RESPONSE BY HIS EXCELLENCY BHARRAT JAGDEO
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA
TO THE ACCREDITATION SPEECH BY
HER EXCELLENCY MS MANORMA SOEKNANDAN
AMBASSADOR (DESIGNATE) OF THE
REPUBLIC OF SURINAME TO THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA - DECEMBER 21, 2001

Excellency, in accepting the Letters of Credence appointing you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Suriname to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. I wish to extend to you, a warm welcome to our country.

I would like to express my appreciation for the kind sentiments which you have transmitted from your esteemed President Ronald Venetiaan. May I, on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, ask that you convey in turn, to my dear colleague, and to the Government and people of Suriname, our best wishes for the continued progress and prosperity of Suriname.

Excellency, as you have so rightly noted, Guyana and Suriname are confronted with many challenges to our economic and social development. These challenges are likely to become even greater in the increasingly complex and globalised world in which we now live. We can only overcome them if we unite as members of the Caribbean Community, to forge a strategic alliance for the promotion of our common interests.

Blessed as we are by geographical proximity, a shared history and a tradition of friendly relations between our two peoples, we have a splendid opportunity to harness these natural advantages for the mutual benefit of our countries. I am persuaded that through dialogue and cooperation, based on trust and confidence, we will be able to build a new partnership for our joint progress.

I very much look forward to my visit to Suriname next year to meet with President Venetiaan, to continue our dialogue with the aim of bringing our countries closer together. At the recent Summit of the Association of Caribbean states which was held in Margarita, Venezuela, the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Basin committed themselves to eliminating the many barriers which continue to divide our peoples in the larger interest of regional cooperation for development. As good neighbours, Guyana and Suriname are well placed to translate this vision into reality. It is urgent, therefore, that we explore fully every opportunity we have for doing so.

Your appointment thus comes at an important point in the relationship between our two countries. To you will fall the task of facilitating the accomplishment of this worthy objective paving the way for further diplomatic contact and communication. I have no doubt that your particular experience and skills will enable you to assist in this regard.

Excellency, I wish you a successful term of office as Suriname’s Ambassador to Guyana. You may be assured of my Government’s full support in the exercise of your new responsibilities.

And as we celebrate the season of peace and goodwill this year, I wish to express the hope that the peoples of Guyana and Suriname will come together as brothers and sisters of the same family to build a more secure and prosperous future.