Thu Nov 21 23:46:21 UTC 2024: ## Modi Celebrates Deep Ties Between India and Guyana
**Georgetown, Guyana** – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a historic visit to Guyana, emphasizing the strong bonds between the two nations, rooted in shared culture, cuisine, and a love for cricket. Addressing a large Indo-Guyanese community gathering Thursday, Modi lauded their contributions to Guyana’s development, calling them “rashtradoots” – ambassadors of Indian culture and values.
Modi highlighted the interwoven cultural heritage, noting the unique fusion of Indian and Guyanese culinary traditions. He also underscored the unifying power of cricket, recalling the enthusiastic support for the Indian cricket team during the recent T20 World Cup hosted in Guyana. He praised the Indo-Guyanese community’s fight for freedom and democracy, and their role in Guyana’s economic growth.
The Prime Minister’s visit, the first by an Indian head of state in over 50 years, included the second India-CARICOM summit, where seven pillars for strengthened bilateral cooperation were proposed, covering areas from energy and agriculture to healthcare and innovation. Modi also received Guyana’s highest national award, the ‘Order of Excellence,’ which he dedicated to the 300,000-strong Indo-Guyanese community and the 1.4 billion people of India.
Both nations, Modi stated, share a commitment to democratic values, multilateral reform, and sustainable development. He described India’s recent economic growth as “inspirational and inclusive,” and extended an invitation to the Indo-Guyanese community to visit their ancestral homeland. The visit underscores a renewed focus on strengthening ties between India and Guyana, as well as India’s engagement with the Caribbean region.
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