A RECENT visit to Guyana by Brazilian Defence Minister Celso Amorim has paved the way for expansion in the programme of defence and military cooperation already existing between the two neighbouring countries.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon, made this observation on when when he spoke at his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing at the Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive in Georgetown.
Amorim was accompanied by a high level Brazilian Armed Force delegation that arrived in Guyana last Tuesday and stayed up to yesterday. Dr Luncheon also reported.
According to Dr Luncheon, the two sides are specifically committed to creation of the Guyana/Brazil Working Group to oversee the outcome of annual meetings of the joint chiefs-of-staff of their respective armed forces.
Further, the countries are committed to the enhancement of military cooperation in training at Brazilian military institutions, and to enhanced coordination of military operations in the adjoining border areas, so as to ensure stability and integration there.
Dr Luncheon said, too, that the two UNASUR countries pledged to promote interaction in the area of military procurement; the promotion of participation in joint military humanitarian projects in neighbouring border communities; and the promotion of Guyana’s access to Brazilian geographic technological survelliance system, particularly as it applies to security and defense. “And that promotion would have visits to the operational centre in Manaus in Brazil,” he said.
During Amorim’s visit, he paid courtesy calls on President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkette.