Ties between Guyana, Trinidad being upgraded -Rohee
The opening of Guyana's trade facilitation office in Trinidad and Tobago and the appointment by that country of an honorary consul to Guyana could be the first step in returning to full diplomatic representation. According to Foreign Minister, Clement Rohee, Trinidad is Guyana's largest CARICOM trading partner and much more could be done between them if there is some form of representation. "Diplomacy is now being driven to a large extent by trade, finance and development issues. If for this reason, the two governments find it necessary to have some form of affordable representation at a given point in time to assist them on a pro bono basis to advance their economic and trade interests in their respective countries, it behoves them to move in that direction." Rohee noted that Trinidad and Tobago had closed its High Commission here years ago and since then "they have been losing out as they have no representation whatsoever in Guyana." "They probably are not prepared as yet to move back to what they had in the 1960s and early 1970s and maybe the theory of graduality is being looked at and so they find it necessary now for them to have an honorary consul here in Guyana." Rohee pointed out that Guyana has had an honorary consul in Trinidad for a number of years "but now we have decided that that is not enough." "They have moved to appoint an honorary consul here and we have moved to upgrade our consulate in Trinidad by establishing a trade facilitation office." Rohee said that the moves by both countries clearly means that "both governments are recognising that there is a lot that could be done between the two countries but you have to have some form at least of representation."
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