Dharamkumar Seeraj nominated as new High Commissioner to India

Guyana has written to the Indian Government, seeking accreditation for Member of Parliament Dharamkumar Seeraj to be appointed as the new High of Commissioner of Guyana to India – a position that has been vacant for nearly two years.
According to a source, Guyana is awaiting accreditation from New Delhi before formally appointing Seeraj. This is likely to be done sometime before the end of this year.

“We’ve identified him and we’ve sent a request for Agrément (permission) but that request was sent during the time of India’s election so we’re waiting on the Indian government [to approve],” the source related.
Seeraj, a long-standing member of the ruling People’s Progressive Party, has been a Member of Parliament since 2006. Professionally, his career was primarily in the agriculture sector with him holding key positions within the rice industry including President of the Rice Producers Association (RPA)
As a parliamentarian, Seeraj had represented Guyana at the African, Caribbean and Pacific and European Union (ACP-EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly back in 2013.
His appointment would see Guyana seeking to further strengthen already strong bilateral collaborations in multiple areas especially agriculture.
“Given his experience serving at the ACP, given his experience with the RPA and international exposures, and given our areas of bilateral focus [with India] a lot of it being agriculture… I think he will do well in fostering the dynamic relations between our two countries. He has vast experience both locally and internationally, serving as Guyana’s representative to a number of international forums,” the source pointed out.
If Seeraj’s nomination for the role of Guyana’s High Commissioner to India if approved then his current seat in the National Assembly will be left vacant.
His appointment will see him filling the diplomatic post that became vacant in October 2022 after Guyana’s then High Commissioner to India, Charrandas Persaud, was recalled following the circulation of a video which showed him verbally abusing a female Indian citizen outside his official residence in New Delhi.
While an investigation by Indian authorities found no evidence of misconduct during the August 2021 incident, which only came to light more than a year later, President Dr Irfaan Ali, emphasising the importance of representatives of Guyana conducting themselves in the highest regard, had said it was in the “best interest” that Persaud return home.
The Guyana Government has been placing much emphasis on strengthening its foreign policy, which includes filling the various diplomatic posts at overseas missions.
Only back in May, three new diplomatic appointments were made to fill vacancies in neighbouring Brazil, the Kingdom of Belgium, in Singapore and at the United Nations in Geneva.
In Brazil, Professor Compton Bourne has been appointed as Guyana’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, while former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Sasenarine Singh, has been named Ambassador-designate to Belgium. Singh will also be appointed as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).
Dr Leslie Ramsammy has been appointed to serve as Guyana’s Ambassador-designate to Switzerland and will also assume responsibilities as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
Back in April, Guyana’s Ambassador to China, Anyin Choo, was accredited as the Non-Resident High Commissioner of Guyana to Singapore.
In February, former CEO of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Dr Richard Van West-Charles, was accredited as Guyana’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Venezuela.
Dr Richard Van West-Charles presented his credentials to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on February 20 at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to strengthen its international relations, Guyana opened its embassy in Qatar last May – a move which President Ali has said would help the two countries to enhance their bilateral ties.
On the other hand, countries are also looking to establish their footprint in Georgetown, where massive economic activities are being undertaken.
Already, the Dominican Republic has set up an Embassy in Georgetown, and a resident Ambassador, Ernesto Torres Pereyra, was accredited in May 2023.
Guatemala is also on record to establish a diplomatic office in Guyana later this year – its first within the Caribbean Community (Caricom); while Colombia is also preparing to re-establish its Embassy in Georgetown.
In addition, France is also seeking to strengthen its presence in Guyana, and is slated to open a diplomatic office here next year – the first European Union member to do so.
During a live broadcast last July on efforts being undertaken to foster bilateral relations and position Guyana as a global leader, President Ali, who is currently serving as Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), indicated that the Government has to ensure that all of its Foreign Missions are adequately staffed, so they can better position the country on the global stage.
Already, Guyana’s strong global engagement is reflected in the fact that the country is being called upon more frequently to represent on the world stage.
In January, Guyana commenced its tenure as one of five countries elected as non-permanent members for the term 2024-2025 at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) – an organ of the United Nations that has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
The following month, Guyana served as President of the Security Council, and Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, presided over several important meetings, including hearings on the Gaza war.
Also in June 2023, Christopher Arif Bulkan was elected as a Commissioner on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). He is the first Guyanese national to serve on the 64-year-old commission. (G8)