THOUSANDS of Guyanese and Brazilians in Guyana came together on Saturday night for the annual ‘Festa Junina’, in a way that illustrates the integration of the two countries, according to Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana, Lineu Pupo de Paula.

Festa Junina is a Brazilian celebration which celebrates the winter month of June and the forthcoming season of Spring, according to the ambassador. The ‘festa’ has Catholic underpinnings and in Brazil, the celebration is done for the harvesting of crops, particularly corn. The festivities are held in many parts of the country.

Ambassador Paula noted that for about 20 years, this celebration has made its way into the Guyanese society, with the celebration being held at the Brazil-Guyana Cultural Centre at 309 Church Street, Queenstown.

“Last year we had 3,000 people, from 5:00pm to midnight, and I think that this year we might have that and even more,” he said on Saturday.

Patrons, young and old, would have been able to experience Brazilian culture through, music, dance, delicacies, cocktails and games. Importantly, the ambassador noted the presence of Guyanese who were not only learning about the culture but actively participating in it.

“More than half of the couples out there are Guyanese, and that makes me particularly very happy because there is an integration,” he said, adding: “Among all the foreigners that we have here in Guyana, I think Brazilians are very connected to Guyanese and the Guyanese society.”

The ambassador has been in Guyana for five years, with this year being his last year as ambassador to Guyana. And during that time, he said that he has seen more Guyanese become connected to the Brazilian culture.

“What we can see is that the integration is perfect,” the ambassador said, adding that even on the governance level, there is great cooperation between the two countries.

He reminded that President Granger visited the South American neighbour thrice, which points to the excellent bilateral relations the two countries maintain.

Furthermore, he highlighted, “For Roraima, the northern state of Brazil, Guyana is very important and that is why we are still trying to find ways to pave the roads from Linden to Lethem to connect the two countries.”

Though this is his last year in Guyana, he noted that he strived to develop those bilateral relations, particularly to promote further developments in Guyana.

Earlier this year, the majority state-owned Brazilian oil company, Petrobras, presented a five-year strategic plan for Guyana’s oil and gas industry, which includes technical assistance, export and import services and training.

“With the oil, next year Guyana will start being really rich and maybe when I come back after some years, I’ll see a new Dubai here,” Ambassador Paula said, commenting on Guyana’s developing petroleum sector. “That is what I hope because the quantity of oil is immense.”

Added to that, Paula noted that Brazilian farmers will be coming to Guyana to introduce the planting of soya and corn and plans are in train for a fibre-optic connection from Georgetown to Boa Vista in the Roraima state.