FORMER Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, has been appointed as the Honorary Canadian Co-Chair of the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, effective January 1, 2025.
According to a release from the body, Chatterjee has a distinguished career in public service and diplomacy and brings a wealth of experience and regional insights to the chamber. She served as Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Ambassador to Suriname, and Canada’s Ambassador to CARICOM from 2017 to 2020.

Between 2021 and 2024, Chatterjee served as Canada’s High Commissioner to Barbados and six other Caribbean nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The release pointed out that Chatterjee’s career began in journalism and expanded into public service, including roles at the House of Commons of Canada and with international NGOs.
In 2003, she joined the Canadian International Development Agency as Director General, later taking on senior executive roles at Global Affairs Canada. She holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and a Master’s degree in International Affairs.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Ms Chatterjee to the chamber,” said Patricia Bacchus, Chair of the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce.
“Her deep knowledge of Guyana and the Caribbean, coupled with her distinguished career in Canadian public service will be invaluable in helping us advance our mission to promote trade, investment and strengthen the relationships between Canada and Guyana.

“I look forward to promoting bilateral trade and foreign direct investment between Canada and Guyana. We have been collaborating for centuries and have mutually benefited from the contributions of Canadians and Guyanese to both our countries,” Chatterjee said.
The release said Chatterjee’s appointment reflects the Chamber’s commitment to leveraging exceptional expertise to facilitate meaningful collaboration and growth.

“Her leadership will enhance the Chamber’s ability to connect businesses in the region, create opportunities and further strengthen economic partnerships,” said Winston Kassim, the chamber’s co-chair
The Canada–Guyana Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan institution dedicated to promoting and facilitating investment and trade between Guyana and Canada, as well as other countries.