EXISTING relations between the Caribbean Community are to be further strengthened with the accreditation yesterday of Brazil’s Ambassador to Guyana, Luiz Gilberto Seixas de Andrade, as that country’s Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community  (CARICOM). At a ceremony at the Secretariat’s Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara  (ECD) headquarters, the Brazilian envoy presented letters of Credence to CARICOM Secretary-General (ag), Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite.
Ambassador Applewhaite, in remarks, noted that the occasion marked an important milestone in the journey between CARICOM and Brazil, and assured of CARICOM’s commitment towards deepening of the friendship and ties with the Government and people of Brazil.
CARICOM, she said, looks forward to jointly enhancing the partnership between the CARICOM Region and Brazil for the mutual benefit of the peoples of both sides.
Ambassador Applewhaite said much work still needs to be done as CARICOM and Brazil continue to follow-up on commitments and mandates emanating from the first-ever CARICOM-Brazil Summit, as well as explore the expanded avenues for cooperation and collaboration.
She noted that Brazil and CARICOM have made significant strides in building and fortifying the partnership over the past few years and assured the envoy that CARICOM is equally committed to deepening the friendship and ties.
Evidence of this commitment, Ambassador Applewhaite noted, was demonstrated by the participation of CARICOM Heads at the first-ever CARICOM-Brazil Summit, hosted in April last year by then President Lula and the signing of several agreements at the bilateral and regional levels by several of the Heads.
The agreements provided for programmes of technical cooperation in a range of areas of critical importance to the Region, she said.
Additionally, the Heads had further reaffirmed their commitment to the partnership in a `Declaration’ which addressed issues of mutual concern such as Agriculture, Climate Change, Education and Culture, Health and Energy, among others.
Ambassador Applewhaite in mentioning the exchange of views between the CARICOM Heads of Government and External Relations Minister Patriota in Grenada, spoke of the Community being heartened to learn of steps taken by Brazil in following up on the commitments.
These include the publication of a book comprising articles by Caribbean and Brazilian authors on our African roots, as well as the seminar to be hosted mid-year by Brazil, to further the debate on our shared history.
“ I have no doubt, Your Excellency, that these types of initiatives which seek to build a better understanding of our peoples and our cultures and of the many similarities we share, can only bolster the initiatives being undertaken to strengthen our partnership at the technical and political levels., “ Ambassador Applewhaite added.
Touching on the establishment of air links between Barbados and Brazil, she said the people to people contact with such links, “will play an invaluable role in expanding the avenues for collaboration in tourism, in business, in trade and a multiplicity of other areas.”

Mention was also made of Brazil’s outstanding role in the development of Haiti  and of the Community’s deep appreciation for the “consistent and sterling support and assistance rendered to Haiti dating back as far as 2004.
“I have no hesitation in raising this matter once again at this time, as I believe that the Community’s appreciation to Brazil for the goodwill that it has displayed towards Haiti by becoming one of the largest donors to and cooperation partners of that member state can never be over-stated. It is unfortunate that other countries which made pledges to assist Haiti have not followed the example set by your country. Furthermore, the leadership role which Brazil has played in providing the largest contingent of MINUSTAH troops is to be loudly commended,” Ambassador Applewhaite added
In his remarks , the envoy, who recalled that former President Lula’s  had committed himself to organizing the first CARICOM/Brazil summit during his participation at a HOG meeting of CARICOM in 2005, noted that his accreditation is testimony to the relationship still being a foreign policy priority.
He too spoke of the agreements reached in a wide range of areas during the first summit when 64 bilateral agreements were signed, noting that coming out of recent discussions in Grenada, several new areas in agriculture will soon to be implemented .
The Brazilian Ambassador also expressed gratitude on behalf of his country for CARICOM’s support to Brazil’s candidate for the post of Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.