THE Argentine Republic will assist Guyana in the drafting of a roadmap for the delivery of blood services as the two countries strengthen their bilateral relations in areas such as health, security, sports, art and culture.
Argentina’s Ambassador to Guyana, Luis Alberto Martino, made the announcement in the presence of President David Granger, during a reception on Wednesday to mark the 201st Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Argentine Republic at the Marriott Hotel. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of State Joseph Harmon; former President, Donald Ramotar; former prime minister, Samuel Hinds; Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland; Members of the Diplomatic Corps, the Judiciary, Private and Public Sectors were also in attendance.
Ambassador Martino told his distinguished guests that the haematology project forms part of a series of initiatives being undertaken here by his Government. It was explained that in recent years the Argentine Government has consolidated a number of existing projects while establishing new ones. “In the area of health for example, during the last quarter of 2015, under the umbrella of the South-South Cooperation Arrangement coordinated by the Foreign Affairs Ministry and involving the Ministries of Health for both countries, a team of Argentine experts in the field of haematology visited Guyana on two occasions–in October and November–on a capacity building mission,” Ambassador Martino pointed out.
“During August 2016, Phase III of the project was executed, which involved a visit to Buenos Aires of three Guyanese experts to strengthen their capacity-building even further. Phase IV will take place in the last week of September, 2017,” he added.
That phase, the ambassador explained, involves an assessment of the results in the area of capacity-building and the drafting of a road map for blood services in Guyana.
In the area of art and culture, Ambassador Martino announced that between September 2-9, a team of experts in plastic arts will be here in Guyana to work with the National Art Gallery at Castellani House to spearhead a project that would allow for the restoration and preservation of approximately 50 pieces of Guyanese art work. He noted too that in the area of defence, a graduate from the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School is participating in a three-month long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean with the Argentine Naval Military.
Importantly too, Ambassador Martino noted that Argentina’s independence is being celebrated at a time when the country is gearing up to host the Summit of MERCOSUR next week. In December, it will host the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and in 2018 it will host the Summit of the G20.

Continued cooperation
Meanwhile, in expressing appreciation for the support provided by Argentina in the areas of defence, education, health and sports, President David Granger said he looks forward to continued cooperation in the areas of renewable energy, forest and land management.
Pointing out that Guyana and the Argentine Republic continue to collaborate within regional institutions, the Union of South American States (UNASUR), the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), President Granger emphasized that both countries continue to share common values of respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for treaties and international law, and the maintenance of peace and security.
“These fora provide us with the opportunity to work with other liked-minded states of the South to address issues of economic and social development of our peoples and promote the principles of peace, democracy and the promotion of human rights. Guyana and Argentina can look forward to working together to preserving the southern hemisphere as a zone of peace,” the President said.
Guyana and Argentina established formal diplomatic ties on October 6, 1972. However, the Argentine Embassy was reopened here in Guyana in 2013 by Ambassador Martino.