…commitment made for bilateral cooperation to be strengthened
President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday accepted the Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Guyana, Ernesto Torres Pereyra, even as the Head of State noted the importance of bilateral ties between the two countries being strengthened.
The Letters of Credence for Ambassador Pereyra were accepted at State House. During the ceremony, the President was accompanied by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper.
Guyana and the Dominican Republic established bilateral relations in October 1970. President Ali informed the Ambassador that the two countries should strengthen their bi-lateral relations and work towards enhancing the lives of their respective people.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali and newly accredited Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Guyana, Ernesto Torres Pereyra
It was announced earlier this year by Minister Todd, during his Budget 2023 debate presentation in the National Assembly, that the Dominican Republic would be setting up an embassy in Guyana later this year… one of two Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries slated to do this, the other being Columbia.
Minister Todd had said at the time that the interest of these two countries in setting up embassies, signals Guyana’s upward trajectory and their efforts since 2020 to repair Guyana’s international image.
“As I speak, the Guatemalans are preparing to establish an embassy in Guyana. As I speak, the Colombians are preparing to re-establish an embassy here in Guyana. As I speak, the Dominican Republic is preparing to establish an embassy here in Georgetown.”
“Our international image has been repaired. It is on the move, being led by His Excellency President Irfaan Ali,” Todd said, referencing events under the former A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Government when Ministers were sanctioned by the United States (US) Government for not respecting results from the 2020 General and Regional Elections.
It was only in April of this year also that the announcement was made of the introduction of flights from Guyana to Canada and Houston, Texas in the United States by Dominican Republic-based airline SkyCana.
President Ali made the announcement following a meeting with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SkyCana, Frank Diaz Gonzalez, that the airline would commence the Guyana to Canada route from June 1, 2023. The airline will also fly to Houston.
Sky Cana is a Dominican Republic Company with a fleet that includes 3- AIRBUS A321; 4- AIRBUS A320; 1- AIRBUS A330-300 and 1- AIRBUS A330-200. Sky Cana is looking to fly three times a week to Canada.
Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, and Director of Presidential Affairs, Marcia Nadir-Sharma were also at the engagement with the airline officials.
Earlier this year, it was announced that SkyCana was exploring business opportunities in the Guyana market. Gonzalez had met with officials of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on March 27, 2023 to discuss potential areas for partnership.
During that meeting, possible flight operations between Houston, Texas, and Toronto, Canada, via the Dominican Republic were discussed. The stops in the Dominican Republic will only be for refueling. The CEO had shared that his company aims to connect Guyanese with more destinations and supply the needs of travelers in the country.
“We are here to collaborate with Guyana…and bring more operation. In terms to connect with many destinations…you can travel and enjoy. We have aircraft up to 377 seats we can…supply any needs that you have here in the country,” Gonzalez had boasted. (G3)
