PRIME Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Guyana on Wednesday -- the first visit by an Indian head of the state in more than 50 years -- said his visit “will deepen the friendship between our nations.” In an unprecedented gesture, Modi was received at the airport by Guyana President Irfan Ali, his counterpart Mark Anthony Phillips and over a dozen Cabinet ministers while at the hotel, they were joined by the Prime Ministers of Grenada Dickon Mitchell and Barbados Mia Amor Mottley too. Modi was also handed over the ‘Key to the City of Georgetown’ as a testament to the close IndiaGuyana ties, officials said. The Prime Minister is on the last leg of his three-nation visit after attending the G20 Summit in Brazil and visiting Nigeria. Modi, who is visiting Guyana at the invitation of President Ali, will remain in the country till Thursday. “Landed in Guyana a short while ago. Gratitude to President Dr Irfaan Ali, PM Mark Anthony Phillips, senior ministers and other dignitaries for coming to receive me at the airport. I am confident this visit will deepen the friendship between our nations,” Modi posted on X. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a post on X along with photos described it as “A special welcome!” and said “this is the first visit by an Indian PM to Guyana in 56 years.”

 

“On his arrival at the hotel, PM @narendramodireceived a special welcome by President @DrMohamedIrfaa1 of Guyana, PM Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, PM @miaamormottleyofBarbados& severalCabinetMinistersofGuyana,” the MEA said in another post. “PM was handed over the ‘Key to the City of Georgetown’ by the Mayor of Georgetown, as a testament to the close India-Guyana ties,” the MEA added. During his visit, Modi will meet Ali and exchange views on giving strategic direction to the unique relationship between the two countries. He will also pay respect to one of the oldest Indian diasporas, whichmigratedmore than 185 years ago, and engage a fellow democracy with an addressinGuyana’sparliament.

 

According to the MEA, there are around 3,20,000 people of Indian origin in Guyana. Modi will also join leaders from the Caribbean partner countries for the second India-CARICOM Summit. HISTORIC MOMENT, SAYS BARBADOS PM ON MEETING WITH MODI: PRIME Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley on Wednesday said that visit of Prime Minister NarendraModimarkeda“historicmoment”for theCaricom countries and that they were honoured to have the summit between India and the group of island countries of the Caribbean Sea. “I think we are all happy that we can have this opportunity tomeet with PMNarendraModi.

 

It is a historicmoment for most of us in CARICOM to be able to meet with and have the CARICOM-India at the level of Heads of Government,” theBabados PM said. She said the visit at the level of heads of the Government highlights the strength of the relationship between the countries. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is a grouping of 21 countries, 15 member states and six associate members. It is home to approximately sixteen million citizens, 60 per cent of whom are under the age of 30, and from the main ethnicgroupsofIndigenousPeoples,Africans, Indians, Europeans, Chinese, Portuguese and Javanese, as stated by its official website. CARICOM came into being in 1973 with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas. The Treaty was later revised in 2002 to allow for the eventual establishment of a singlemarket and a single economy.