MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' lawmaker in Guyana meets president Granger and talks self determination

UK High Commissioner Greg Quinn; President David Granger, MLA Ian Hansen and Ms. Ormond, PR and Media Manager, Falkland Islands Government

Falklands' lawmaker Ian Hansen currently visiting Guyana met with President David Granger to familiarize himself with local politics and secure Georgetown's views on the Islands' right to self determination.

 MLA Hansen, together with British High Commissioner Greg Quinn and Krysteen Ormond, Falklands' government Media manager, met with Guyana's head of state Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency.

MLA Hansen said that the meeting was to familiarize himself with the new President and to obtain his views on the right of the Falkland Islanders to determine their own future.

“We thought it would have been a good idea to meet with President Granger because one of our [representatives] was here a couple of years ago when he was the Opposition leader, and then he was very supportive of the Falkland Islands rights to self-determine their future so we thought that we would come back and it has been a very productive meeting. He is still very, very clear that we should determine our own future, obviously by peaceful means so I was very pleased with the meeting,” he said.

Falklands' lawmaker Hansen said the meeting also discussed the Guyana/Venezuela Border Controversy and oil giant ExxonMobil's recent discovery of oil, offshore Guyana.

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn said that he also attended to facilitate the meeting. Mr Quinn also noted that Guyana's relationship with the United Kingdom is at the best it has been for a very long time.

Guyana is a member of Unasur (Union of South American Nations); Caricom (Caribbean Community), Celac (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and Petrocaribe, among other regional and international organizations.