FOREIGN Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, in her presentation during the budget debates on Friday, assured the National Assembly that Guyana’s good relations with Venezuela would continue even after the country’s national elections on April 14.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Deborah Backer had, in her presentation, expressed concerns relative to the Guyana/Venezuela border issue and the PetroCaribe agreement between the two countries in noting the possibility of a change in relationship with advent of the new president.
Rodrigues-Birkett acknowledged the merit in catering for any eventuality, but advised that while there have been discussions to this effect within the Foreign Affairs Ministry, based on the good relations existing between the two countries over the past 12 years, she has every reason to be confident that things would continue as usual.
“I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that our relations with Venezuela under President Maduro would continue to flourish…but Guyana is willing to work with any government of Venezuela for the advancement of our two peoples,” she asserted.
She pointed out that Guyana has benefited tremendously from the sale of rice and paddy to Venezuela, and said that a new agreement for the sale of additional rice and paddy is expected to be concluded very soon.
She said the two South American territories would continue to work on other cooperation initiatives even as she alluded to a homeless shelter to be opened soon, which was completed with support of approximately US$2M from Venezuela.
Meanwhile, relative to the illegal crossing of the Corentyne River between Suriname and Guyana, the minister said that while the government is ready to act on this issue, action has to happen simultaneously on both sides of the crossing.
“We have begun those discussions with Suriname, and hopefully we would be able to move forward with those discussions this year; and hopefully implement that later in the year,” she said.
She also noted that the Border Commission would commence its work shortly, with the first meeting to be held in the very near future. She added that Ambassador Rudy Collins has been identified to head the commission on Guyana’s side.
On the decision to bridge the Corentyne River, the minister informed the National Assembly that the government has written the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to conduct a feasibility study, and has received a positive response.
She further stated that, in regard to Guyana/Brazil relations, all efforts are currently placed on infrastructure projects, but Guyana, notwithstanding, continues to cooperate with Brazil and other regional bodies as well.
Ms Rodrigues-Birkett further said that Guyana’s national self-esteem continues to thrive, as the country is continuously recording significant growth.
Nevertheless, she noted, Guyana does not exist in a vacuum, and the global challenges which confront the world would definitely have an effect on the country.
She pointed out that the overall growth in the Caribbean in 2012 was less than one percent, with three economies posting negative growth over that period; but Guyana, she said, was one of only four Caricom countries that recorded positive growth in 2012.
“Several of those countries are still in recession. We do not bask in the unfortunate situations of many of our Caribbean neighbours. Indeed, we stand in solidarity with them, because if we are to make this Caricom integration movement work, all of our economies need to be strong,” she asserted.
The minister referred to a report from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) titled “Preliminary Overview of Caribbean Economies 2012-2013” which stated that Guyana, Belize and Suriname will continue to pose substantial growth rates.
She stated that as it relates to projection of all the countries in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Guyana is projected to grow the most this year, at 4.9 percent; while the Caribbean is projected to grow at 2.1 percent.
In regard to tourism, she advised that the local tourism industry is steadily growing; and, in fact, the report stated that the overall result of the Caribbean is one of weak performance, except for Belize, Suriname and Guyana.
She also stressed that Guyana has had the largest percentage increase of tourist arrivals, at 17.9 percent.
In terms of unemployment, Ms Rodrigues-Birkett said the report stated that except for Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, unemployment rates are likely to remain elevated for some time. “We have much more to do, but we have gone a far way in restoring self-respect, I believe, in our national psyche,” she remarked.
The minister clarified that by using the term “we” she was referring to all Guyanese who have chosen to “put their shoulders to the wheel and in their own way contribute to the development of Guyana”, and the term included those in certain sectors, such as the private sector, the banking sector, and the agricultural sector, who have contributed to this development.
Rodrigues-Birkett highlighted that the administration is trying to build a “Guyana Project” which aspires to build “a Guyana for us, for our children and for our children’s children.” She emphasised that if the country is to progress at the desired rate, the two things which must be in place are good education and good infrastructure.
“With an educated population, we can move mountains. With the necessary infrastructure, we can facilitate investment, trade, tourism so that our people can have more jobs, and that we’d be able to generate wealth and ultimately improve the lives of all of our people,” she stated.
She also mentioned her conviction that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project would make Guyana a hub between South America, the Caribbean, North America and Africa.
The minister moreover mentioned other projects, such as the construction of the Marriott International Hotel in Georgetown. “Much has been said about the Marriott…but right now Guyana cannot host a major international meeting because we do not have all of the accommodation required,” she said.
Meantime, Rodrigues-Birkett emphasised that Guyana leads CARICOM in terms of meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
In regard to foreign policy coordination, which was also raised by APNU’s Deborah Backer, the minister noted that Guyana has brought several initiatives to the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) relative to foreign policy coordination. She proceeded to cite incidences of Caricom standing together in solidarity on issues. However, she related that in recent times, there have been some mixed signals, in that some members are of the view that foreign policy coordination does not mean unanimity.
She explained that some member states believe that countries could have different positions, but should inform each other of the different positions.