‘No preconditions, no favours’ – India offers itself as Guyana’s development partner
The Government of India, through its High Commission in Guyana, has offered itself as Guyana’s development partner, stating that its support does not come with any preconditions nor any expectations of favours.
Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr. KJ Srinivasa recently highlighted that the two countries share longstanding diplomatic ties but share also a cultural connection for much longer, owed to the immigration of East Indians during the period of indentureship in the nineteenth century.
Now that Guyana is undergoing significant transformation, particularly in the infrastructural sector, the High Commissioner underscored the value of India as a partner.
He said that India provides low cost solutions, machinery and labour, with a keen focus on ensuring that there is an adequate transfer of skills to Guyanese to build local capacity.
But that’s not all.
“For India, the most fundamental principle in cooperation is respecting our developmental partners and being guided by their priorities.
“None of our aid is quid pro quo, India development cooperation does not come with any preconditions,” the High Commissioner said.
Dr. Srinivasa explained that India’s focus in Guyana is part of a wider global south cooperation initiative where India coordinates with other developing nations in the global south.
And India, he said, is leveraging its position as a major world economy to help advance the development of the global south.
“Our development cooperation initiatives have been able to elevate our position to a level where it can possibly reshape the global arc of development,” Dr. Srinivasa said.
Guyana and India share longstanding diplomatic ties with Guyana benefitting from support in infrastructural projects, human resource development and cultural exchange. The High Commission is also helping Indian private sector players get involved in Guyana.
Ashoka Buildcon, a construction company, is one of the newest Indian companies that entered the local market. Ashish Kataria, a Director of the Company undertaking the project, told reporters on Friday, that the company is interested is expanding beyond the new Ogle to Eccles road project it has been awarded.
India is not the only bilateral partner that has signalled an interest in being an integral part of Guyana’s development. Canada, China, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States of America (USA) have all signalled strong support for Guyana’s developmental priorities.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, at the recent contract signing ceremony for the forthcoming Ogle to Eccles roadway, noted that Guyana has no preference for investors coming in.
“We don’t have an anti-anything agenda, we have a pro-Guyana agenda,” Edghill stated emphatically.
