Mining, telecoms high on Guyana/Chile bilateral agenda
− as President wraps up “successful” visit
With the aim of deepening cooperation between the two countries, President David Granger has completed a “highly successful” State visit to Chile to further solidify linkages between the South American nations.
President David Granger exchanging a handshake with Undersecretary of Telecommunications, Mr. Pedro Huichalaf following their meeting
The Guyanese Head of State met with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who had extended an invitation during her visit here in July as part of the 37th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Speaking after the last day of sectoral bilateral meetings in the areas of mining, telecommunications, trade and management of maritime zones, President Granger said with Guyana aiming to advance the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, following the passage of the Telecommunications Bill months back, Government is keen to learn from Chile, which has what is described as one of the most developed telecommunications sectors in Latin America.
President Granger and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, who accompanied the President on the visit, met on Monday with Undersecretary of Telecommunications, Pedro Huichalaf at the Transport and Telecommunications Ministry.
Minister Greenidge said that Government is currently in negotiation with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) to bring an end to the monopoly in the sector in keeping with the new legal framework and open the way for wider investment in the sector, but the regulatory framework has to be enhanced.
Chile, Greenidge reported, has offered to provide technical assistance for the strengthening of the capacity of Public Telecommunications Ministry as well as the Public Utilities Commission to ensure efficient and seamless implementation.
On the other hand, Chile has offered support to develop Guyana’s mining sector by providing technical assistance for geological mapping, which would allow for a scientific determination of the location of mineral wealth deposits in Guyana.
To this end, President Granger and Minister Greenidge met with Undersecretary of Mining, Ignacio Moreno Fernandez at the Ministry of Mining on Wednesday. Chile has already issued a call for project proposals in the area of Geological and Metallogenic maps and Petrographic Studies from Guyana. This is being reviewed by the Natural Resources Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
According to President Granger, cooperation in this area can lead to more sustainable management and regulation of the extractive sector.
Describing the management of the operations of small- and medium-scale miners at the meeting, Fernandez disclosed that the country has about 1000 small mines operations with an average of seven employees each and that his Ministry has been able to ensure that they are licensed, that they pay taxes and social security for their employees as well as have adequate safety and mines closure plans. The environmental impact of their operations is also closely monitored by the relevant governmental environmental body.
The President’s final official engagement was held with the Director of Maritime and Environment, Rear Admiral Osvaldo Schwarzenberg at the Complex of Technical Maritime in Valparaiso. As follow up actions on all of the areas discussed, the relevant subject Ministries will advance collaborations and follow-up on offers of support. A part from Minister Greenidge, President Granger’s delegation during the state visit to Chile included Foreign Affairs Ministry Director General, Ambassador Audrey Jardine-Waddell; Desk Officer of Guyana/Chile Bilateral Relations, Sondra Cheong, and Political Advisor to the President, William Cox.
