Come January next year, Guyana will be dispatching new bilateral requests to Brazil’s new President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as it looks to foster closer relations through the creation of a deepwater harbour connecting the two countries.
Guyana’s President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali made the disclosure.
“I have already requested through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a bilateral letter with the new President [elect] of Brazil because we have to start very early to ensure that timelines are not missed,” the Head of State noted.
According to Ali, as Guyana undergoes its transformation, it must have a deepwater harbour that “must be connected to Brazil”. Guyana intends to be the premiere logistics and transhipment hub for the Caribbean.
Lula won over his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, after an initial general election and subsequent run-off vote. Lula is expected to be sworn into office in January.
Before the power change, Guyana and Brazil were in deep talks to strengthen relations as “star oil and gas producers” in South America. In fact, at a meeting in March, President Ali and former President Bolsonaro ratified the importance of collaboration in the field of electrical interconnection between Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname.
And this may very well come to fruition during Lula’s presidency. The former Brazilian president has already signalled his plan to focus on energy transition projects.
Guyana’s Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was President during the same period, says he is looking forward to building on the relationship that resulted in the construction of the Takutu Bridge, which connects the two countries.
Brazil and Guyana share similar plans for their petroleum sectors. With more than 20 floating units expected to be placed offshore both countries in the next five years, they are expected to be the world’s two largest offshore producers in the next decade.
