New Delhi: With India becoming the lowest-cost producer of solar power globally, as per a 2018 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the tropical country of Guyana is showing interest in benefitting from India's capacity to produce this renewable energy source as part of its bilateral ties.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Guyana High Commissioner to India Dr. David Goldwin Pollard said, "India's progress and capabilities on solar energy are very much of interest to Guyana. We see ourselves as part of the lungs of the earth, which is why we have a green state development strategy."
The bilateral ties between India and Guyana go back to the 19th century when a batch of indentured labour went to the tropical country from India to work in its sugarcane plantations.
Describing the ties between the two countries, Pollard said, "people of Indian origin are commonly regarded as the biggest ethnic group in the country comprising more than 40 percent of the population. So, our ties are very deep and very cultural."
"There is no other way one could describe the bilateral ties between India and Guyana other than being deep, friendly and long-lasting, " added the Ambassador.
When asked if they expect a visit from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Republic of Guyana, Pollard elaborated, "Prime Minister was ready to visit Guyana towards the end of last year during the G-20 summit in Argentina, but we were looking at the modalities and it didn't work out in the end. But, we hope that there would be an interest in reviving that idea and there would a visit by PM Modi to Guyana and other Caribbean countries soon."
Fondly recalling the visit paid by former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Guyana, Pollard said, "I think the last visit by an Indian Prime Minister was by Indira Gandhi and I remember as a school-boy being out on the road, waving Indian flags as she drove along."
On the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019 and his favourite cricket team, Pollard said, "Guyana has always been a part of the West Indies, and any cricketing fan would know it is not easy to change your allegiance even if your country or region is going through decades of trouble. So, I am very much a supporter of the West Indies team."
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With the West Indies cricket team finding it difficult to sustain their winning streak as they did in their first match against Pakistan, Pollard acknowledged a revival in the team, "there is a revival that is going on in West Indies cricket now. What we now have is a good cohort of good pacemen, who are disciplined and can ball well, I am hopeful that they will have an impact on the world cup."
