-at Mexico National Day celebrations

PRIME Minister Samuel Hinds on Monday night on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, congratulated the Mexican Government as it celebrated its 204th National Day.The Prime Minister said Mexico has much to celebrate and be proud of since it attained independence, and he added that Guyana shares with Mexico a close relationship that was made even more special since opening of the Mexican Embassy here.

“Our two countries have maintained an excellent record of cooperation, not only on bi-lateral matters, but also on regional and international issues that are of concern to us,” the Prime Minister noted.

The two countries share similar regard for the values of democracy, peace, respect for human rights, and the sanctity of human trade. This, the Prime Minister added, has formed the solid foundation of a partnership which the two nations enjoy.

The need for regional integration’s major role in terms of safeguarding small nations such as Guyana in light of increased globalisation — to defend against various challenges — was also noted by the Prime Minister.

Saying that Guyana welcomes Mexico’s decision to extend its Mesoamerican Project to include the Caribbean, the Prime Minister lauded Mexico’s role in pushing for increased South-South cooperation, and he called on its private sector to take advantage of business opportunities in Guyana.

Mexican Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency Senor Francisco Olguin Uribe, said his dream of establishing a solid foundation for a new and stronger relationship between Mexico and Guyana began when he arrived here to take up his post three years ago.

Referring to the Mesoamerican Project, which focuses on increased regional cooperation throughout the Americas, Ambassador Olguin said that, with 14 years of experience throughout Central America, the project would now benefit CARICOM as well.

“We have only taken the first step. It will have to be followed by considerable effort. To maximise results, we should choose the projects with highest impact, use our resources wisely, watch debt levels and, very importantly, coordinate efforts with other Caribbean countries to advance together, keeping the same pace if possible,” he said.

Ambassador Olguin added that the first step was taken in Merida at the 3rd Mexico-CARICOM meeting, and others must follow.

“We must not lose faith on the final objective, to make the Caribbean an area of prosperity,” he stated.

Diplomatic relations between Guyana and Mexico were established in 1993, and bilateral relations have since been significantly strengthened. The Mexican Embassy was established in Guyana in 2009.
Mexico is the first Central American country to have established an embassy in this country. Mexican culture has since, through cultural and culinary shows, been brought to Guyana through the many events organised by the embassy.

Since establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, several technical and other cooperation agreements have been signed. The two countries, in September 2011, inked a memorandum of understanding for establishment of a consultative mechanism that focuses on all aspects of bilateral relations the two countries share, including political, economic, scientific, technical and cultural.

In February 2009, the Government of Mexico began to issue unilateral long-term visas for up to 10 years multiple entries for Guyanese nationals for the purpose of tourism and business, and two years for trans-migration. This initiative was reciprocated when the Guyana Government took the decision to grant similar visa entries for Mexican nationals.

In the early hours of September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest in the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato, rang the church bell to gather the townspeople. He called for the people of Mexico to rise up against the Spanish Crown, thus initiating Mexico’s War of Independence. The country did not achieve independence until 1821, but it is this event, known as the Grito de Dolores which is commemorated every year in town squares across Mexico.

The celebrations continued yesterday with civic ceremonies and parades – the largest taking place in Mexico City.

(GINA)