– promises strengthening of bilateral relations

ACCEPTING Letters of Credence yesterday from the Federal Republic of Germany’s Ambassador, Lutz Hermann Gorgens, President Donald Ramotar said that Germany has continued to recognise the challenges which are faced by the Region, particularly in the area of climate change. The contribution of the German Government to the Caribbean Risk Adaptation and Insurance Programme was also welcomed by the President.
He noted the challenge of countries being graduated to the status of “middle income states” while they are still vulnerable to economic shocks, high debt servicing and severe consequences of natural disasters. He said that Guyana supports the addition of a “Vulnerability Index” in the context of the assessment of the graduation of developing countries by international financial institutions, and expressed the hope that Germany would support this move even as it assists with Guyana’s energy and sustainable forestry development.
Non-resident Ambassador Gorgens vowed to work towards the further deepening of bilateral ties among his country, Guyana, CARICOM and the European Union. Mutual cooperation between and within Regions, the ambassador said, with regard to facing the challenges of globalisation, “is a powerful tool to turn these challenges into opportunities”. All countries, he added, particularly within the Caribbean, are affected by climate change, and Germany will continue to assist Guyana with its sustainable development, even beyond the Millennium Goals.
The adaptation of insurance solutions to climate risks was one such assistance package which has resulted, the ambassador said, in the Caribbean Insurance Facility, the United Nations Institute and a German Insurance Company joining to provide financial protection to small scale local farmers in Guyana and four other CARICOM nations, against environmental related risks.
Guyana and Germany, Ambassador Gorgens noted, are natural partners and he promised to further strengthen ties between the two countries.