Guyana pushes Latin bridge goal
GUYANA is moving to realise its goal of being a bridge between Latin America and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), President Janet Jagan has reiterated. In a speech at the annual dinner by the diplomatic corps here Friday at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown, she said CARICOM remained a "central focus" of Guyana's foreign policy and with other member states "we have sought to be actively involved in the Association of Caribbean States." "Regional integration is an objective which we will continue to pursue with the countries of the hemisphere", she stated, adding that Guyana "will seek to move closer to Latin America, which is an absolute necessity in this era of integration, diversification and establishment of linkages and open regionalism." Guyana will seek to "realise its goal to be a bridge to Latin America", President Jagan pledged, noting that for "too long we have spoken about the necessity to play this role but never have we sat down to strategise and formulate a structural approach to reaching this objective." She said the Latin American and Caribbean/European Union summit later this month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, "will provide us with a unique opportunity to advance this objective." President Jagan pleaded for assistance for small developing states to position them to take advantage of globalisation. "In this regard, financing for development is a key factor for without the development of our social and physical infrastructure, Guyana will not be in a position to play a significant role in the global market place as regards the purchase and export of goods and services. "Placed in such a disadvantageous position, the challenges will obviously be more than the opportunities and all the talk about a level playing field will come to nought", the President told the gathering of diplomats, business and other invitees. She said Guyana has recognised that it must face the realities of trade liberalisation but it believes that development must be people-centred. President Jagan noted that Guyana is working to uphold the principles of peace, democracy and the respect for each other's beliefs and human rights but pointed out that it was not an easy task. "We fought for the restoration of democracy for a long time and now that it is in our grasp, we intend to ensure that it is preserved. "My government intends to work assiduously to ensure that the people of Guyana can enjoy a decent standard of living in peace and without racial disharmony", she said. Noting that economic growth can only be fully realised through political stability, she reiterated "our commitment to the resumption of the inter-party dialogue (with the main opposition People's National Congress) in keeping with the Herdmanston Accord and the St. Lucia Statement (brokered by CARICOM last year.)" The President thanked the diplomatic and international communities for their expressions of concern and encouragement "for the return to normalcy in Guyana so that we can concentrate fully on the economic and social development of this nation." Dean of the diplomatic corps, Cuban Ambassador, Mr. Ricardo Garcia Diaz, on behalf of the diplomatic community, stressed their commitment to the President, government and people of Guyana to contribute and support efforts at consolidating national unity and economic progress. He noted that the government was immersed "in the urgent task of solving important social, economic and political challenges." The Ambassador also called for people to be put at the centre of globalisation and be the main factor of the economy. He said many countries, particularly the small ones, have difficulties in adapting to the new circumstances, are unable in some ways to fit in with the new economic trends and are left behind. "With that awareness, we believe that the process of globalisation should not be an imposition at the expense and sacrifice of the weakest", he said. 
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