President Granger calls for a more “integrated” South America

– says it could be an example to the world

President David Granger on Saturday evening called for a more integrated South America, saying that it could be a very good example to the rest of the world.

The Head of State was delivering congratulatory remarks on Saturday evening to the Argentine Ambassador to Guyana Luis Martino, at a ceremony to mark that country’s Bicentenary (200th anniversary) of Independence.
He said, “The continent of South America can be an example to the world; by creating a community where people and nations can co-exist in peace.” Guyana and Argentina, which established diplomatic relations some 44 years ago, are among the 12 independent countries on the continent of South America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela. Guyana is the only English-speaking country on the continent.
According to Granger, Guyana and Argentina are united by the idea of a more integrated South America. “We adhere to the ideals of the Union of South American Nations, the Common Market of the South, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and Organisation of American States,” he told the Ambassador and special invitees.
President Granger reminded too that Guyana and Argentina belong to a continent of cultural, political and social diversity, noting that continental cooperation within the organisations, allowed the two countries to diminish the differences through the pursuit of common objectives.
“Continental cooperation allows us to find common ground to build consensus and to confirm the challenges we both face,” the President said. He promised that Guyana would also continue to work towards deepening and strengthening continental cooperation.
“We look forward to the day, when, through the initiative of the integration of the Region of South America, our children and grandchildren could drive from Bel Air in Georgetown to Buenos Aires in Argentina,” he said.
South America has an area of 17,840,000 square kilometres or 6,890,000 sq miles. Its population, as of 2005, has been estimated at more than 371,090,000. It ranks fourth in area, after Asia, Africa, and North America, and fifth in population, after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.
President Granger noted that the two countries continue to share common values, including mutual respect for each other’s territorial sovereignty and integrity, mutual non-interference in each other’s political affairs, cooperation for mutual benefit, respect for treaties and international laws and maintenance of international peace and security.
According to the President, Guyana and Argentina are also committed to working together to overcome contraband smuggling, piracy, narcotics trafficking and money laundering, crimes that affect the society and economic viability.
Granger posited that Guyana understood that it played an important role as the “gateway” between the Caribbean and the continent, and was convinced that with a common vision and voice, “we can avert conflict and overcome threats to our individual and collective security”. “Guyana iterates its commitment to maintaining the continent as a zone of peace.”