RESPONSE BY
BY EXCELLENCY BHARRAT JAGDEO
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA
TO THE ACCREDITATION SPEECH BY
HIS EXCELLENCY BAUDOUIN VANDERHULST
AMBASSADOR OF THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM TO GUYANA - JUNE 26, 2002

Excellency,

In receiving the letter of recall of your predecessor, I am pleased to accept the Letters of Credence by which His Majesty Albert II accredits you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium Guyana.

Kindly convey my warm greetings and good wishes to His Majesty and the people of the Kingdom of Belgium.

The existing cordial relations between Guyana and Belgium is based on our joint commitment to the strengthening of international peace, friendship and cooperation for the benefit of our peoples. As societies in which people of different cultures must live together, we can learn from each other’s experience in order not only to strengthen our societies but also to demonstrate to others the virtues of peaceful and harmonious coexistence.

Excellency, in the current global environment all countries have become forcibly aware of the need to work together for the common good. As a small state in the Caribbean, Guyana is persuaded of the value of a regional response to international challenges. Early next month from July 3-5 we will host and assume the Chairmanship of the Conference of Caricom Heads of Government which is expected to deliberate on a strategy for sustainable regional development in the years ahead. In this context the continuation of EU’s development assistance to the Caribbean Region will be of critical importance.

The EU/Latin American and Caribbean Summit, which was held in Madrid, Spain in May, provided an excellent opportunity for an exchange of views on how our two Regions might work together to address the political, economic and social challenges of the day. I am hopeful that this dialogue will lead to a more enlightened partnership between our states.

Excellency, the challenges faced by Guyana economic growth have been numerous but these have not unsettled my Government’s commitment to development, and creating a better life for all Guyanese. In this regard, I wish to acknowledge the contribution which Belgium had made to Guyana’s development process through the EU/ACP Agreement. This Agreement from Lome to Cotonou has been helpful to Guyana’s economy by providing preferential market access for our sugar, rum, rice as well as assistance in key areas such as infrastructure and capacity building.

At a more direct bilateral level I would hope that, we will be able to explore through your good office other opportunities to provide more substance to Guyana-Belgian relations.

On that note, I bid you a warm welcome to Guyana and express the hope that your assignment will be both pleasant and productive.

Thank you.