BELMOPAN, Belize – In a significant diplomatic engagement, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño announced ambitious plans to expand bilateral cooperation with Guyana across multiple sectors, including agriculture, tourism, and education. The announcement coincided with the commencement of a three-day state visit by Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, who arrived in Belize on February 1st.
President Ali’s itinerary includes a keynote address at the opening of Belize’s new parliamentary session, alongside high-level meetings with Governor General Dame Froyla T’zalam and Prime Minister Briceño. The Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the longstanding relationship between the two nations, noting their shared commitment to ‘regional solidarity, development and integration.’
Prime Minister Briceño characterized Guyana as an increasingly influential regional partner within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), acknowledging its rapidly evolving economic landscape driven by substantial oil discoveries. ‘It’s kind of ironic because at one time nobody wanted to go to Guyana; now everybody wants to go,’ Briceño remarked, highlighting the country’s transformation.
While energy cooperation emerged as a topic of discussion, Briceño indicated that any potential arrangements for Belize to access discounted Guyanese oil would likely require regional-level negotiations rather than bilateral agreements. He expressed skepticism about reviving initiatives similar to the Petrocaribe program, which Venezuela established in 2005 to provide preferential oil financing to Caribbean and Central American nations.
With President Ali holding the agriculture portfolio in CARICOM’s quasi-cabinet structure, both leaders identified agricultural collaboration as a priority area. The bilateral talks are expected to yield formal agreements facilitating knowledge exchange, investment, and joint initiatives across targeted sectors, potentially establishing a new framework for South-South cooperation within the Caribbean region.