I WOULD like to bring to the attention of all Guyanese, the importance of the coming week to our country and also, to the region of Latin America. As has been publicized in the press, next week, Guyana will host the Summit of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), and will also, in the following year, for the period of one year, assume the presidency of the Union.

It is a critical accomplishment for the Latin American Region that the organization which prides itself in its ability to improve the lives and circumstances of the Latin American people through strengthened integration, has effectively served its members.

The fact that it is Guyana that is now responsible for hosting the summit and leading the delegation is proof in itself that the government of Guyana, in making regional integration a priority on the policy agenda, is leading Guyana down the path to progress and development.

This summit represents a tangible manifestation of the benefits that developing countries enjoy from aligning themselves together to tide the wave of international and global challenges which would cause them to be vulnerable as individual countries.

UNASUR does not limit integration to purely economic standards; it also allows for the incorporation of the social, cultural and political needs and strengths of these countries into the integration process.

And with the developments that will be unveiled in the coming week, Guyana has proven herself an equal and effective partner and friend in the process of generating and promoting partnership, unity and positive growth in Latin America through integration.