GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Guyana has named its representatives to a high-level Joint Working Group with India that would discuss New Delhi’s interest in being a long-term buyer of the country’s crude oil, upgrading the police and military, and investing in agriculture.
President Irfaan Ali, speaking at a news conference that focussed mainly on his recent visit to India, said in the area of hydrocarbons, he has invited the Indian government to collaborate with Guyana for the exploration and production of oil.
Ali announced that he had also invited the Indian private sector to participate in bidding for any of the 14 oil blocks offshore Guyana.
President Ali said while Guyana has sold India some of its share of oil extracted from the Stabroek Block, New Delhi wants a long-term arrangement. “They have expressed a strong interest in being a long-term purchaser of Guyana’s share of the oil, so they are going to send in a proposal on that,” he said.
Ali said he had also offered Guyana’s assistance in creating trade and education linkages with the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Latin America.
The Indian government is expected to dispatch a special housing and urban planning team to assist with developing a new town, Silica City, on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and the expanded urbanization.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to lead a delegation to India next month to follow up on the discussions held by Ali.
In the meantime, Ali said India has promised to send an entire team of technical experts to train Guyanese in horticulture, especially youths and women, given the potential for cut flowers. Also being explored is the cultivation of gluten-free, vitamin-rich millet, which helps to prevent the onset of diabetes. He said India was also keen on supporting the production of rice, sugar, and dairy production by providing technology to improve efficiency, yield, and profitability.
President Ali also announced that the Civil Aviation Authorities of Guyana and India have been holding consultations about the rules and procedures for Guyana to purchase two Dornier 228 turboprop planes from Hindustani Aviation Limited (HAL) for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
“They are now working at the technical level. I know some meetings are going on with the Civil Aviation Authority of Guyana, with the Civil Aviation Authority of India. There is a technical team that will go to make an assessment, and then we’ll get recommendations out of that”.
President Ali told reporters that Guyana is exploring acquiring replacements for the Skyvan aircraft with “limited hours” remaining, and another has already been taken out of operation. He said HAL had proposed not only supplying the aircraft but also training, technology, and maintenance.
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