The outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Venkatachalam Mahalingam on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP).
According to a MoTP press release, President Granger thanked High Commissioner Mahalingam for the support he has provided to Guyana during his five-year tenure and expressed gratitude for his country’s collaboration on the Indian Immigration Monument, which was unveiled at Palmyra, in Region Six last month.
The President, the release said, also noted that the Indian Immigration Monument symbolises the ties of history between Guyana and India. “I am very glad you were here for the unveiling of the monument. I think of it as a legacy for your tenure here. It is a concrete symbol of the friendship between the two countries,” he was quoted as saying.
The Indian High Commissioner’s presence in Guyana, according to the President, also aided in fostering social cohesion through the hosting of various cultural events, which not only saw the participation of descendants of East Indians but of all ethnic groups in the country.
“You brought a particular quality to your office. Your style made citizens feel comfortable and that is the way it should be. We are gradually breaking the barriers and becoming more cohesive,” the President said and thanked the High Commissioner for helping to “demystify these festivals so Guyanese can participate.”
High Commissioner Mahalingam, who was accredited in 2014, said he too was pleased with his tenure in Guyana. He disclosed that over the past five years India has seen the highest number of visits from Guyana. “The visits far exceed previous times,” the High Commissioner said, while adding that Guyana and India have enjoyed excellent relations.
Guyana and India established diplomatic relations in 1966 based on the promotion of economic interests and the strengthening of cultural ties, the release added.
