THE Consulate General of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana in Toronto, on Tuesday, joined the Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, at a special reception to celebrate the sister CARICOM State’s 64th Independence anniversary.

Honorary Consul Mani Singh attended the function, held at the Trinidad & Tobago Consulate in Toronto, on behalf of the Government of Guyana and Guyana Consulate, Toronto.

Guyana and Trinidad have shared deep bilateral relations since the early 1970s and their citizens continue to collaborate in areas of culture, sports and commerce, among other fields.

Consul General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Simone Young, delivered brief remarks while reflecting on her country’s journey over the years since it gained independence from Britain.

Guyana’s President, His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, visited Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year where he met with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, for bilateral meetings in which the two countries agreed on a development, trade, and economic agenda that would see the enhancement of the bilateral relationship between the countries, and, greater co-operation and integration between both country’s economies and peoples.

Food security, inclusive of investment opportunities, energy integration, technology exchange, transfer of human capital development, strengthening security, and the establishment of a working group to remove barriers to trade and competitiveness between the two countries, were among issues discussed between the two CARICOM Heads of Government.

Guests at Tuesday’s reception included members of the Caribbean Consular Corps, members of the Trinidad and Tobago diaspora in Canada, and members of the business community.

Also present were representatives of a visiting Trinidad and Tobago trade and investment mission who are in Toronto under the auspices of that country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.