Dominican Republic eyes embassy in G/town as two countries agree to deepen trade

Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic Roberto Álvarez engaged in a bilateral meeting on Wednesday to discuss areas of mutual interest to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which provides for the strengthening of cooperation. Minister Álvarez, according to a joint statement, said that the Dominican Republic is keen on establishing a diplomatic mission in Georgetown in the immediate future.

See below the full joint statement from the two Foreign Ministers:

1. Honourable Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International  Cooperation of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana held bilateral talks in  Georgetown with His Excellency Roberto Álvarez, Minister of Foreign Affairs  of the Dominican Republic, during an official visit by the latter on September 6 and 7, 2022.

2. The two Foreign Ministers and their respective delegations engaged in  discussions on a range of bilateral, regional and hemispheric issues. They  reflected on the challenges facing the wider Latin America and the Caribbean region currently, including, the socio-economic and political challenges, climate change, food security, energy security, and transnational organised  crime, among others. 
3. They highlighted the values shared by the two countries, including respect for  democracy and the rule of law, the protection and promotion of human rights  and fundamental freedoms, adherence to international law, the respect for the  sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and the peaceful settlement of  disputes. 
4. The Ministers committed to the strengthening of the relations between their  two countries. In this context, they took note of the change of concurrent  diplomatic accreditation of the Dominican Republic to the Government of  Guyana to its Embassy in Port of Spain as well as the granting of Agrément for  the appointment of His Excellency Mr. Wellington Dario Bencosme Castanos,  as non-resident Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Guyana. Minister  Todd welcomed the decision conveyed by Minister Alvarez of his  Government’s intention to open a diplomatic mission in Georgetown in the  immediate future 
5. The two Foreign Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding to  establish a Joint Committee on Trade Promotion and Technical Cooperation  aimed at boosting economic and commercial ties between the two countries.  Under the MOU Guyana and the Dominican Republic will foster mutual  cooperation, explore opportunities, build capacity, facilitate collaboration and  exchange experiences in the areas such as, energy and mining, logistic services,  maritime and air transport services, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing services, investment promotion, and private sector development and  collaboration.

6. The Ministers further committed to the deepening of their diplomatic  engagement at the regional and international levels. 
7. The Foreign Ministers expressed their profound concern over the grave  situation of violence generated by the numerous gangs that plague the citizenry  and make normal life in Haiti impossible. They stressed the need for a Haitian owned resolution to the crisis and welcomed the agreement of the Heads of  Government of CARICOM for a high-level political mission to Haiti. They  agreed to work together for the effective and full implementation of the terms  of UN Security Council Resolution 2645 on Haiti in consultation with allied  countries and regional organizations. 
8. The Ministers exchanged views on regional developments and on the agendas  of several hemispheric and regional bodies including the Organization of  American States (OAS), which will convene its 52nd General Assembly in  October in Peru, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States  (CELAC), and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), which is expected to  hold its Ninth Summit in 2023. They underscored the value of membership to  these bodies which provide a space for dialogue among countries of the  hemisphere and serve as a platform for engagement with the wider  international community on matters of concern to the region.  
9. They committed to work towards strengthening the regional and hemispheric  bodies, assuring the fullest possible representation of and responsiveness to the  interests and the needs of the membership, particularly of small states in the  interest of the development and well-being of their peoples. 
10. The Foreign Ministers acknowledged the work ongoing in the context of the  high-level committees on food security, energy security and finance, involving  their two countries and Member States of the Caribbean Community  (CARICOM), and the United States of America established following the Ninth  Summit of the Americas held in Los Angeles, California in June 2022. They  noted the progress achieved in the committee on food security jointly co chaired by Guyana, the Dominican Republic and the United States.  
11. They noted that the US-Caribbean collaboration has opened a door for  enhanced dialogue and collaboration between Guyana and the Dominican  Republic as well as between CARICOM and the Dominican Republic and  agreed to work towards strengthening the partnership between the two sides  in their mutual interest. 
12. Minister Álvarez expressed his gratitude to Minister Todd for the warm  welcome and the hospitality extended to him and his delegation during the  visit. 

Issued in Georgetown on September 7, 2022.

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