Guyana and Colombia prioritise security and sustainability as embassy reopens

At an event held to mark the 215th anniversary of Colombia’s Independence and the official reopening of the Colombian Embassy in Guyana, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, with a clear focus on two shared priorities: citizen security and sustainable development.

To commemorate the occasion, a ceremony was held at the World Trade Center in Georgetown on Tuesday.

In his address, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips said that Guyana and Colombia have maintained strong diplomatic relations since 1970, collaborating in key areas such as language training, disaster risk management, agriculture, and capacity building.

“Our states are now at a place where the prospects of deepening and expanding bilateral cooperation including trade, investments and commercial ties are greater than they have ever been,” Brigadier (ret’d) Phillips said.

He welcomed the reopening of the Colombian Embassy in Georgetown, describing it as a gateway to a renewed and expanded bilateral agenda.

The Prime Minister emphasised that both countries are firmly aligned on critical global values.

“Guyana and Colombia are strongly committed to the values of democracy, respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity and to the upholding of these values at the hemispheric and global levels,” he said.

Among the most pressing issues for the two countries, Phillips highlighted the importance of combating organised crime and enhancing citizen security. “Guyana recognised that combating organized crime, strengthening citizen security and maintaining Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace remain matters of highest priority for the two countries,” he stated.

He also underscored Guyana’s commitment to partnering with Colombia on climate action and economic development. “As we continue to navigate shared challenges such as climate change, transnational crime and economic inequality, Guyana remains ever ready to advance our partnership with Colombia to build capacity, promote sustainability and protect our natural environments,” he said.

Colombian Ambassador to Guyana, Graybern Livingston, described the reopening of the embassy as a “permanent and institutional platform” to bolster cooperation.

He also highlighted the presence of a visiting Colombian business delegation comprising over 30 companies exploring investment opportunities in construction and infrastructure.

An agreement was also signed between the Colombian delegation and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), establishing a framework to promote and facilitate cross-border investments. The Memorandum of Understanding covers areas such as joint project development, trade missions, and information sharing.

“We look forward to continue strengthening the cooperation with Guyana in strategic areas as energy transition, AI, sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism and overall the protection of the Amazon,” Ambassador Livingston said.

The embassy, he said, will play a key role in supporting the Colombian community living in Guyana, further anchoring the relationship between the two countries in both diplomacy and people-to-people ties.