Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali announced on Wednesday that a joint commission will be operationalized with Brazil to foster cooperation on food and energy security, as well as on climate change. Ali made this statement, among others this afternoon in the presence of Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as well as heads of governments of CARICOM.
These officials have gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Kingstown for the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community which formally opened at the National Cultural Centre on Sunday, February 25, 2024.
This meeting is being convened under the six-months Chairmanship of President Ali.
During his address today, President Ali said, “President Lula, your presence at this meeting signifies the depth of the bond between our region and Brazil. Mr President, CARICOM, and Brazil share a rich history of South-South cooperation. We are united not only by geography but also by our common desire to build a prosperous, peaceful, and sustainable future for our people.”
In that spirit, President Ali expressed his sincere appreciation for the instrumental role played by Brazil in facilitating the first meeting of the Guyana- Venezuela Joint Commission, aimed at maintaining the Latin American and Caribbean Region as a zone of peace.
Apart from this crucial objective, President Ali said there are several areas where CARICOM and Brazil can collaborate for mutual benefit. In this regard, he said climate change and mitigation are at the top of the list.
“As we grapple with this crisis, we recognize Brazil’s leadership in renewable energy and believe that we can lean on Brazil’s expertise…” Disaster preparedness is another area. Our region comprises several vulnerable states that face threats of natural disasters such as hurricanes…we believe the experience of Brazil can be a valuable area of cooperation to enhance response,” said Ali.
He also noted the areas of food security, energy security, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as other avenues for collaboration.
With the foregoing areas outlined, Ali said it is high time that a CARICOM-Brazil Joint Commission be established this year, as per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two since 2010.
Ali said such a platform will offer all stakeholders involved, a unique opportunity to build a strong partnership together.
Further, Ali noted that a significant amount of time has elapsed since the first summit between CARICOM and Brazil was held 14 years ago. “It is important that the second is held for us to engage on critical matters,” said Ali, adding, “We are confident that under your esteemed leadership, our prosperity will soar to greater heights.”
