Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has extended congratulations to President Dr Irfaan Ali on his assumption to office.
In a correspondence dated August 11, PM Modi highlighted that Guyana and India enjoy close and cordial relations based on the foundations of democracy, shared culture, and history.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
As such, he noted that there is tremendous potential to further enhance economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
“I look forward to working with you to advance our bilateral and multilateral cooperation in all fora including UN (United Nations) and CARICOM (Caribbean Community) for the mutual benefit of our people.”
The Indian leader went on to say, “I take this opportunity to convey to Your Excellency my best wishes for your personal wellbeing and for the progress and prosperity for the friendly people of Guyana.”
President Dr Irfaan Ali and Indian High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa meeting on Tuesday at Office of the President
India was among Guyana’s bilateral partners that had lent its voice to call for democracy to be upheld here during the past five months when the country was embroiled in a political and electoral impasse.
After five months of litigation and delayed tactics, People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C’s) Irfaan Ali was sworn-in as Guyana’s ninth Executive President on August 2 – five months after elections were held.
Since taking office, President Ali has already met with Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, and has enlisted India’s assistance in donating supplies to further enhance Guyana’s capacity to tackle COVID-19 here.
Guyana and India established diplomatic ties in 1965 and has since maintained a strong bond on the bilateral and multilateral fronts given the similarities of not only its democracy and colonial background, but also its multiracial and multicultural societies.
Over the years, Guyana has become the beneficiary of several loans and lines of credit from the Indian Government towards infrastructure, healthcare and education development, including the cricket stadium, traffic lights in Georgetown and the supply of 14 irrigation drainage pumps.
Currently, there are seven projects that the Indian Government is either fully or partially funding in Guyana. Among these are the US$50 million East Bank Demerara-East Coast Demerara bypass road; the US$17.50 million modernisation of the Bartica, West Demerara and Suddie Hospitals; the US$18 million acquisition of a passenger ferry and the setting up an IT Centre of Excellence in Guyana.
