Prime Minister Mark Phillips expressed the Government of Guyana’s satisfaction with progress currently being made in advancing the cooperation agenda for the sustainable development of the Amazon region during the XIV Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) in Brazil recently.
A press release from the Prime Minister’s office said Phillips welcomed the renewed commitment to “reinvigorate, redesign and strengthen the partnership among the ACTO Member States” as demonstrated by leaders at the Amazon Summit held in Belem in August 2023. Guyana, the release stated, “supports the various mechanisms being put in place to facilitate the implementation of the Belem Declaration, noting the critical importance of standing forest, climate change, food and nutrition security and sovereignty to the region”.
The work undertaken to implement the declaration by the Permanent Secretariat of ACTO, the Intergovernmental Working Groups, and technical experts were lauded as Phillips reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to the cooperation agenda of the organisation.
“Guyana reiterates its commitment to the cooperation agenda of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation as it continues to provide a space for sustained, joint collaboration to address shared interests and concerns on issues impacting the Amazon region,” the release quoted the retired brigadier as saying.
ACTO was formed in 1995 by eight Amazonian countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela who signed the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT) establishing the only socio-environmental bloc in Latin America. ACTO works across political, strategic, and technical areas within the ACT framework to foster cooperation among governments, organisations, civil society, social movements, scientists, businesses, and more to reinforce and implement the ACT’s objectives.
