WITH awards to Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Mr Yesu Persaud, the Chilean Government Thursday acknowledged Guyana’s efforts at strengthening diplomatic ties and forging South American integration. Chile’s new Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ayala González, presented the Bernardo O’Higgins award in rank of Grand Officer to Minister Rodrigues-Birkett and the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins award in rank of “Comendador” to Mr Persaud, the Honorary Consul of Chile to Guyana, minutes after presenting his letters of Credence to President Donald Ramotar on Thursday.
The award to Minister Rodrigues-Birkett was for her valuable contributions to bilateral relations between Guyana and Chile. She was described by Ambassador González as a dedicated internationalist and expert on Latin American and Caribbean affairs, and a fighter for integration.
The Order of Bernardo O’Higgins, established in 1965, and named after one of the founders of the Chilean state general, is the highest civilian honour awarded to non-Chilean citizens.
Mr. Persaud, an accomplished businessman, was also credited for playing a key role in bilateral contacts as the Honorary Consul of Chile to Guyana.

Guyana and Chile established relations first in 1971, and are both members of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC).
Chile made headlines around the world after 33 miners who were trapped for more than two months underground in northern Chile were rescued with the country’s President Sebastian Pinera Enchenique overlooking the successful rescue mission.
At Thursday’s credentials and award presentation, President Ramotar reminded of Chile’s generous offer of technical assistance channelled through bilateral and regional mechanisms in renewable energy, foreign language training and agriculture.
He disclosed that Guyana will soon be benefiting from a new Chilean project to enhance economic livelihood targeting the poor.

“Having shared common values for freedom, independence and democracy, Ambassador González proposed a name change for Latin America and the Caribbean that amalgamates the two.
“I believe that it’s time to name our region Latin-Caribbean-America because it gives a real picture of what we are, a diversity of languages, religions and cultures. For the first time we are working united. Time for real integration of our region is right and our leaders and our people seem to be aware of that,” Ambassador González said.
In January, Chile was host to the First CELAC Summit of Heads of State and Government which ended with Cuba taking over the presidency of the Community