Prime Minister hails India’s commitment to Guyana

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo yesterday was high in praise for the Government of India’s valuable contributions to countries like Guyana through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programmes. And he acknowledged the great strides that have propelled the great democracy towards being one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world. The Prime Minister made these remarks at a special luncheon at the Aagman Restaurant on Sheriff Street, Georgetown to commemorate the occasion of ITEC Day. Also present were the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Venkatachalam Mahalingam, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Irwin La Rocque, Speaker of the House Dr Barton Scotland and Ministers Winston Jordan, David Patterson, Dominic Gaskin and Jaipaul Sharma. Mr Nagamootoo said that Guyana was one of the major beneficiaries in the CARICOM Region of exchange of development experiences and scholarships under the ITEC programme. “Under the aegis of the Guyana-India Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, ITEC experts have been contributing to Guyana’s agricultural diversification programme, notably coconut and spice; and to the legal and meteorological sectors, among others. The recipients of the scholarship programmes have also been contributing to quality improvement of our social and economic development, and introducing, incrementally, elements of knowledge-driven initiatives in various sectors. “Our government recognises, and acknowledges with appreciation and gratitude, past investments from India in areas such as the construction of the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, and the installation of the Traffic Signalling System. We look forward to realisation of other infrastructural projects- the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara Road linkage; the establishment of a Centre for Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT); and the development of medical infrastructure.”

The Prime Minister underlined that Guyana was committed to the provision of an ocean ferry for use in the North-West region of Guyana, by initially repairing and renovating the 70-year-old ferries. “But we count on India to supply a new ferry for this route in the near future. It is also important to acknowledge the growing trade that has developed between our two countries, which my government seeks to strengthen and to make stronger, as the bonds between Guyana and India are knitted into the ethnic and cultural soul of our country.” In concluding, the Prime Minister said his government saluted Guyana-India cooperation and it was the hope that the programme which was started some 51 years ago, would continue to play a vital role in facilitating technical and economic cooperation, which is evident from the training of some 600 young Guyanese. “I congratulate all past and recent scholarship awardees and graduates, and welcome you to the batch of newly trained and skilled Guyanese, who will bring innovation to our developmental process. We look forward to intensification of this programme, in IT areas, and in hydrology, petroleum-engineering, cyber-technology, agriculture, etc. “Our government is confident that [the] Guyana-India bilateral relationship will grow from strength to strength, and that ITEC shall remain the principal channel for such relationship,” he added.