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South America and South Atlantic Islands
Guyana |
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Last reviewed: 6 June 2008 |
Country information
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Relations with Neighbours
Guyana has a long-standing border controversy with Venezuela. In 1962 Venezuela rejected a decision on the delineation of the border between the 2 countries which had been made by an international arbitration tribunal in 1899. It claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River. Guyana also has a border dispute with Suriname. Suriname claims the area between the New river (Upper Corentyne) and the Corentyne/Kutari [Koetari] rivers (all headwaters of the Corentyne). In February 2004 Guyana took a maritime border dispute with Suriname to the UN’s International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The Tribunal published its decision in September 2007, awarding two thirds of the disputed territory to Guyana.
Relations with the International Community
Guyana is a member of the United Nations, CARICOM, the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP group), the Commonwealth, the Group of 77, the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the Rio Group, was a founder member of the Non-Aligned Movement, and takes an active interest in international affairs. The then Foreign Minister, Mr Rudolph Insanally, was the first Caribbean diplomat to chair the UNGA in 1993.
Relations with the UK
The UK and Guyana have good relations and the UK seeks, with other donors, to play a role in providing support for poverty alleviation and good governance projects.
The 2 governments co-operate on a wide range of subjects, and they have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Security Sector Reform (SSR). Under the MoU, the UK will begin implementation of a far-reaching Action Plan on SSR which seeks to help provide substantial additional security to the people of Guyana. For its part, the Government of Guyana has agreed to implement a number of measures aimed at strengthening parliamentary oversight of the process.
Transforming the Caribbean Economy
Chevening Scholarships
The British Government provides 1 Chevening scholarship for Guyanese students to pursue post-graduate studies in UK Universities. The aim of the scholarship is to enable young men and women to acquire skills of lasting benefit to Guyana.
Chevening Scholarships website
Recent Visits
Inward
President Jagdeo last visited the UK in November 2007 where is attended and addressed the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference on Climate Change. He previously visited the UK in November 2006 to attend the Caribbean Investment Conference hosted by Lord Triesman.
Outward
- HRH Duke of Wessex visited in 2003.
- DFID Minister Gareth Thomas visited Guyana in October 2003.
- HRH The Duke of York visited Guyana in February 2004 as part of a wider visit to the Caribbean.
