Canada
and Guyana
Remarks by Hon. David
Kilgour, Secretary of State (Latin America
& Africa)
in response to Clement Rohee, Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic
of Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana
May 22, 1998
Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Cooperative Republic
of Guyana, Mr. Clement Rohee, members
of the Cabinet, invited guests:
I am honoured to be
in Guyana on the first extended visit
by a Canadian Minister since my predecessor,
Christine Stewart, was here in January
1994. Since I took up these duties
less than a year ago I have been looking
forward to meeting you. We have much
to discuss and to do together.
Since Christine Stewart
was here we have had many other high
level contacts. The late President
Cheddi Jagan visited Canada in June
1996, a productive visit that, among
other things, cemented the warm personal
relationship that existed between
him and Prime Minister Chrétien.
Canada's Governor
General, the Rt. Hon. Roméo Leblanc,
attended the funeral of Dr. Jagan.
During his brief visit to Guyana he
had ample reason to experience Guyanese
hospitality, and to get to know President
Jagan and Prime Minister Hinds, whom
he regards as a fellow New
Brunswicker.
Prime Minister Hinds
is, even as we speak, in Ottawa enjoying
our return hospitality and exploring
opportunities for dialogue and cooperation.
The summit in the
Bahamas last month between Prime Minister
Chrétien and the leaders of the CARICOM
countries was a further opportunity
for dialogue. Indeed, this has been
a busy year for us with the Caribbean
and it will continue. As you may know,
Canadians are hosting the Summit of
the Americas in 2000 and is playing
a leading role in almost all facets
of the hemispheric agenda, including
the FTAA.
Canadians and Guyanese
don't require much occasion or excuse
to talk to each other. We do so every
day. There are some 200,000 Canadians
of Guyanese origin. One of them, Ovid
Jackson, MP, visited Guyana with the
Governor General. Many Guyanese Canadians,
and some visitors from Guyana, are
now gathering in Toronto to celebrate
the thirty second anniversary of independence,
on which I also offer my congratulations.
There are many people now building
Guyana who have trained, lived, or
worked in Canada, and hardly a family
here without a Canadian connection.
This is a time of
challenge and change for both our
countries. We confront together the
challenge of globalization, free trade
and technological change including
the information revolution. Canada
has great sympathy for the problems
of smaller economies in this process
and has programs to assist in managing
this transition.
We are well aware
of the progress that has been made
in Guyana in recent years through
economic reforms, the creation of
a more favourable climate for foreign
investment, and the setting free of
entrepreneurial skills and energy.
We know that much remains to be done
and we are assisting this process.
But we hope that the interest shown
by Canadians in trading with and investing
in Guyana will continue. We hope to
cap this in the near future with the
completion of a foreign investment
protection agreement.
Trade between our
countries is almost four times what
is was in 1992. There are many opportunities
for continued expansion of two-way
trade, which can only be to the mutual
benefit of Guyana and Canada.
And while we are assisting
in developing the economy, the private
sector, and the government, we must
not forget the challenge of poverty
alleviation, social development, and
growth with equity. Canadian and Guyanese
people, both government-to-government
and privately, are working together
to implement imaginative, flexible,
"people-oriented" development
programs to unlock the human potential
of Guyana, to ensure environmental
protection and stewardship, and to
promote regional cooperation through
CARICOM.
We have also observed
the progress made by Guyana toward
democracy and good governance. We
recognize that that progress, along
with the economic and social progress
of recent years, faces a major challenge.
I refer, of course, to the controversy
surrounding the December 15 election.
This, as we all recognize,
is a challenge for Guyana which, in
the end, only Guyanese can solve.
I discussed it today with you, Mr.
Minister, and the President, and I
will speak with Mr. Hoyte tomorrow.
I which only, as the representative
of a friendly government with deep
ties to Guyana and a strong commitment
to democracy and progress in the hemisphere
and the world, to make it clear that
you can count on our concern, sympathy
and help as you do so. You are not
alone.
We fully support the
role of CARICOM and the excellent
statesmanship reflected in the Herdmanston
Accord. The Accord, for which I commend
President Jagan, Mr. Hoyte, and
CARICOM,
is a comprehensive framework within
which not only the immediate political
problems, but the underlying political,
social and economic problems, can
be addressed.
We have every confidence
that, with goodwill, tolerance, dialogue,
cooperation, and vision, Guyana will
not only surmount its present difficulties
but strengthen its social harmony
and democratic development.
Canada and Guyana
are poised to address the breathtaking
challenges of a new millennium which
will soon be upon us. We must adjust
to profound political, economic, social
and cultural change. We must promote
human rights, democracy, and good
governance. We must provide adequate
food, water, shelter, health, education,
security, and a clean environment
to all our people. These challenges
will require us to look forward, to
display leadership, and to marshal all the energy, skill, and determination
of our people if we are to succeed.
We have bright opportunities
and important challenges before us.
Let us continue our dialogue, and
renew our friendship, as we address
them, together.
With these few words,
Minister, I wish to express my gratitude
for your excellent hospitality and
the way you have made me feel welcome.
I look forward to the remainder of
my visit and to further cementing
the close and friendly ties between
our people.
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