BELIZE-Belize is hoping to strengthen relations with Guyana during the visit of President Ali.

BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – Prime Minister John Briceño says Belize is looking to deepen cooperation with Guyana in agriculture, tourism, and education as the country hosts President Irfaan Ali over the weekend.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Guyanese leader will pay a three-day state visit to the country from February 1, during which time he will address the opening of the new session of Parliament.

He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Governor General, Dame Froyla T’zalam, and the Prime Minister, Briceño.

“Belize and Guyana have historically shared strong and robust bilateral relations grounded in our commitment to regional solidarity, development, and integration,” the ministry said.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Prime Minister Briceño described Guyana as a rising regional partner within the 15-member regional integration movement, CARICOM, noting its growing influence fuelled by oil wealth.

“You know, it’s ironic because at one time nobody wanted to go to Guyana; now everybody wants to go to Guyana. Guyana is a beautiful country… the country is being transformed.”

Briceño said any discussions on Belize seeking cheaper oil from Guyana would likely need to take place at the regional level.

“Oil, well, that’s something that we probably have to discuss regionally to see if there’s anything that can be done. I wish we could have another Petro-Caribbean programme, but I think that’s highly unlikely,” he said.

The Petrocaribe programme was launched by Venezuela on June 29, 2005, to provide preferential, low-interest financing for oil and petroleum products to Caribbean and Central American nations. It was designed to enhance regional integration and foster economic development, allowing member countries to pay only a small portion of their oil bills upfront, ranging from five to 50 per cent, with the remainder financed over 17 to 25 years at low interest rates.

President Ali has the lead responsibility for agriculture within the CARICOM quasi-cabinet, and Prime Minister Briceño said, “What we are hoping to work with Guyana is to be able to have some agreements, obviously in agriculture, in tourism, in education, and other areas where we can be able to cooperate.”