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India-Guyana
relations
Indian Navy vessel TABAR, as it anchored in the Demerara River yesterday morning
Indian Navy vessel TABAR, as it anchored in the Demerara River yesterday morning. (Cullen Bess Nelson photos)
The
ship lists Guyana among only ten countries it is visiting from its
commissioning in Baltiysk, Russia, in April. That, we see, as very
significant for India-Guyana
relations. It
underscores the extent to which India is going to belabor the depth of
bilateral relationship with Guyana and offers possibilities of India
establishing or improving and expanding military ties with Guyana. Of
course, relations between Guyana and India go deeper than
country-to-country friendship. The historical link dates back to 1838,
when the first batch of
indentured labourers came to then British Guiana to
replace just-freed African slaves on the country's sugar plantations. For
the Africans, Emancipation at that point was a welcome relief from years
of human bondage, and most quickly dissociated themselves from the
plantations, preferring to form cooperatives, buy up land that they
transformed into villages, and operate self-employed ventures rather
than stay on the sugar estates and relive the cruel memories of slavery. It
took the Indians, who initially had come on five-year
contracts, to replace the Africans on the estates.
Although facing no less favourable working conditions, they agreed to
extend their contracts or stay on permanently, making Guyana their new
home. Guyana
and India formally established diplomatic relations on May 26, 1966, the
day Guyana became an independent country. And relations between the two
countries have been improving ever since. Today,
relations between the two countries couldn't be better. India has
undertaken to help finance the construction of Guyana's first stadium,
expected to be built for the upcoming World Cup Cricket in 2007. A
visit to India by President Jagdeo in August of last year promoted ties
in industry, commerce, and technology, among other areas, that could aid
in the development of the Guyanese economy. And both sides have
committed to the re-establishment of a Guyana High Commission in New
Delhi. Guyana
enjoys
India scholarships
and India has agreed to increase the quota of
ITEC scholarships offered to Guyana from 25 to 35. The
possibility of deputing Indian ITEC experts in key sectors identified by
Guyana would be considered favourably. The
Government of India has agreed to extend to Guyana a concessional line
of credit of US$25.2 million, through the Exim Bank of India, for the
modernization of three sugar plants surveyed by a team from Sugar
Technology Mission of India. The Indian side has also agreed to consider
extending a similar concessional line of credit through Exim Bank of
India for the modernization of the remaining sugar plants in Guyana. India
has also offered help to Guyana to combat crime, and the goodwill visit
of TABAR could see the two countries eventually cementing an agreement
on military cooperation. The list citing India-Guyana cooperation is inexhaustible. Guyanese are ever grateful for India's support for Guyana's development thrust and are looking forward to bilateral ties manifesting in the construction of the stadium and in many other areas of tangible assistance. June , 2004
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