Barbados–Guyana relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Barbados and Guyana. The former maintains non-resident diplomatic representation from Bridgetown,[1] while Guyana which prior had a High Commissioner to Barbados[2] appointed its first resident Consul-General, Michael Brotherson to Bridgetown in January 2012.[3][4]
General aspects
The relations between Guyana and Barbados began while both were part of the British Empire. Shortly after Great Britain secured (then British Guiana) from the Dutch, waves of migrants were encouraged to move and settle the new expansive area. 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 led to yet more waves of Barbadians seeking to move to Guyana for better opportunities.
In 1991 Barbados and the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana attempted moves towards forming a tri-state confederation[5] consisting of Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.[6][7][8] The now late former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning pitched the initiative for the tri-state area 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.[9]
Relations became rocky due to immigration.[10] Things became contentious for Guyanese persons to Barbados.[11][12][13][14] The two nations continue their cooperation through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and work towards building and maintaining good relations between their nationals.[15][16][17] In 2012 the Consul-General of Guyana to Bridgetown remarked that immigration matters between Guyana and Barbados had substantially improved with no complaints since being attributed to Bridgetown.[18]
More recently the Guyanese Government has extended an offer to Barbadians.[19][20] 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.[21] The announcement was made in the final days of the Owen Arthur administration by MP member Mia Motley.
In 2004 both nations signed treaties to cooperate in the portion of overlapping international maritime boundary.[22]
In 2007 both nations formed the Barbados-Guyana Joint Commission, which was held in Guyana for its inaugural meeting.[23] The third meeting of the Joint Commission met in Georgetown in May 2015.[24][25]
In 2013, trade between both nations was placed at US$25 million by the Consul-General of Guyana.[26] both nations also explored an initiative of twinning in the hospitality and tourism sector as well as an arrangement for joint collaboration in the overlapping maritime EEZ between both nations.[27]
In 2016 Guyanese President, Granger presented Barbadian Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart with the second highest award of Guyana, the Order of Roraima.
[28]
Sports
Both countries are part of the multi-national West Indies cricket team, with several players from both countries representing the board.
People
Eddy Grant, a musician charged with creating the genre of Ringbang in Barbados.
Lionel Luckhoo, served concurrently as a joint High Commissioner of both Guyana and Barbados to the United Kingdom (1967 to 1970)
^Manning, Patrick (26 January 1996). "9th Sitting – 1st Session – 5th Parliament"(PDF). Hansard. Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago: 15. Archived from the original(PDF) on 4 March 2016. 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.
^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.
^"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.Alt URL
^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.
^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.Alt URL
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