Prime Minister Mark Phillips underscored Guyana’s commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation with the Republic of Colombia during a reception held in honour of the country’s 215th Independence anniversary, in conjunction with the official opening of its newly re-established Embassy in Georgetown.
Speaking at last evening’s reception, Phillips recognised the historical significance of Colombia’s independence and the courage shown by its people in the pursuit of self-governance. “Colombia and Guyana, as continental neighbours, have enjoyed longstanding diplomatic relations since 1970. Our countries have engaged in a meaningful bilateral programme of cooperation in the areas of language training, disaster risk management, agriculture, and capacity building.”
Prime Minister Phillips also highlighted the importance of increased connectivity, noting the introduction of Avianca’s direct flights between Georgetown and Bogotá as a milestone in people-to-people engagement and economic exchange. He said that the air service agreement, “facilitating greater people-to-people contact through culture, tourism and business opportunities.”
He also expressed optimism for deepened collaboration between the two nations with the renewed diplomatic momentum created by the reopening of the Colombian Embassy in Guyana. The Prime Minister highlighted the shared values that underpin Guyana-Colombia relations, pointing to mutual commitments to democracy, human rights, and territorial integrity. “Guyana and Colombia are strongly committed to the values of democracy, respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, sovereignty and territorial integrity and to the upholding of these values at the hemispheric and global levels.”
Touching on regionalism, the Prime Minister noted both countries’ active roles in hemispheric dialogue and their participation in multilateral mechanisms such as the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the CARICOM-Colombia Ministerial Meeting. These collaborations, the Prime Minister pointed out, have amplified economic and social development cooperation.
Turning his attention to global challenges, Prime Minister Phillips stressed the importance of collective action in addressing issues such as climate change, energy instability, and food insecurity.
“The challenges we face today… demand steadfast and concerted global action. Countries of the Global South, acting together, can be a force for strengthened multilateralism and the realisation of our shared goals.”
He also spoke of the nations raising their “collective voice and develop strategic partnerships”, highlighting the importance of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty, ahead of the upcoming COP 30 this November in Brazil, while reminding of Guyana’s commitment to sustainable development through its Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030.
“We welcome partnerships that support these goals, recognising that Colombia, with its own expertise in climate adaptation, ecosystem protection, and clean technology, can be a valuable collaborator in this regard.”
Guyana’s national efforts toward a clean energy future were further emphasised, with the Prime Minister noting the country’s investment in renewable energy sources (hydro, solar, and wind) to meet growing energy demands while maintaining low emissions.
Another priority area highlighted was food security, which he described as extremely important for the country and the region. “Guyana continues to pursue, with great conviction, the modernisation of its agri-food system in order to reduce our import bill and also to build resilience both nationally and regionally to food insecurity.”
Looking to the future, Prime Minister Phillips stated Guyana’s dedication to building an enduring partnership with Colombia, rooted in shared goals and mutual respect.
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