Mexican embassy to be installed in Guyana by year end

Feb 23, 2009 News

Mexico will be the first Central American country to establish an embassy in South America and Guyana has been bestowed that honour.
This is according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues, who told the National Assembly that the move comes as Guyana aims to deepen bilateral ties with countries around the world.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, also in her presentation to the House on the 2009 Budget, told members that high on the agenda of the Ministry this year is the resolution of the border issues as it relates to the Venezuelan claim on Essequibo and the Surinamese claim to the Corentyne River, given that it is affecting foreign investment in Guyana.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues

To the south, the Takatu Bridge is slated for inauguration this year and the Brazilian government will be installing a consulate in Lethem with a view to facilitating the deepening of ties between the two countries.
The Minister added that talks are expected this year between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva with a view to establishing a trade pact.
Rodrigues also reminded the House of the income investment team from Libya, which is expected to arrive by month end.
She also pointed to the pledged assistance by Norway but also cautioned that Guyana was still fully committed to Caricom.
In 2009, the Guyana Government will also be seeking to extend the economic continental shelf up to 200 miles off the coast of Guyana to harness more resources.
Speaking to the budget debate which was debunked by some as an annual season of rhetoric, Rodrigues said that she shared a different view in that it was a time to report to the nation.
As it relates to the ‘nay-sayers’ of the positives in the budget, Rodrigues posited that “you must appreciate the reality and make recommendations in that context.”
She added that the Budget comes at time of great financial instability whilst fending off the impacts of climate change.
“We have to look for a needle of opportunity in a haystack of problems.”
In seeking to emphasise the reality of the financial situation, the Minister pointed to a recent bill passed by the Californian senate which facilitates some $US15.1M more in taxes, whilst Guyana has been able to increase its expenditure despite no new taxes.