Brazilian President Lula da Silva arrived in Guyana earlier today to attend the 46th regular meeting of the heads of government of CARICOM.
During a joint press conference, Chairman of CARICOM President Irfaan Ali announced the operationalization of a Caricom-Brazil Joint Commission, marking a significant step in strengthening ties between the two entities.
President Ali emphasized the historical relationship between CARICOM and Brazil, highlighting President Lula da Silva’s visit as a testament to the deep bond shared between the two sides.
Despite this rich history, President Ali noted the untapped potential for collaboration in areas such as climate change, disaster preparedness, food security, and energy security.
The establishment of the joint commission stems from a joint cooperation agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between CARICOM and Brazil in 2010.
President Ali underscored that this structured dialogue platform will provide both CARICOM and Brazil with a unique opportunity to forge a stronger future together.
In his address, Brazilian President Lula da Silva reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing ties with CARICOM.
He pledged to leverage Brazil’s chairmanship at the G20 to address shared challenges, including food and energy security.
Lula emphasized Brazil’s readiness to provide competitively priced food and increase agricultural productivity within the 15-member regional bloc.
Furthermore, President Lula highlighted Brazil’s interest in strengthening connections with the Caribbean region through the Guiana Shield.
However, he acknowledged the existing challenges in land and sea connectivity that hinder this endeavor.
He called for collaborative efforts between both sides to overcome these obstacles.
Guyana has already embarked on infrastructure upgrades, including the improvement of hinterland roadways connecting Georgetown with Lethem, which borders northern Brazil.
These developments underscore the commitment of both CARICOM and Brazil to enhance regional connectivity and cooperation.
The establishment of the Caricom-Brazil Joint Commission signifies a significant milestone in the efforts to deepen collaboration and foster mutual development between CARICOM member states and Brazil.