…Gov’ts of India, Guyana finalising agreement

A MAJOR project to link the East Coast to the East Bank of Demerara via a road is still on the cards, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo told a gathering to celebrate the 67th Republic Anniversary of India at the Marriott Hotel Tuesday evening.India last year had committed to funding the project with a US$50M line of credit. Government is currently finalising the agreement before signing it with the Indian Government. Addressing the gathering, Nagamootoo said that relations between Guyana and India have grown from strength to strength over the years, noting that “our bonds rest on a solid foundation of true friendship and mutual respect.” He said India has proved to be a dependable friend and partner. “This partnership has in past years reaped great benefits for Guyana. Today other beneficial projects are in the pipeline. One such project is the proposed road linkage between the East Coast of Demerara and the East Bank of Demerara. This vital project will ease traffic congestion and facilitate easier movement of people and goods between the East Coast and East Bank corridors,” Nagamootoo said.
Late last year, President David Granger had reported that his Government intends to spend big on infrastructural development, and this year’s budget will see allocations for a number of mega projects. President Granger had acknowledged that Guyana cannot be developed without proper infrastructure, and as such in the 2016 Budget, various projects will commence this developmental foundation before superstructures are built. “This country cannot be developed without proper infrastructure; without proper highways and bridges, ferry stellings, aerodromes, Harbour Bridge. If we are to develop this country, we have to have a solid infrastructural base before we can build superstructures. “These will be addressed in the budget of the financial year 2016,” President Granger asserted during the interview.

Centre of Excellence
Meanwhile, Nagamootoo told the gathering that India and Guyana’s relations will also soon “take us to the information and technological super highway as Guyana and India will shortly conclude a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Information Technology in Guyana. This project will help Guyana to modernise and democratise governance structures in particular. At the same time, we are highly appreciative of the opportunities for training of Guyanese that India has presented through the ITECH Programme,” Nagamootoo who is also performing the duties of President, said.
India Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, had made the announcement about building the centre at a BRICS Summit in 2014 in Brasilia. He indicated then that the Indian Government had taken the decision that Guyana would be the first country in which they would establish an IT Centre. Modi had said that almost 250 students from South America, have been taking courses in India every year under its International Technical and Economic Cooperation programme. “I however believe that this is not enough. We intend to substantially increase the same. To share India`s expertise in Information Technology, we will establish Centres of Excellence in Information Technology, in South American countries,” Modi announced at the summit.

Renewed interest
Mr. Nagamootoo told the gathering that since the General and Regional elections during May, 2015, renewed interest in Guyana has been shown by the people of India, especially from the Southern Tamil regions of India. “I have since received several invitations to take part in business and cultural events and I look forward to visiting India sometime in the near future.”
The Prime Minister also stated that as regards visiting India, President David Granger appreciates the cordial invitation extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for him to visit. “President Granger assured that he would give priority attention to such a visit. Indeed, the high-level exchanges between President David Granger and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 have underscored many shared aspirations for the development of our two countries,” Nagamootoo further stated.
The Prime minister said over the years, Guyana and India have shared a vibrant programme of cooperation in the scientific, technical and cultural fields with Guyana receiving significant development support from the Government of India. “Besides, we have concluded agreements for periodic, Joint Commission Meetings and Foreign Office Consultations, more particularly to take forward collaboration in the areas of education, agriculture, health and forestry. Together also, we could cooperate on the global stage to face the challenges of poverty and climate change, and to work to secure peaceful resolutions of conflicts and for world peace.” Here, in Guyana, Nagamootoo said India has an unmatched record in the promotion of cultural cooperation. He said scores of Guyanese through the Indian Cultural Centre in Georgetown, have over the years benefited from yoga, dance and music classes. “My Government wishes to declare on this 67th Anniversary of the Republic of India, our gratitude for India’s continued support and assistance to my country.