With a growing number of Canadian businesses operating in Guyana, Canada will be launching a business Chamber here later this year.
This announcement was made by Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee at a reception held at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston Georgetown on Monday night in observance of Canada Day.
In the presence of President David Granger, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of State Dawn Hastings-Williams and other local and foreign officials, she spoke of the long history Canada shares with Guyana.
“We were here when you had oil,” the High Commissioner pointed out.
She added that Canada has accompanied Guyana in all stages of the country’s development.
“We are not your donor, we are your partner and you can count on Canada to continue to partner with you as we cultivate our gardens of liberal democracy so all of our citizens can flourish,” the High Commissioner noted.
Canada is Guyana’s largest trading partner. Currently, there are ten Canadian mining operators in Guyana and a number of other businesses including Scotiabank, CGX incorporated, Panthera solutions, JHI associates Inc., Eco Atlantic, Kaizen environmental services and LearnCorp International which is training 24 persons to work on the Floating Production Storage Offshore vessel to commence operations in the Stabroek Block.
According to the High Commissioner, remittances from Canada to Guyana account for over US$208M over the past five years.
The High Commissioner subsequently switched her speech to Canada’s elections which will be held on October 21, 2019.
The defeated parties she said, has always accepted the results of the election “as the will of the people.”
“Consensus and compromise are hallmark Canadian values and the key to Canada’s success,” the Canadian Diplomat said.
The CCJ last Tuesday ruled that the December 21, 2018, No-Confidence Motion was properly passed against the Government.
Meanwhile, taking the podium after the High Commissioner was President Granger, who expressed gratitude to Canada for its strong support for our sovereignty and territorial integrity over the past five decades.
“Canada remains a valued development partner; its investments in mining and oil and gas are propelling economic development and generating employment and business opportunities for citizens and corporations and it is our largest export market,” he said.
The Head of State noted that Canada has provided assistance to Guyana in a wide range of fields including education, the environment and climate resilience, indigenous peoples’ development, governance, justice administration, public administration, private sector development, social development and of course, support for the National Assembly.
Guyana and Canada established formal diplomatic ties in May 1966 – the year of Guyana’s Independence.
