At the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) today, the United Caribbean Forum, organized by the bilateral Chamber of Commerce representing Guyana and the Dominican Republic, provided a platform for insightful discussions on development opportunities by leaders such as President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and former United States (US) President, Bill Clinton. Both leaders were able to share their perspectives on crucial aspects of bilateral cooperation and sustainable development.
President Ali emphasized the pivotal role of the Dominican Republic (DR) as a strategic partner in advancing development initiatives across both public and private sectors. Speaking during a panel discussion, President Ali highlighted Guyana’s commitment to building a future-ready nation by leveraging partnerships with countries like the DR.
He underscored the importance of bridging developmental gaps through collaboration, citing areas such as tourism, private sector scalability, capital utilization, and value-added industries like food production. President Ali also emphasized the potential synergies between the governments and private sectors of both nations, envisioning a collaborative effort to align standards and expand opportunities while prioritizing transparency and efficiency in governance.
He noted, “When you speak about tourism, scale and capacity in the private sector, leveraging capital, looking at the value-added industry, in food production, all of these things the DR would have…developed tremendous capacity and capability in, and we see great synergy in the governments and the private sectors working together in aligning those synergies and expanding the opportunities.”
Former US President Bill Clinton, attending as a special guest, commended Guyana’s efforts in prioritizing sustainable agriculture and climate change mitigation. Recognizing the significance of sustainable development, Clinton lauded Guyana’s initiatives aimed at enhancing income generation, promoting health, and addressing environmental challenges.
He emphasized the need for a collective approach involving cooperation between public and private sectors alongside non-governmental organizations. Clinton also stressed the importance of actionable strategies over theoretical discussions, urging stakeholders to focus on implementation mechanisms to realize developmental goals efficiently.
He also offered his support through his foundation—the Clinton Global Initiative to both countries to aid in achieving more unity among the Americas and bridging gaps within the economies.
The Former US President said, “I hope I can come back a lot but if I don’t, just remember, we are almost always stronger together, we are almost always better cooperating than we are fighting.”
“This is a big good thing, and I hope we can give life to it,” he added.
Clinton’s advocacy for cooperative models resonated with the forum’s theme of regional collaboration for holistic development. His call to action echoed the forum’s aspiration to translate dialogue into tangible outcomes, driving progress across diverse sectors. With a shared vision for a prosperous Caribbean region, participants explored avenues for fostering inclusive growth, innovation, and sustainability.
