HC Deb 02 December 1969 vol 792 cc1297-8
Q6. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to the Caribbean Commonwealth countries.

The Prime Minister

I have no plans to do so at present, Sir.

Mr. Fraser

Nevertheless, will the Prime Minister recognise the great mutual interest between this country and the Caribbean, and the strong bonds of good will that exist, and institute a fairly high level initiative into ways of increasing investment in the Caribbean, for instance, in nuclear power stations, and by negotiating commodity agreements in respect of goods which are not now subject to agreement, such as bananas and citrus products?

The Prime Minister

It does not require a visit. I had the opportunity of discussing some of these questions with four of the Caribbean Commonwealth Prime Ministers when they came here for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meeting last January, and only recently—I know that my hon. Friend knows this because he has put down a Question on the Order Paper about it—I had dis- cussions with the Prime Minister of Jamaica, and the question that he has mentioned came up on that occasion. I shall be dealing with my hon. Friend's Question on Thursday.

Mr. Brooks

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the very considerable anxieties which are now being expressed in Guyana about her future territorial security? As this is an almost unprecedented case of a Commonwealth country having over half its territory threatened by a larger neighbour, will my right hon. Friend consider taking the initiative, perhaps at the United Nations, to try to ensure a peaceful outcome to this dispute?

The Prime Minister

This question was discussed very fully between the Prime Minister of Guyana and myself and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Prime Minister of Guyana was here a few months ago. We have kept in very close touch with the Prime Minister of Guyana on this question. In our view, there is no reason at all to justify any threat to Guyana's security in this way, and we have given full support to Guyana in all matters affecting her security.