Belize/Guyana Relations Strengthened with New Agreements

Belize and Guyana are moving closer on the regional stage, as Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, touched down in Belize for a three‑day state visit. That visit officially got underway this morning with a special address to the National Assembly. President Ali’s remarks set the tone for deeper cooperation between the two countries, paving the way for several memorandums of understanding covering key areas like education, tourism, agriculture, national security, and digital transformation. At a time when both nations are looking to expand economic opportunities and strengthen technological growth, the visit highlights a shared commitment to closer diplomacy, trade, and regional collaboration. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, arrived in Belize on Sunday for a three‑day state visit and today marked the occasion with a special address to the National Assembly. In a wide‑ranging, hour‑long speech, he spoke on shared priorities including agriculture, education, and territorial issues. Shortly after, Prime Minister John Briceño and his Cabinet signed five memorandums of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The several memorandum of understanding we will sign today covers diverse areas, education, tourism, digitization and agriculture. They cover socio-economic and productive sectors of our countries. They provide solid basis for deeper collaborations in areas of mutual benefit. We offer our experience in tourism as you build your tourism product in the land of many waters. Our geographic similarities provides scope for knowledge sharing. Our expertise in agriculture will be made available and educational opportunities explored. Your experience in digitization will help us with our own effort in this regard.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño and Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, signed a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to stronger trade and investment ties, with Belize exporting four million dollars’ worth of goods to Guyana in 2024 alone. The two countries also signed memorandums of understanding on education, expanding scholarships and exchanges, and on tourism, as Guyana looks to grow its tourism sector through increased promotion and investment.

 

Dr. Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana

“Belize and Guayana are bound by more than diplomacy. We are united by a shared history of colonization, by common resolve in safeguarding our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. And by aspirations rooted in dignity, stability and progress. Belize and Guayana also share a strong enduring commitment to democratic governance. Central to that commitment is our role of representative parliament. These  institutions serves as the principle forums for democratic deliberation, accountability and law making.”

 

Belize and Guyana also moved to strengthen regional security, with Defense Minister Florencio Marín and Guyana’s Foreign Minister signing an agreement to cooperate against emerging threats and boost military capacity. The two countries also signed a deal on digital transformation and artificial intelligence, which Prime Minister John Briceño says will improve government efficiency and public services. Food security rounded out the day’s discussions as another shared priority.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We share a history shaped by sugar. Fields were plowed and cane cut by indentured labor and sugar exported to Europe by nationalists. As the industry evolved it provided jobs, educating our children, earned foreign exchange and drove the development of our colonial societies. But that was yesterday. Today we will jointly facilitate private sector investment in the refined sugar sector.”

 

Dr. Irfaan Ali

“My dear friend I agree with you that Belize and Guyana must lead in the food security of this region and when we make this investment, human, financial and technocritical investment, the region must in turn have a fair trade system in which our produce and production is not subjected to the bureaucracy of the system or not subjected to artificial barriers of trade that affects this region. We must together champion the cause of removing the barriers to trade, especially in food in this region.”

 

The joint sitting was attended by diplomats and private‑sector representatives. Opposition Leader Tracy Panton pointed to areas of common ground between both countries.

 

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“We share common history, a common culture, hopefully common values. I know the president is very big on democracy and preserving the rights and privileges and freedom for citizens and the economic prosperity of his country and I think there is a lot we can glean from his presentation today. I thought it was very inspiring and hopefully the government took note.”

 

The state visit continues through Wednesday, with mutual agreements that will translate into long‑term economic and social benefits for Belize and Guyana.  Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.