Dear Editor,
As India celebrates her 75th anniversary of independence in 1947, we should consider expanding relations. Our ties are deep-rooted. India has been a longtime eternal friend of Guyana, and has rendered continued developmental support for Guyana. And Guyana has been very supportive of India’s causes and concerns. Culture, international politics, financing, and trade were instrumental in strengthening our relations.
India-Guyana relations are not based on regional geo-polity, but have a foundation in strong cultural (ethnic) bonds, historical experiences and traditions, shared heritage, sports, democracy (1992 onwards), freedom struggle, and international political bonding.
India-Guyana relations were officially established in 1966, but India had maintained contact with Guyana while both were colonies, and before Guyana obtained independence.
May 5 marks the day when the ships Hesperus and Whitby, carrying the first batch of Indian indentured labourers, docked in Guyana’s territory. This day is now observed in Guyana as Arrival Day. Cultural relations, which started from the mid-1800s with imported labour from India, have continually deepened. The presence of Indians, descendants of some 240,000 indentured labourers (between 1838 and 1917), today some 40% of the population whereas it was 55% during the mid-1970s, has led to close cultural, political, economic, and technical relations between India and Guyana.
Indentured labourers brought their language, customs, traditions, cuisine and religious beliefs to their new abode, and that has led to cultural diffusion among the ethnically diverse population. And politically, India has had influence over Guyana at international bodies and forums. India was a founding member of the Non-Alignment Movement, in which Guyana was a leading member and champion. The bust of India’s first Prime Minister and initiator of the NAM, Jawaharlal Nehru, is at the Non-Aligned Monument between Church Street and North Road in Georgetown.
Successive Guyanese leaders since independence have treated India with significance and importance in our foreign policy, especially at international platforms, and the diaspora linkage between Guyana and India has been growing. Our economic relationship has also been very strong and growing over the years. It is a matter of satisfaction that trade between the two countries is growing.
Since 1966, when Guyana gained independence, there have been diverse areas of cooperation between India and Guyana. The rich bilateral relations could be seen from our wide range of agreements and MoUs, which include so much assistance to Guyana in science and technology, medicine, agriculture, environment, education, sports, cultural exchange, loans, among others. The result is that India enjoys love, affection and support from most of the population and the Government of Guyana, regardless of party. The economic and political feeling in India for Guyana is mutual also, cutting across Government and Opposition. Thus, the presence of the 9,000-mile distance does not really separate us.
While our relations are close, they can be deepened. I am sure India and Guyana can explore the possibilities of working together in a variety of areas besides those mentioned above.
Guyana is a resource-bountiful country which recently found oil and a variety of rare earth minerals. Guyana should look at how India can help our country in the blue economy (oceanic resources and coastlands), energy (hydrocarbons and renewable), mining, tourism, etc.
President Ali’s administration should consider strengthening ties with India; it would lead to further growth, greater prosperity, modernity, and all-round development under his able and dynamic leadership.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram
