Dr Irfaan Ali president of Guyana said that the growing relationship between Guyana and Barbados is aimed at ensuring that both countries prosper economically.
This, the President added, is evident by the expanded Black Belly Sheep Initiative between the two countries that will see land in Guyana being allocated to selective groups in Guyana and youths from Barbados to boost production.
He made the disclosure during the opening ceremony of Barbados’s Agro Fest 2022 that was held over the weekend under the theme—‘Greening Together—Ah Caribbean thing’.
“We are not looking at winning in one area or creating a situation where we are carving out an area for you (Barbados) and an area for Guyana. That is not what we want. We want a holistic approach to this relationship with this development so that we can create economic prosperity in every sector and in everything that we do together as one country—Guyana and Barbados.”
The President said that the economic expansion and cooperation between the countries must be built on a platform of respect and fairness.
He noted that cooperation has improved at the Government and Cabinet levels and also at the level of the private sector and technical staff.
These people-to-people partnerships, he stated, are what will “cement this relationship going forward.”
advancing and the path we are taking.”
MODEL FOR ENTIRE CARICOM
President Ali noted that the model that Barbados and Guyana are building can be replicated for success across the entire Region to create a “win-win scenario and position for all of us”.
For this to work efficiently and effectively, he said, countries in the Region cannot see themselves as competitors.
“We have to see ourselves as a singular collective, a singular partner working together for one common goal and vision, that is, to give the best possible opportunity to the people of our country, to bring prosperity to the people of our country, to put food on the tables of our people in this Region at a less cost—at a sustainable cost and in a much healthier fashion.”
