The Government Information Agency (GINA) said the Prime Minister represented the Government and people of Guyana, which was among more than 100 countries participating in the official swearing-in ceremony.

President da Silva, a former trade union activist and metal worker, rose to prominence following the October 27, 2002 elections in Brazil. He succeeded two-term President Henrique Cardoso and defeated Cardoso’s presidential nominee and former Health Minister, Jose Serra.

Prior to Cardoso’s two terms in office which commenced in 1994, Brazil’s President was Fernando Collor de Mello who took office in 1989, a year that marked the beginning of free elections in a country that had been under military rule for more than 20 years.

His term was shortened when he demitted office after two-and-a-half years amid allegations of corruption.

Brazil’s newest President is the country’s first left-wing leader in more than 20 years and signals the awakening of its democracy.

Positioned as Guyana’s southern neighbour, Brazil is the world’s ninth largest economy and has a population of 170 million people, 50 million of whom reportedly live in poverty. The new President pledged to “raise minimum wages, increase jobs and curb hunger” among the nation’s poor.

Guyana and Brazil share friendly bilateral relations which were further cemented with the clinching of a partial scope agreement between the two countries about two years ago, which paves the way for Guyana’s goods to enter Brazil at zero or reduced tariffs.

In addition, consular cooperation, collaboration between border communities and security matters, technical cooperation and control in the trafficking of narcotics and illicit activities across the Guyana/Brazil border are also functional areas of collaboration between the two countries.

The neighbours also participate in the oversight of the ongoing road construction which will provide a direct link between the two sides. That project is located in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essquibo) and is poised to enhance trade relations.

Already, residents of Lethem make frequent visits to neighbouring Brazil by boat. On the other hand, a substantial number of Brazilian miners now reside in Guyana’s mining regions and thrice predominantly on diamond mining.