His Excellency Ambassador Keith George of Guyana to the Republic of Suriname addressed a gathering of dignitaries and fellow Guyanese at his residence, on the occasion of Guyanas 47th Independence Anniversary on Saturday May 25th, 2013. Among the attendees were Winston Lackin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname, Jay Anania, U. S. Ambassador to Suriname and Dr. Thomas W. Gittens, Country Director, UNDP Suriname. After Ambassador Keith George keynote address the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname, the Honorable Winston Lackin responded and spoke of the good relations that exists between Suriname and Guyana and noted the fact that this is mirrored in the excellent relationship that he has with his counterpart in Guyana Mrs. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. Minister Lackin also spoke of the fact that both Guyana and Suriname have approached the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Inter-American Development Bank for assistance with regard to the funding of the studies for the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge.In his presentation Ambassador Keith George of the Republic of Guyana to the Republic of Suriname reflected on the important and significant relationship of Guyana and Suriname. Here are some of the salient statements: Both Guyana and Suriname have memberships in international organisations, such as the Caribbean Community, the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation, the Union of South American Nations, the United Nations and the Organisation of American States... Guyana and Suriname are contiguous states and have much experience in establishing mechanisms aimed at facilitating trade, bilateral tourism, hassle-free travel by our people and cooperation in the areas of health, agriculture, infrastructure, sport and culture. The Ministers responsible for Natural Resources, Agriculture and Land Usage of Guyana and Suriname have met to give impetus to the cooperation initiatives agreed to by the President of the Republic of Guyana and the Republic of Suriname. The Corentyne bridge would create for the rice industry. It is always more satisfying when possible stakeholders have the same views as those of our political leaders. And, stakeholders in subsectors such as fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and poultry producers are just as excited of the possibilities such a bridge will offer. Both Guyana and Suriname agricultural experts must continue to work together to ensure greater standardisations standardisations in the use of chemicals, variety and shape of like produce and perhaps transport facilities.Below is the speech in its entirety of His Excellency Ambassador Keith George to the audience at his residence on May 25th, 2013.Your Excellency Winston Lackin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname, Honourable attending members of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Suriname, Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of the Cabinet of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Suriname, High Officials of the Government of the Republic of Suriname, Special Invitees, Fellow GuyaneseToday is the eve of the forty-seventh year of the attainment of political independence by the Republic of Guyana. It therefore gives me great pleasure to welcome you all and to thank you for taking up our invitation to celebrate this milestone with us. Very few would recall that within a month of Guyanas independence on 26th May, 1966, officials of Guyana and Suriname were meeting at London to discuss issues of mutual interest. But that meeting was significant not only because of the topics on the agenda, but more because it set the foundation for dialogue, mutual understanding and respect between two neighbours. It was in fact the first interaction with another State by the State of Guyana. Today, both Guyana and Suriname share membership in international organisations, such as the Caribbean Community, the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation, the Union of South American Nations, the United Nations and the Organisation of American States, to name a few.We share common aspirations for international peace and comity, accelerated economic and social development to meet the needs of our people and intensified regional economic integration.As the only two States within the Caribbean Community that are contiguous, Guyana and Suriname have much experience in establishing mechanisms aimed at facilitating trade, bilateral tourism, hassle-free travel by our people and cooperation in the areas of health, agriculture, infrastructure, sport and culture. Over the past year, the Ministers responsible for natural resources, agriculture and land usage of Guyana and Suriname have met to give impetus to the cooperation initiatives agreed to by the President of the Republic of Guyana and the Republic of Suriname. Technical officials responsible for climate change adaptation matters as well as officials from the health sector have met to foster closer cooperation and collaboration. All of these are evidence of the commitment of both countries to accelerating the deepening of their relations for the benefit of their people. In fact, over the past three years, cooperation between Guyana and Suriname has advanced to include tangible and visible cooperation at the political and diplomatic levels areas of cooperation that have been elusive for far too long.Your Excellency, I wish to pause to salute the advocacy of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Suriname for the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River. I was heartened to read what the people in the rice sector had to say, here in the Republic of Suriname, of the opportunities such a bridge would create for the rice industry. It is always more satisfying when possible stakeholders have the same views as those of our political leaders.I am convinced that the stakeholders in subsectors such as fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and poultry producers are just as excited of the possibilities such a bridge will offer. Those potential possibilities reflect the fact that both Guyana and Suriname are at the cusp of a development and economic advancement that was only being hoped for in the decades after independence. No effort must be spared in sharing expertise and know-how as both our States take advantage of the unique position we find ourselves in at this juncture. No mutually beneficial initiative must be seen as too small or too large to receive our collective deliberative attention.It has been said, ad nauseam, that the Member States of the Caribbean Community import too much of the food we consume from outside of our region. Together, Guyana and Suriname have the land, the sweet water and irrigation systems if not always the capital inputs to provide at least most, if not all, the fresh fruits, vegetables and rice required in the region. To reliably meet those demands, our agriculture experts must continue to work together to ensure greater standardisations standardisations in the use of chemicals, variety and shape of like produce and perhaps transport facilities. These are not difficult to achieve but our technicians must meet and establish strategic plans to ensure that we are proceeding together to meet this single goal.The opportunities for cooperation in the agriculture sector, replicate themselves in the areas of mining, forestry, energy, sustainable development and climate change adaptation, infrastructure, tourism, crime prevention and enhancement of public security, to name a few. Much work have been started in each of the areas mentioned, but it is clear that our efforts at cooperation will have to match the pace at which we are developing. A case in point is the bumper crop of rice in Guyana. As the leaders in the rice industry here said, if the Corentyne Bridge was already a reality, it would have only been a matter of transporting the paddy and milling it in Suriname where there is surplus milling and storage capacity. That is the kind of cooperation and integration which both Guyana and Suriname must work hard to attain.I am convinced that under the leadership of our two Heads of State, that kind of integration will not stop at being an aspiration, but will become a reality. I am so convinced because like many others, I recognise the fact that the relations between Guyana and Suriname are the best that they have been since independence. His Excellency President Desir Bouterse and his esteemed Minister of Foreign Affairs have played a key roles in forging those exceptionally good relations and in that context, I wish to take note of the fact that the Government of His Excellency President Bouterse is also celebrating its own milestone today: for on the 25th May 2010, the People of the Republic of Suriname set in train a process that created conditions for His Excellency President Bouterse to be elected President of the Republic of Suriname. I wish to, though Your Excellency, congratulate His Excellency President Bouterse and his Government on the achievement of this milestone.Excellencies, Special Invitees,Permit me to close by offering a toast to the continued good health of His Excellency President Desi Bouterse and to continued exceptionally good relations between the Republics of Guyana and Suriname as Guyana enters its 48th year as an independent nation. A toast!Thank you.Page 2 of 3