New Consul General Harry Gill Strengthens Barbados-Guyana Relations: Key Topics Discussed

The Cooperative Republic of Guyana has a new Consul General to Barbados. He is Harry Gill.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, officially welcomed him on Monday morning at the ministry’s Culloden Road, St Michael headquarters.

During the courtesy call, Symmonds noted that the relationship between Barbados and Guyana has historically been a cooperative and happy one and expressed the hope that it would continue and deepen.

“I do feel that the future development of the two countries turns on shared ambitions and cooperation, and I look forward to working with you and your government on completing existing projects and deepening the relationship,” the minister stated.

Consul General Gill said he was “pleased and excited” to be appointed to Barbados, and the mission endeavours to support the deepening of the existing relationship between the two countries.

Gill commended Barbados’ tourism and hospitality sectors, noting that Guyana could benefit from its expertise and a multi-destination undertaking.

“When people think of tourism in the wider field, they think of Barbados, and that’s highly commendable. For Guyana, we have a different type of attraction for the tourists – ecotourism . . . . We’re depending on Barbados to guide us on how best to attract tourists . . . ,” the consul general said.

“So, this is one area that I think in as much as Barbados could benefit tremendously in the agricultural field from Guyana, we could benefit tremendously in the form of tourism.”

The two officials discussed several topics, including the 25 by 2025 Initiative, agriculture, the Guyana-Barbados food terminal, immigration, the free flow of trade, oil and gas, and the proposed regional ferry service.

Barbados and Guyana established diplomatic relations on November 30, 1966.

(BGIS)