Guyana to benefit from Chile’s mining experience

BY VAHNU MANICKCHAND

With Guyana’s economy being peddled to a great extent by the mining industry, the sector has faced many challenges as a result of its weak regulatory framework. In this regard, the Chilean Government has pledged its support towards helping Guyana to strengthen its own framework.

This commitment was given by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet during a meeting with President David Granger on Tuesday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
President Bachelet is currently in Guyana for the 37th Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Conference which is being held from July 4 to July 6.
The meeting between the two South American Heads of Government saw them discussing various topics of cooperation.
Speaking with media operatives following the near hour-long meeting, the Chilean Head of State told media operatives that she and her Guyanese counterpart focused on the level of cooperation between the two countries, while exploring ways the Spanish-Speaking country can assist Guyana in its development process.
One such area, President Bachelet explained that her country can offer support is in the mining sector. Mining is one of the main pillars of the Chilean economy, with copper exports alone accounting for more than one third of the country’s income.
The Chilean President noted that while Guyana’s mining industry is diverse with gold, bauxite and diamond, her country can lend expertise in regulating these activities so that the most benefits can be reaped.
“Chile is a very experienced country on cooper but also on regulatory framework to ensure that all the extraction of those natural resources will have the regulatory norms that will prevent from other consequences that a country doesn’t want and also, that will receive the benefits from it,” she stated.
Moreover, President Bachelet disclosed that she and President Granger also discuss areas such as cooperation on health in terms malnutrition issues and as well as agriculture, specifically support for small agro-producers.
Additionally, she noted that they touched on the topic of scholarships, asking their respective Ministers to find out exactly in which areas of capacity building interest is shown. The Chilean President mentioned too that her country is looking to collaborate with its Caribbean counterparts, including Guyana, to enhance the region’s Spanish proficiency.
However, the Chilean Head of State remarked that during the meeting the issue of financial assistance was not raised but noted that during her interaction with the Caricom Summit earlier in the day, the matter was brought up and her Government will work along with the region to assist in whatever way it can.
“What we have spoken (about) in the summit is the situation that Caricom countries are (experiencing) the lack of access to financing and problems with banking, and so we have asked for all the information to see in which way we can support,” President Bachelet stressed.
She added too that “…it’s a lot of different areas where we are looking after to continue our cooperation.”
In addition, President Bachelet said that she extended an invitation to the Guyanese Head of State to visit her country. She added that President Granger accepted the invitation and is expected to visit Chile later this year to concretise the agreements which have been agreed upon.
On the other hand, President Granger, in an invited comment at the conclusion of the meeting, said Chile has been a longstanding friend of Guyana and the wider Caribbean region. He noted that Guyana is particularly interested in the country’s regulatory framework for the mining sector as well as its expertise and experience in maritime administration.
“In terms of our own relations, we know that Chile, particularly the President of Chile, Madam Michelle Bachelet, is committed to poverty reduction, is committed to peaceful resolution of conflicts and also she is committed to reducing the adverse effects of climate change. As you know, the Caricom region is an extension of the maritime zone and Chile has a long coastline and has much experience so there are many areas of cooperation [to explore]. Chile has one of the most successful mining enterprises in the world. It’s a major copper producer and we are looking at building a stronger regulatory framework in our sector… so there are many areas of functional cooperation as well as economic cooperation and Chile is an ideal partner with the Caribbean in this regard,” President Granger said.
The two Presidents reviewed the existing bilateral relations between Guyana and Chile and agreed to continue working closely to expand and strengthen collaboration not only at the bilateral level, but also at the regional level within the context of the Union of South American States (UNASUR), Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
Furthermore, while here, President Bachelet will officially open Chile’s Embassy in Brickdam, Georgetown, and according to the Guyanese Head of State, the embassy will serve to further concretise that country’s relationship with Caricom.
In August last year, President Granger accredited His Excellency Claudio Rachel Rojas as the first ever resident Ambassador of Chile to Guyana.