Guyana seeks greater relations with Malta, Costa Rica

President David Granger said high on his agenda at the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is to seek deeper relations with countries such as Malta and Costa Rica which have a strong commitment to the environment.

According to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP), President Granger said his main message to his fellow Heads of Government is the need for a more tangible demonstration of commitment to protecting the planet.

The statement said the President made these remarks during an interview on the sidelines of the meeting which is being held at the UN’s Headquarters in New York.

“Guyana has committed itself to becoming a ‘green state’; Guyana has committed itself to contributing to the adaptation to measures to deal with global warming and climate change… Guyana is ideally suited because of its presence in the Guiana Shield, because of our commitment to the conservation of our forests and our commitment to introducing green measures so that is important…So our concern for the planet is real and this is one outcome we are aiming at, at this 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly,” President Granger explained.

President Granger said that it is prudent for Guyana to seek greater cooperation and partnerships with like-minded states such as Malta which has a strong commitment to the environment. Similarly, he said that his meeting with President Guillermo was aimed at opening the door of cooperation between Guyana and Costa Rica, a country which he noted has distinguished itself as a major player in the maintenance of the environment and from which Guyana can learn a lot.

Speaking of the climatic catastrophes that countries in the Caribbean Region and the hemisphere have been grappling with, the Head of State said that this is a direct result of global warming and noted that the UN is perhaps the more influential place where the cause of environmental protection can be furthered.
The issue of climate change and environmental protection were also high on the agenda during two bilateral engagements between President Granger and the President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta, Joseph Muscat.

The UNGA is being held under the theme, “Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet”.