South African minister begins five-nation Caribbean tour

Pretoria, South Africa — South Africa’s deputy minister of international relations and cooperation, Luwellyn Landers, began a high level official visit to five Caribbean nations on Monday.

The visit will underscore the cordial relations South Africa enjoys with the governments and people of Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti.

These countries, together with other member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), remain important partners in South Africa’s ongoing endeavour to build and sustain South-South linkages with a region that is tied to the African Continent through history; a shared history that was severed by the painful legacy of slavery and colonialism.

The visit by Landers will thus seek to promote and sustain linkages between South Africa and the Caribbean in the important areas of trade and investment, science and technology, travel and tourism, communication and transportation infrastructure, energy, information and communication technology and cultural industries.

Furthermore, as South Africa seeks to address the triple challenges of poverty, under-development and inequality, the government is working with various partners to create an environment conducive for the growth and development of small, medium and micro-enterprise and promote entrepreneurship.

During the visit, high level meetings have been scheduled with senior members of government, business, academia and the youth. Memoranda of understanding on political consultations are also scheduled to be signed in Guyana and Suriname.