GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received an honorary key to Guyana’s capital yesterday and expressed solidarity with his South American neighbour as it recovers from severe floods that killed six people and displaced thousands.

Brazil was among the first countries to respond to the crisis, sending 16 tons (14 metric tons) of food and other supplies for thousands of residents forced from their homes last month by the worst rains in a century.

“Guyana can always rely on the support of the Government and people of Brazil,” Lula said after receiving a gold key to the capital of Georgetown, where recovery efforts remain under way.

Six people died in the floods, while at least 20 more have succumbed to an outbreak of a waterborne bacterial disease caused by contact with stagnant pools of water that still dot eastern villages. Some people remain in shelters.

Lula arrived in Guyana Monday night for talks with President Bharrat Jagdeo before heading to Suriname to attend a summit of the 15-member Caribbean Community.

Lula and Jagdeo were expected to discuss plans to finish construction of a 350-mile (563-kilometre) highway between the Brazilian state of Roraima and Georgetown.

They are also expected to discuss the European Union’s trade policies on sugar imports from former Caribbean and African colonies.

Guyana is upset about a complaint filed by Brazil, Australia and Thailand in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the EU sugar policies. Ruling on the complaint in October, the WTO found that the European Union broke international trade rules by subsidising sugar producers.

Lula was scheduled to address Guyana’s Parliament and meet with lawmakers yesterday.

On Monday, he attended a civic reception, where he was greeted with a military band. Later, the countries signed two accords, one to set up a student exchange programme and another that will create a health commission to fight mosquito-born diseases on the countries’ jungle border.

Lula is the second Brazilian president to visit Guyana, which borders Brazil to the north.

He was scheduled to leave for Suriname yesterday evening.