Guyana President Calls for Deeper Ties with Belize

Guyana President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali called for stronger political, economic, and environmental cooperation between Guyana and Belize during today’s joint sitting of the parliament at Belize’s newly renovated National Assembly.

Addressing the assembly, Dr Ali said the visit was “an expression of the highest respect between sovereign nations and a moment to reaffirm the bonds that connect our peoples, our institutions, and our shared aspirations.”

Dr. Ali pointed to the countries’ rich natural resources and ecosystems, saying both have “a joint responsibility to monetise this most important global asset” while ensuring benefits reach the people.

“The world in turn has a responsibility to ensure that economic value…is passed on to the peoples of our countries,” he added.

He also addressed the importance of tackling climate change, food and energy insecurity, and transnational crime together.

President Dr Ali called for regional cooperation, saying Belize and Guyana must champion fair trade and remove barriers that hurt farmers and food systems. He said, “When we make this investment, human, financial and technological investment, the region must in turn, have a fair trade system in which our produce and production are not subjected to the bureaucracy of the system or are not subjected to artificial barriers of trade that affect this region.”

Dr Ali arrived on Sunday and will be in Belize for the next two days conducting high-level dialogue with Belizean officials. News 5 has confirmed that Guyana and Belize will be signing three memoranda of Understandings relating to Education, Defence and Tourism.