General News

His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali met with the Chair of the United States of American House Committee on Ways and Means, Jason Smith, at Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, this afternoon.

The Head of State was joined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Honourable Hugh Todd; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Honourable Oneidge Walrond; Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Omar Khan.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali emphasized the need for defense strategies to consider climate change impacts in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

The President made the statement while delivering a presentation at the National Defence University in Washington, DC this afternoon.

He explained that in addition to climate security, food and energy security must also be prioritised when developing defence strategies.

He also said that among the most important aspects of future defence and strategy will be research, development and innovation.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips welcomed the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his delegation for a one-day visit at CJIA.

Subsequently, Prime Minister Phillips joined His Excellency, President Dr Irfaan Ali; Vice President, the Honourable Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, other Cabinet Ministers, and Government functionaries for bilateral discussions with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his delegation at State House today.

President Ali and the Amir also witnessed the signing of two agreements and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the Ministers of the two countries aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and fostering cooperation across various sectors.

His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali held bilateral discussions with the Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his delegation earlier today at State House.

Discussions included areas of mutual interest and cooperation.

President Ali was joined by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips; Vice President, the Honourable Dr Bharrat Jagdeo; Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, the Honourable Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Honourable Hugh Todd and a number of Ministers and other Government Officials.

Minister Hugh Hilton Todd received a farewell courtesy call from Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch of the United States to Guyana.

During the engagement, Minister Todd and Ambassador Lynch reflected on her tenure and achievements that enhanced the interstate relations between Georgetown and Washington, which led to the further consolidation of the bilateral relations between Guyana and the United States of America.

The Honourable Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation yesterday receievd a courtesy call from Dr. Patrick Ignatius Gomes, former Secretary-General of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group.

Dr. Gomes is a Guyanese national who served as the ACP Secretary-General during the period 2015- 2020. Prior to taking up his position as the Secretary-General of the ACP Group, Dr. Gomes served as Guyana’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Community and as Guyana’s representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO).

 

The Honourable Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, attended a Diplomatic Luncheon as the chief guest on September 2, 2023.

The luncheon was hosted by Her Excellency Guo Haiyan, Ambassador of China to Guyana, and it was in honor of the Heads of Diplomatic Missions in Guyana. During the Luncheon Minister Todd also participated in a friendly game of table tennis with the Diplomatic Community.