Queen’s Birthday, 2019

I am happy to have this opportunity to extend warmest congratulations to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her 93rd birth anniversary, on behalf of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

The Republic of Guyana and the United Kingdom have enjoyed an unbroken tradition of friendship since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 26th May 1966, Independence Day.

Our relations are founded on the five principles. Those are mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs; mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; cooperation for mutual benefit; respect for international law and treaties and the maintenance of international peace and security.

Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, Britain remains a strategic partner of Guyana. Britain has provided valuable assistance to Guyana in the fields of agriculture, aquaculture, culture, disaster-relief, education, economic competitiveness, governance, investment, law enforcement, trade, water supply and very particularly, reform of the judicial service, public sector and security sector.

Guyana dedicated the Kanashen Protected Area, located in the Rupununi Region and spanning an area of almost 7,000km2 to the Queens Commonwealth Canopy. This dedication demonstrated Guyana’s willingness to take practical steps to ensure the preservation and protection of the environment.

Guyana iterates its appreciation to the United Kingdom for its unwavering support for our sovereignty and territorial integrity, for its generous debt relief and for the anticipated benefits under the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Fund. We are confident that the strong ties, which exist between our two states will be strengthened in the years ahead.
I do recall my own graduation from the Officers’ Cadet School in New Hampshire 53 years ago on June 6. I express my appreciation to you High Commissioner, and the staff of the British High Commission, for your hard work and commitment to the development of Guyana-Britain relations. I assure you that your energetic efforts over the years have borne fruit and their effects will be evident long after you have gone.

British assistance, during your tenure High Commissioner, has touched the hinterland and coastland, the public and private sectors and non-governmental organizations.

Guyana looks forward to continued collaboration with Britain for the protection of the environment, the promotion of security and the development of the economy through enhanced investment and trade between our two countries.

Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, I invite you to join me in a toast to the happiness and health of Her Majesty the Queen and to the friendship between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

I thank you. Ω.

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