Latest update April 17th, 2025 9:50 AM
Guyana must use rich underground resources to defeat poverty on the ground – Former Colombian President
Kaieteur News – Former President of Colombia, Iván Duque said on Tuesday that Guyana is well within its right to extract and develop its resources trapped underground. He stressed however that the exploitation of these resources such as oil and gas, must be used to defeat poverty on the ground.
Former President of Colombia, Iván Duque
The politician made these and other remarks during a reception that was held by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali at the TWA Airport Hotel in New York. Ali used the event to not only engage members of the Diaspora on key development issues but to also underscore the importance of Guyana being in charge of the United Nations Security Council for the month of February.
Duque in his remarks reminded that Guyana will host its Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo from February 19 to 22 at the Marriott Hotel. He reminded of a key message that he shared at that significant event in the past. Duque said, “…Guyana has to use the richness of the underground to defeat the poverty in the ground. Guyana also needs to make the transformation to having an energy matrix that is more balanced and highly dependent on renewable energies and you have embraced that thought.”
Furthermore, Duque said the country’s energy mix will be critical as the eyes of the world are looking at Guyana as an opportunity for long term investment in housing, water and storage. He said there is also potential for Guyana to become a hub for connectivity and even help regional partners in CARICOM meet their food security goals.
Additionally, the former President expressed confidence in President Ali’s leadership in ensuring that the country’s developmental aspirations are realized.
“President Ali is the embodiment of a young Caribbean leader that trusts in democracy, that believes in the importance of integration and that also embraces the right balance between energy development, environmental development and social transformation,” said the former Head of State.
He added, “For many years I have been an honoured friend of Guyana. As President of Colombia, we were able to strengthen our relationship in security where we also shared intelligence information to fight transnational crime, but we also fought very hard to make the case that it is possible for a country to develop, using its materials, its minerals and all its energy assets while at the same time becoming an environmental superpower.”
Duque said Guyana now finds itself at the brink of becoming one of the most successful social economic transformations in this hemisphere. He was keen to note his satisfaction at being able to witness this unfold.
In conclusion, he reminded that Guyana has faced many turbulent periods of poverty and the exclusion of many communities. In spite of this history, he believes the country is well positioned to have the fastest expansion of the middle class in any Latin American and Caribbean country.
- defeat poverty, e TWA Airport Hotel in New York, Former President of Colombia, President of Colombia, t Guyana
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