Govt pushes for removal of visa restrictions on Guyana to UK travel

…Foreign Minister meets with UK delegation to discuss trade

With a delegation from the United Kingdom (UK) in Guyana to discuss bilateral trade opportunities, Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd used the occasion of their meeting to push for, among other things, the removal of visa restrictions for Guyanese to travel to the UK.
The delegation comprised of Britain’s Deputy Trade Commissioner (HMDTC) for Latin America and the Caribbean Department for International Trade (DIT) Spencer Mahoney, British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller, Caribbean Regional Director for DIT Laura Ferguson and Guyana’s Country Director of the Department of International Trade at the High Commission, Sherwyn Naughton.
During the engagement, Todd highlighted that the political agenda of the Government of Guyana and the United Kingdom aligns well as both Administrations firmly uphold the pillars of democracy, good governance, and transparency.

He also informed the delegation that the Government of Guyana is on a quest to create an environment that is conducive to business, as it recognises the importance of “ease of business” in attracting investors to Guyana.
It was also not lost on the group that Guyana’s economy is set to undergo a transformation in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), owing to the oil wealth. Despite these developments and Guyana being a part of the Commonwealth, a visa restriction is still in place for travel to the UK.
Todd, a release from the Foreign Ministry said, emphasised the importance of the removal of visa restrictions to facilitate the travel of Guyanese to the UK to develop business relations.
He also alluded to priority areas for investment, such as alternative energy, agriculture and agro-processing, infrastructure, air transport, housing, ICT, and pharmaceuticals.
Meanwhile, Deputy Trade Commissioner Mahoney commended the Government of Guyana for being one of the first Caribbean states to sign and ratify the CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). In addition, he expressed the keen interest of the Government of the UK to enhance trade relations with Guyana, and informed that his visit will be followed by an Official Trade Mission in February 2022.”
Additionally, Ferguson alluded to the opportunities that exist for UK support, especially in the area of export promotion. The officials also noted the importance of ensuring that trade relations are aligned with Guyana’s Local Content Policy.
It was explained by the Foreign Affairs Ministry that the visiting delegation will be meeting with several Ministers of Government, as well as members of the Private Sector during the coming days.
It was only last month that the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had said it was lobbying for the return of visa-free travel to the UK, especially in light of the increased business activities which are slated to take place between the two nations. Additionally, they had pointed out that this is a privilege Guyanese once enjoyed.
GCCI President Timothy Tucker told <<<Guyana Times>>> that his organisation “continues to lobby for the removal of visa requirements to England”. Their latest advocacy was done on October 4 when the GCCI met with the British High Commissioner to Guyana.
“We’ve lobbied for the re-institution of issuing of visas in Georgetown, barring that there’s no visa lifting, because we know up to 1992, it wasn’t a requirement for a visa to go to England, you could’ve gone there with your Guyanese passport. After 1992, when we got back free and fair elections, a visa requirement was reinstituted,” Tucker explained.
Meanwhile, Tucker highlighted that with the development of Guyana’s economy, the GCCI finds it necessary to ask that such barriers be removed in order to strengthen the relations between the two countries. (G3)