Guyana and Jamaica on Friday strengthened their bilateral partnership with the signing of a series of agreements aimed at expanding cooperation in agriculture, security and financial services, while laying the groundwork for collaboration in energy, tourism, housing and technology.
The memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were signed at State House by Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, and Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, during the official visit of Jamaican Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness.
The agreements form part of broader efforts by both CARICOM member states to deepen regional integration and leverage each country’s comparative strengths to advance economic growth, food security and sustainable development.
Among the agreements signed was an MOU on agricultural cooperation that seeks to strengthen food and nutrition security through institutional development, innovation, education, trade facilitation and technical cooperation. The initiative also supports CARICOM’s “25 by 2025 plus five” agenda, which aims to reduce the region’s dependence on imported food by increasing regional agricultural production.
Guyana and Jamaica also formalised a defence and security agreement intended to enhance information sharing, strengthen security capacity and improve coordination on regional and international security matters.
A third accord commits both countries to greater collaboration in financial services, including modernising financial systems, strengthening regulatory institutions and building technical capacity.
President Irfaan Ali described Prime Minister Holness’ visit as more than a ceremonial state engagement, saying it represented an intensive working mission focused on producing tangible outcomes.
“I think it would be improper for me not to recognise the enormous work done by both our sides—not only producing these MOUs but also understanding fully the nature of our commitment towards each other,” President Ali said.
He disclosed that the agreements signed are only the first phase of a broader bilateral agenda, revealing that additional areas of cooperation are already under discussion.
Ali announced that a joint working group will be established to identify opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector, while noting that Guyana also intends to draw on Jamaica’s internationally recognised expertise in tourism and the creative industries as it develops its own tourism and orange economy.
The President also pointed to Jamaica’s well-established financial sector as a model that could help inform Guyana’s plans to establish a junior stock exchange and expand financial integration.
He further revealed that commercial banks in both countries have expressed interest in partnering with Guyanese and Jamaican developers on future housing projects.
Cybersecurity, data sovereignty, defence education and technology were also identified as emerging areas for collaboration, including through Guyana’s National Defence Institute.
“We believe that we have found a common path in many areas and look forward to a stronger, relentless, resilient and sustainable partnership with the government and people of Jamaica,” Ali said.
Prime Minister Holness said the agreements signed represented only a fraction of the cooperation both governments envision.
“These are just what we could formalise within the time. The breadth of our exchanges and the potential of our collaboration and cooperation is extensive,” he said.
Holness noted that discussions extended beyond the signed agreements to include energy, tourism, housing, regional diplomacy and public sector modernisation, adding that Guyana and Jamaica share similar perspectives on governance, economic transformation and improving competitiveness.
The expanded partnership comes as Guyana’s oil-driven economic growth reshapes its regional role and creates new opportunities for investment and collaboration. Jamaica, one of CARICOM’s largest economies, has long been recognised for its strengths in financial services, tourism and cultural industries—areas that Guyana is seeking to develop as it diversifies its economy beyond oil.
Friday’s agreements reinforce a relationship that extends well beyond trade and diplomacy. As founding members of CARICOM and post-colonial societies with shared historical experiences and common regional interests, Guyana and Jamaica have long championed Caribbean integration as a vehicle for economic development, collective security and political cooperation. The latest accords signal a renewed commitment to translating that shared vision into practical partnerships that benefit both countries and strengthen the wider Caribbean.
