries.
According to the statement, the Heads of Government encouraged the members of their private sectors to become more aggressive in taking advantage of the opportunities that should be seen not as competitive but providing a measure of complementarity that would benefit both sides. They stressed the urgency with which both countries needed to move forward.
The talks were held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Conference Centre, Bridgetown. The two leaders were accompanied by their Ministers and Senior Government officials as well as members of the Private Sectors of Barbados and Guyana.
President Ali was in Barbados for a series of meetings including the UNCTAD 15 opening session.
