THE new High Commissioner of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, James Quinn was received by President Donald Ramotar when he presented his letters of credence at the Presidential Complex yesterday. The President, in brief remarks, offered his sincere wishes for the continued well-being of Queen Elizabeth and of the people of the United Kingdom. President Ramotar said that Guyana views its relationship with the UK as a “very important one,” hence he was confident that the high commissioner’s appointment would advance and further strengthen it.
Guyana, the President added, has had “very good cooperation initiatives” in the areas of debt relief, education, water supply, restructuring of the sugar industry, public sector reform and the strengthening of the judiciary and law enforcement, adding that, “we look forward to working with you to build on these and other initiatives”.
Mention was also made of the planned increase in the number of Chevening Scholarships offered, a move that the President said he was pleased with.
The top UK official noted that the two countries possess a long and varied history, recalling the “impact of many Guyanese figures on the UK” such as Baroness Amos, Trevor Phillips and Clive Lloyd.

He said that he was looking forward to many “productive and effective years” during his posting here. “We have much to do, be it on politics, be it on the economics, be it on the culture. I look forward to interesting and stimulating conversations in the coming years.”
He added that the friendship between the two countries is also made stronger by the honest, productive and truthful exchanges, and expressed the hope that many more such activities would occur in the coming years.