PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar last evening hosted a 40-strong Surinamese business delegation here in Guyana for the first ever ‘Trade Mission’ meant to bolster ties between the two countries.

And seizing the moment, he made the point that while Caribbean integration is not necessarily the success story it ought to be as yet, the situation can be changed through greater links between CARICOM countries.
The President also used the opportunity to stress that greater government-to-government relations makes for better private sector relations.
“We are leaders,” he said. “And not only do we belong to CARICOM, but we are neighbours; and the development of our countries is extremely important to give a higher quality of life to our people.”

Warming to the topic, President Ramotar said: “We can use the synergies of the private sector, but if countries are to create partnerships, we need to create new links and expand where we are limited in expanding business in making them much bigger and stronger.”
The two countries, he said, have a lot to contribute in terms of their contributions to the rest of the region. He also used the opportunity to speak to the opportunities that exist within the current threat of food security.
According to the President, a four-billion-dollar opportunity presents itself each year when CARICOM decides to import its produce. “US$4B is not small money,” President Ramotar said, adding that the issue of the regions enormous import bill was raised as recent as the Fifth CARICOM/Cuba Summit in early December in Havana.
“I mentioned that if you add Cuba, it would be US$5 billion. And President Raul Castro said, ‘No! Put two!’ Making it US$6 billion that we import in food.”
The President hosted last evening’s reception at the Princess Hotel, which saw in attendance Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali; Surinamese Trade Minister, Don Tosendjojo, as well as Guyanese Foreign Trade Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
President Ramotar was adamant that there needs to be some form of commonality between the two countries in order to cut down on the cross-border smuggling.

Scenes from last night’s reception at the Princess Hotel…