Canada-Guyana relations
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Bilateral relations
Guyana and Canada enjoy a close relationship built on more than 50 years of deep people-to-people ties, important trading connections, a longstanding development program and our security partnership. Canada first opened the High Commission of Canada to Guyana, in Georgetown, in March 1964, and established full diplomatic relations after Guyana’s independence in May 1966.
There is a vibrant diaspora with close to 100,000 Canadian-Guyanese citizens who call Canada home. The academic ties between Canada and Guyana reinforce this relationship as hundreds of students choose to study in Canada every year. Canada continues to support Guyana’s capacity building efforts with Canadian experts assisting various institutions.
Guyana is represented in Canada by the High Commission of Guyana in Ottawa and a Consulate in Toronto.
Trade relations
Guyana is one of Canada’s largest merchandise trading partners among the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In 2023, merchandise trade totaled $272.7 million. Exports for 2023 were valued at $59.1 million, imports were valued at $213.5 million. Canadian mining companies are actively exploring in Guyana while Canadian companies are seeking joint ventures in Guyana’s oil and gas market. A Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce was launched in Georgetown in December 2020 and an Air Transport Agreement is being finalized between both countries.
Due to the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries Tariff (CARIBCAN) - an economic and trade development assistance program for the Commonwealth Caribbean countries and territories established by Canada in 1985 – and Canada’s other Tariff preference measures, the vast majority of all Caribbean exports to Canada enter duty free.
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Development
Canada’s international assistance supports Guyana’s efforts to foster climate resilience, economic growth, and inclusive governance. Gender equality is at the forefront, in line with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.
Following the 2017 hurricane season that devastated the Caribbean, Canada announced a 5-year . The pledge was fulfilled in 2022 and included strengthening natural disaster planning and response through organizations such as the . In May 2024, Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CDEMA to improve tactical mobility coordination for enhanced disaster response.
At the 2023 Canada-CARICOM Leaders' Summit - the first to be hosted on Canadian soil – Canada made several announcements that benefit Guyana, including a $58.5 million initiative in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank for renewable energy and grid modernization, a $10 million Climate Smart Agriculture and Food Systems initiative with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and a $6 million contribution to the Caribbean Climate Smart Fund for clean energy. In February 2024, at the 46th CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, Canada reiterated its commitment to the region by announcing $39.2 million in further funding for four new international assistance projects aimed at advancing climate action, biodiversity conservation, food security, economic resilience, sustainable and inclusive governance, health, and gender equality.
Canada also announced a new partnership with the Government of Guyana to contribute up to $9.5 million in support of their One Guyana Digital Skills Development Programme. This initiative will promote economic opportunities and gender equality by empowering thousands of young Guyanese with skills and training for the digital economy. Further, Canada announced $120 million in funding to the Government of Guyana, which will be provided over 10 years through a policy-based loan with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This Canada-led development loan initiative will strengthen the protection of marginalized populations by enhancing the capacity of Guyana’s Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to efficiently deliver social programs and promote gender equality. The loan will include a climate-resilient debt clause, which automatically defers debt payments if Guyana experiences a climate incident, natural disaster, pandemic or epidemic.
Canada is extending its support to Guyana through innovative programs, encompassing essential Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health services for Indigenous communities and remote hinterland populations lacking access to quality healthcare.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Canada redirected programming to respond to Guyana and Caribbean needs, including to address gender-based violence, income support and essential services, training and technical assistance for health professionals, as well as medical supplies and personal protective equipment.
A principle means of support to the Caribbean is technical assistance and training to increase the capacity of governments and organizations. For instance, the Canada-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism provides technical assistance to CARICOM governments, including Guyana, to help diversify and strengthen the economy, build climate resilient communities, and reduce gender and economic inequalities.
Information on Canadian development initiatives is available on .
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Security
Canada has provided important security programming to Guyana since 2015, through the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program, to assist in tackling transnational organized crime, strengthening cybersecurity; preventing migrant smuggling and human trafficking; delivering training on addressing illicit trafficking through containerized cargo and strengthening the gender accountability of legal frameworks pertaining to small arms. Additionally, since 2009 the Program has supported Op ACKEE with the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command to mentor, enable, and create opportunities for the Jamaica Defence Force to grow as a Special Operations Forces leader and more effectively combat trans-regional threats in the Caribbean Basin. Other regional partners include Belize, the Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname.
Guyana is a member of Canada’s Military Cooperation Training Program. Canada has previously helped Guyana Police Force and Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit to strengthen their narcotics and serious crime investigation abilities.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today's most pressing global challenges, Canada and Guyana work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
- The Commonwealth
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- Organization of American States (OAS)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Bank (WB)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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