Security, economic development on agenda

BRAZIL’S Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira is expected to visit Guyana this week and discussions are anticipated to focus on security and economic development between the two neighbouring South American states, President David Granger has said.The President made this announcement on Friday during his weekly television show, “The Public Interest,” which was aired Friday evening on the National Communications Network (NCN).
Prior to President Granger’s disclosure, Brazil’s Ambassador to Guyana Lineu Pupo De Paula had said that the objective of this meeting is to enhance collaboration between the two countries. De Paula had told the media that areas such as military and technical co-operation and issues relating to CELAC, UNASUR and other regional mechanisms, to which both countries are party, will also inform the agenda.
President Granger noted that the meeting will facilitate discussions about security, economic development and continental development in general. Guyana and Brazil share several agreements through CELAC, UNASUR and MERCOSUR, while the neighbouring states share a 1,100KM border, hence the need for deliberations on matters related to security.
“It’s a meeting that we look forward[to] and we feel that the continent of South America would be better for the collaboration between large nations such as Brazil,” President Granger said.
But not limited to Guyana-Brazil relations, he opined that the Foreign Minister will also be interacting with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in an attempt to further strengthen hemispheric solidarity.
Traditionally, relations between Guyana and Brazil have been good. Brazil has provided small amounts of military assistance to Guyana, including in jungle warfare training.
Just a few years ago, Guyana introduced Portuguese as a foreign language in some secondary schools, and this was deemed a source of satisfaction for the Brazilian Government, as well as an important step in the integration of the Region.
The Brazilian Ambassador here said he was convinced that the two countries will be able to strengthen cooperation, so as to meet the aspirations of their peoples for a prosperous and developed Region. “I hope that during my term as Ambassador we will see more evidence of the growing links between our two countries,” he had said.