(Trinidad Guardian) Approximately six months after Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a national level, the capital cities of both countries have done the same.
Mayor of Port-of-Spain Joel Martinez and his Georgetown Guyana counterpart Pandit Ubraj Narine signed a three-year MoU at City Hall yesterday.
According to Narine, this will bring both countries even closer, especially now that Guyana has an oil and gas economy.
“We need the specialist and the specialist is right here in Trinidad and Tobago,” Narine said after the MoU was signed.
But the relationship will not only be energy-based, as Narine said ideas in culture, health, trade, tourism, education and economics will also be agreed upon.
“I believe the beneficiary will be the people of the city of Port-of-Spain and the city of Georgetown,” he said.
He encouraged the councillors to put the MoU into action.
Mayor Martinez, whose term was just extended for another year, agreed with Narine’s call and urged them to create a culture of oneness.
He said it was a long-awaited day, as the official conversation between both cities had started since 2019.
“This is a partnership that we can all be proud of and for the second time in 15 years, Port-of-Spain has a new sister city. So today, in addition to St Catherine’s in Ontario, Canada, Atlanta in Georgia, USA, Morne-à-l’Eau in Guadeloupe, Kingston in Jamaica, Yeosu-si in South Korea and as of last week the 28th October, 2022, Kumasi in Ghana,” he said.
Martinez said this was an opportunity for both cities to grow together.
“The objective of this MoU is to establish diplomatic relations and enhance mutual understanding, develop friendly relations and promote mutual and reciprocal cooperation between the parties,” Martinez said.
Each party may appoint a designated representative in each city to act as a liaison to ensure appropriate communication for the MoU, he said.
The MoU also said any dispute between both parties may be settled amicably by negotiation and not be referred to any national or international court or tribunal.
A 90-day notice must be given if any party wishes to terminate the MoU but that will not affect the completion of any corporation activities or programmes unless both parties agree.