Visa Abolition to be signed between Guyana and Chile

GUYANA

A reciprocal visa abolition agreement will be signed between Guyana and Chile this week as President David Granger makes an official visit to the South American country.

During the visit, that is scheduled to begin on Monday and end on Wednesday, Granger will also sign the Open Skies Air Service Agreement with his Chilean counterpart as well as deliver a lecture at the Andrés Bello Diplomatic Academy of Chile on his “vision and assessment as well as the strategic implications on his call for the Caribbean to be preserved as a zone of peace”.

Ahead of the trip, Granger indicated that relations between Guyana and Chile and Chile and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are cordial and strong.

“Chile is a key member of UNASUR  (The Union of South American Nations), CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) and Mercosur and it only this year an embassy was opened in Georgetown. I would say the relations are cordial and strong and they are growing in strength now,” he said.

The state visit by President Granger comes on the heels of the visit to Guyana by the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet during the  CARICOM Heads of Government meeting.

“This is a step towards strengthening the bonds between Chile and the Caribbean too. Chile particularly has a large maritime zone and the Caribbean really is a maritime zone so we expect that there will be a good base for bilateral cooperation,” said Granger, who will assume Chairmanship of CARICOM in January.