Georgetown (Guyana). Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Guyana on Wednesday in the last leg of his three-nation tour. Guyana’s President Irfan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Anthony Phillips and more than 12 cabinet ministers themselves reached the airport and welcomed him. Grenada Prime Minister Declan Mitchell and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley were also present there when PM Modi reached the hotel.
PM Modi was also handed over the ‘Key to the City of Georgetown’ as a testament to the close India-Guyana relations. Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Caribbean country of Guyana in 56 years. Before him, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had gone there in the year 1968. Prime Minister Modi has reached Guyana on the invitation of President Irfan Ali and will stay there till Thursday.
PM Modi expressed gratitude
Prime Minister Modi wrote on ‘X’, ‘I reached Guyana a while ago. Thank you to President Dr. Irfan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Anthony Phillips, senior ministers and other dignitaries for welcoming you at the airport. I am confident that this visit will further strengthen the friendship between the two countries. India’s Ministry of External Affairs also shared pictures along with a post on ‘X’ and described it as a ‘special welcome’.
Prime Minister Modi also interacted with NRIs in the hotel. He wrote on ‘X’, ‘Heartfelt thanks to the Indian community in Guyana for their warm and enthusiastic welcome. He has shown that distance is never a hindrance in staying connected to one’s roots. Glad to see the community making its mark in various fields.
The Prime Minister also shared some photographs. During his visit, Modi will meet President Ali and discuss giving strategic direction to the unique relationship between the two countries. He will pay his respects to the Indian diaspora and address the Parliament of Guyana. He will also meet leaders of Caribbean partner countries at the second ‘India-CARICAM’ summit.
PM Modi will be honored
CARICOM (The Caribbean Community) is a group of 21 countries that was established in 1973. The Prime Minister wrote on X that India is keen to strengthen cooperation with CARICOM in various fields. During the visit, Guyana and Barbados honored Prime Minister Modi with their respective country’s highest honors – ‘The Order of Excellence’ and ‘Honorary Order of Freedom’ respectively. of Barbados’.
About 3.20 lakh people of Indian origin in Guyana
Whereas Dominica has already announced to confer on him its highest national award ‘Dominica Award of Honour’. After receiving these awards, the number of honors received by Prime Minister Modi from different countries will increase to 19. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, there are approximately 3.20 lakh people of Indian origin in Guyana. This is the oldest Indian community who came there more than 185 years ago.