Barbados–Guyana relations

Barbados-Guyana relations

Barbados
Guyana

Barbados–Guyana relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Barbados and Guyana. The later maintains non-resident diplomatic representation from Bridgetown, while Guyana which prior had a High Commissioner to Barbados[1] appointed its first resident Consul-General, Michael Brotherson to Bridgetown in January 2012.[2][3]

General aspects

The relations between Guyana and Barbados began while both were part of the British Empire. Shortly after Great Britain secured British Guiana (then British Guiana) from the Dutch, waves of migrants were encouraged to move and settle in Guyana. Barbados was one such location where large numbers of migrants came from. Through time Barbados and Guyana have both supported each other. With the move towards independence in the region Guyana was seen as the breadbasket of the wider Caribbean which lead to yet more waves of Barbadians seeking to move to Guyana for better opportunities.

In 1991 Barbados and Guyana attempted moves towards forming a tri-state confederation[4] consisting of Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.[5][6][7]

Later on relations became rocky due to immigration. Things became contentious for Guyanese persons to Barbados. The two nations continue their cooperation through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and work towards building and maintaining good relations between their nationals. In 2012 the Consul-General of Guyana to Bridgetown noted that immigration matters between Guyana and Barbados had substantially improved with no complaints since being assigned to Bridgetown.

More recently the Guyanese Government has extended an offer to Barbadians.[8][9] The Guyanese government has offered to put in place an economically favourable regime towards any Barbadians that wish to relocate to Guyana and contribute towards that nation's goals in agricultural investment.[10] The announcement was made in the final days of the Owen Arthur administration by MP member Mia Motley.

In the early 1990s the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning pitched an initiative for Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago to enter into some form of political union or political association. This initiative was short lived and did not proceed following the Democratic Labour Party's defeat during the 1994 elections.[11]

In 2004 both nations signed treaties to cooperate in the portion of overlapping international maritime boundary.[12]

People

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Permanent Representatives of the Republic of Guyana to the United Nations, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Guyana to the United Nations.
  2. ↑ Campbell, Danielle (6 January 2012). "Guyana names new envoy to Suriname, honorary consul to Barbados". Guyana Times. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  3. ↑ Denis Scott Chabrol (5 January 2012). "Consul General for Barbados; new Ambassador to Suriname". Demerara Waves Media Inc. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Manning, Patrick (26 January 1996). "9th Sitting – 1st Session – 5th Parliament". Hansard (Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago): Pg. 15. Retrieved 20 December 2010. In 1991, an initiative was announced by us (Trinidad and Tobago) which involved economic and eventually political association—and in this instance it was expressly stated, political association—between Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana. That approach came about because of a recognition of the advantages to be gained by the respective populations involved.
  5. ↑ Staff writer (20 July 2003). "Chasing after an elusive union". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2010. Nationals of those three countries enthusiastically hailed what came to be known as "The Manning Initiative". It was to remain an initiative without form or substance for more than a year until late 1993 when the then prime minister of Barbados, Erskine Sandiford, produced, with the assistance of his Attorney-General Maurice King, a working document that had at its core, a tri-state confederation of Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
  6. ↑ "The Manning strategic initiative". Guyana Stabroek newspaper. 25 April 2007. Archived from the original on 25 April 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2010. When he first became prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago in 1991–95, Mr Patrick Manning tried to float a political and economic union among Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. Dubbed the 'Manning Initiative,' the effort sank into oblivion, the victim of benign but unenthusiastic interest.
  7. ↑ Staff writer (22 August 2008). "Another Manning Initiative". Stabroek newspaper. Retrieved 14 December 2010. Some will also recall the 1992 “Manning Initiative,” which proposed a federation of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana. This did not go anywhere as the concept was never satisfactorily fleshed out nor explained, at least not in public.
  8. ↑ Staff writer (16 October 2007). "The Guyana land offer to Barbados". Nation Newspaper. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  9. ↑ Atwell, Carlos (9 October 2007). "Guyana land lease offer 'ridiculous'". Nation Newspaper. Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  10. ↑ Yearwood, Trevor (17 June 2007). "Guyana low cost land". Nation Newspaper. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  11. ↑ Staff writer (14 July 2003). "'Done That'". Nation Newspaper. Archived from the original on 14 July 2003. Retrieved 20 December 2010. "I (Sir Lloyd Sandiford) sat and worked with the then Attorney-General of Barbados, Maurice King QC, to put together a confederal framework. We drew up the framework, but certain developments arose. I became ill and there was a delay caused by my illness. "After that, Barbados ran headlong into a political crisis. Then there was a change in the Trinidad government and all of these developments prevented us from discussing the framework and taking steps to push it forward," Sir Lloyd added.
  12. ↑ staff writer (9 March 2004). "BOUNDARY BITS – Barbados and Guyana Agree on Joint Zone". International Boundary Consultants. Retrieved 26 January 2011.

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