Guyana, Belize to sign agreements on tourism, agriculture, technology

Last Updated on Monday, 2 February 2026, 21:30 by Writer

Belize on Monday agreed to assist Guyana in developing its tourism product and in turn the South American nation would assist its sister Caribbean Community (CARICOM) counterpart in technology, Prime Minister of Belize John Briceño announced at a joint sitting of his country’s National Assembly.

“We offer our experience in tourism as you build your tourism product in the land of many waters. Our geographic similarities provide scope for knowledge sharing. Our expertise in agriculture will be made available and educational opportunities explored,” he said before President Irfaan Ali addressed the House as part of his State visit to Belize.

The Belizean leader also said Guyana’s experience in digitization would help his country in its own efforts in that regard.

In the area of agriculture, Mr Briceño said the two sister CARICOM nations”must move deliberately to achieve our mutual ambition to feed CARICOM” by capitalising on the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that provides this legal framework for free movement of goods within CARICOM.

“We must leverage our abundant resources, facilitate private sector investment, and reap the benefits of our people,” he added.

In his remarks, Dr Ali agreed that Belize and Guyana must lead in regional food security by not only investing human, financial and technological investments but push for a fair trading system that is not subjected to artificial barriers to trade. “We must together champion the removal of barriers to trade especially in food in this region,” he said.

Touching on the sugar sector, an economic mainstay for both countries dating back to the period of slavery and colonialism, the Belizean leader said his country and Guyana would provide guaranteed supplies of the sweetener to the rest of the region. “As governments, we will assure the private sector that we will work diligently to ensure that CARICOM is an assured market for Belizean and Guyanese producers of refined sugar,” he said.

A United States sugar refiner is establishing refineries in both countries. In Guyana, the local private sector partner is GAICO.

Mr Briceno added that Belize’s expertise in agriculture will be made available and educational opportunities explored.

He said the several memoranda of understanding that would be signed on Monday would cover diverse areas, education, tourism, digitization, and agriculture. “They cover socioeconomic and productive sectors of our countries. They provide solid bases for deeper collaboration in areas of mutual benefit,” he added.