Barbados–Guyana relations

Barbados–Guyana relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Barbados and Guyana. The former maintains non-resident diplomatic representation from Bridgetown,High Commissioner for Barbados to Guyana, Website Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Guyana) while Guyana which prior had a High Commissioner to BarbadosPermanent Representatives of the Republic of Guyana to the United Nations, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Guyana to the United Nations. appointed its first resident Consul-General, Michael Brotherson to Bridgetown in January 2012.

General aspects The relations between Guyana and Barbados began while both were part of the British Empire. Shortly after Great Britain secured (then British Guiana) from the Dutch, waves of migrants were encouraged to move and settle the new expansive area. Barbados was one such location where large numbers of migrants came from. Through time Barbados and Guyana have both supported each other. With the move towards independence in the region, Guyana was seen as the breadbasket of the wider-Caribbean which led to yet more waves of Barbadians seeking to move to Guyana for better opportunities.

In 1991 Barbados and the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana attempted moves towards forming a tri-state confederation consisting of Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. Alt URL The now late former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning pitched the initiative for the tri-state area to enter into some form of political union or political association. This initiative was short lived and did not proceed following the Democratic Labour Party's defeat during the 1994 elections.

Relations became rocky due to immigration.Jagdeo rails against second-class treatment of Guyanese at airports (12 November 2002), Stabroek News Things became contentious for Guyanese persons to Barbados.Barbados is using Guyanese as scapegoats for economic problems- Ramotar (22 May 2009), Kaieteur NewsUndocumented Guyanese were being exploited in Barbados – Senator McClean, (22 January 2011) Stabroek NewsDeportee from Barbados has lost hope in her homeland - Says 26 Guyanese were rounded up in one raid (20 June 2009), Stabroek NewsConsulate instructed to follow up reports of Barbados raids (25 June 2009), Stabroek News The two nations continue their cooperation through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and work towards building and maintaining good relations between their nationals.Guyana, Barbados working to remove immigration problems (18 July 2002), Guyana Chronicle NewspaperFigures show fall in Guyanese refused entry to Barbados, (7 October 2013) Kaieteur NewsBarbados and Guyana will continue to deepen ties (5 November 2015), Loop Barbados News In 2012 the Consul-General of Guyana to Bridgetown remarked that immigration matters between Guyana and Barbados had substantially improved with no complaints since being attributed to Bridgetown.Entry ease, says Guyana consul Marcia Dottin, (20 December 2012), Nation News

More recently the Guyanese Government has extended an offer to Barbadians. The Guyanese government has offered to put in place an economically favourable regime towards any Barbadians that wish to relocate to Guyana and contribute towards that nation's goals in agricultural investment. The announcement was made in the final days of the Owen Arthur administration by MP member Mia Motley.

In 2004 both nations signed treaties to cooperate in the portion of overlapping international maritime boundary.

In 2007 both nations formed the Barbados-Guyana Joint Commission, which was held in Guyana for its inaugural meeting.Greenidge to sign key cooperation agreement with Barbados (28 October 2015) The third meeting of the Joint Commission met in Georgetown in May 2015.BARBADOS AND GUYANA SIGN THIRD JOINT COMMISSION (3 November 2015), Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA)Barbados And Guyana Hold Talks, (9 May 2016), Caribbean Press Release

In 2013, trade between both nations was placed at US$25 million by the Consul-General of Guyana.Guyana-Barbados trade worth US$25 million (10 December 2013), Kaieteur News both nations also explored an initiative of twinning in the hospitality and tourism sector as well as an arrangement for joint collaboration in the overlapping maritime EEZ between both nations.VIDEO: Guyana and Barbados continue to work together on several areas of interest to both Countries, 10 Oct 2013, Capitol News Guyana

In 2016 Guyanese President, Granger presented Barbadian Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart with the second highest award of Guyana, the Order of Roraima.

Sports Both countries are part of the multi-national West Indies cricket team, with several players from both countries representing the board.

People Eddy Grant, a musician charged with creating the genre of Ringbang in Barbados. Lionel Luckhoo, served concurrently as a joint High Commissioner of both Guyana and Barbados to the United Kingdom (1967 to 1970) Dr. Samuel Rudolph Insanally, CCH Guyana's High Commissioner to Barbados (1982 to 1986) Rihanna, international pop star born in Barbados of partial Guyanese parentage.

Notes

References Rupturing an old friendship, By Rawle Lucas (10 July 2009), Stabroek News Guyana Barbados Foreign Minister lauds Guyana – says country has a bright future, (22 October 2013), Guyana Chronicle

Barbados–Guyana relations

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