Guyana President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has said that while there are challenges to the relationship between his country and T&T, they are fixable.
Ali made the comments during an exclusive interview with Guardian Media at the Brix Autograph Collection at Coblentz Avenue, Cascade, on Thursday night.
“The relationship is based on respect, trust and love. We are very culturally connected to each other. We are both very passionate people. You look at cricket and you will see how passionate we are. We will go out there and passionately argue if it is curry duck or duck curry but we have had challenges like any relationship,” Ali said.
Ali said some of the issues that the Guyanese people have faced in the past include challenges with this country’s immigration, as well as barriers to trade.
“Guyanese would have demonstrated difficulties they would have had in the past but at the same time, there are many Guyanese who built a future working and living here. Many Guyanese. We have a diaspora here and we need to fix that,” Ali said.
“We need to fix the attitude towards each other. When you enter a country, the first impression is the impression that stays with you for a very long time,” he added.
Ali said moves are being made to correct the challenges, including working with Caribbean Airlines and the Government of T&T.
“Things are fixable. And what we have to do is fix it. What I can say to you is that there is a clear commitment to fixing these things,” Ali said.
Ali said in order to correct the challenges we must work together.
“So my approach is looking to the future, understanding where the problems are, understanding where there might be hiccups and working together in fixing those things. The only way we can grow stronger together. The only way we can integrate better together is by working together,” he said.
Ali is currently on a State visit to T&T.