Dear Editor,

SPOKEN comments and a few letters in the media seem to suggest that Guyana’s diplomatic relations with Middle Eastern countries began after May 2015, under the Coalition administration.

Nothing could be further from the fact. Without commenting whether it is good or bad for Guyana to have very close relations with Middle Eastern countries, I note relations with other countries started right after Independence.

After Guyana’s Independence from the British in May 1966, Guyana established diplomatic relations with several Middle Eastern countries, most of them post-1992 following the restoration of democratic governance.

Middle Eastern (ME) countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Libya, among others, opened embassies in Guyana during the Burnham dictatorship. Some Guyanese Muslim youths went to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Libya to study Islamic theology and the Arabic language post-1992.

Relations were established with Lebanon, Kuwait, and UAE in 1995. President Jagdeo made a State visit to Kuwait in 2010. Relations were established with Iran in 1986 but strengthened in 1995; President Jagdeo visited Iran as head of State during his second term in office in 2010. Relations were established with Oman and Qatar in 1996, Bahrain in 1997, Jordan 1998 and with Saudi Arabia in 2011. No new diplomatic relations were established with ME countries between May 2015 and August 2020. Diplomatic missions were established in Qatar and UAE in 2021. The visit by the UAE leaders to Guyana occurred in November 2020.

The Coalition is credited with Guyana joining the Islamic Bank and with opening an Embassy in Kuwait. But the expansive relations with the ME countries has largely occurred under the PPP administration. I do not recall [former] President Granger or [former] Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo visiting the ME. President Irfaan Ali is making a state visit to the UAE to strengthen ties.

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram (PhD Int’l Rels)