He told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the meeting completed its extensive agenda, which in itself is an achievement for the Heads because the agenda included many bilateral issues.

"It was a very successful meeting from Guyana's perspective. We managed to get a number of things that are very important to our country resolved," he said.

Below is the President's report on various bilateral achievements:

Discussions on the bilateral engagements

RICE
Guyana will now have a greater share of the Jamaican rice market. This was made possible through bilateral discussions at the CARICOM meeting in Trinidad and Tobago over the weekend.

During the early 1990's paddy was taken off the list of ineligible items into the CARICOM Market, meaning that any CARICOM country could get imported paddy into the region without paying a Common External Tariff, which is protectionist in intent.

Consequently, Jamaica concluded two contracts with a domestic company in Jamaica and a foreign company to import paddy, which was milled to satisfy the domestic market.

At the recently concluded Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) meeting, the Heads managed to put back paddy on the list of ineligibles and mandated Guyana and Jamaica to use the good office of the Secretary General to further discuss the age-old issue.

As a result, countries wishing to import paddy will now have to seek a waiver from the CARICOM Secretariat, which countries can protest, or pay the Common External Tariff. This was the agreement reached when it was discussed at the Inter-sessional Meeting.

"We have in principle worked out an arrangement which would see Jamaica up to 2010 having duty free access to paddy up to 65,000 metric tonnes," President Jagdeo said, noting that the Jamaican market is about 85,000 metric tonnes of rice. When paddy is converted into rice, this amount would satisfy less than half of the Jamaica market and hence Guyana will have a larger share of the Jamaica market - more than 50 per cent, which would make space for Guyana to export about 35,000-50,000 tonnes of rice per annum. Last year Guyana exported 35,000 tonnes of rice and the President is confident that the capacity exists locally to fill this market.

SUGAR
Following discussions between Guyana and Barbados, Barbados will now be purchasing Guyana's sugar to meet its local demand. This proposal was made to Barbados when its Deputy Prime Minister Ms. Billie Miller, met President Jagdeo during the COTED meeting. At that time she said her country would consider the idea.

Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur, at the Inter-sessional Meeting, made the announcement of cooperation.

The Heads also discussed the sugar challenge posed by Brazil and Australia.

FISHERIES
Guyana and Barbados are also hoping to conclude discussions on a bilateral fishing agreement by next week.

"We may be able to move forward to better explore our fisheries resources, which would be used as a model to stop the bilateral problems between our fishermen" President Jagdeo said. Discussions were held at the Inter-sessional Meeting but no agreement was reached.

Guyana continued talks with Barbados on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that the two countries signed in July last year to facilitate closer bilateral ties.