The High Commission of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in India

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐢, 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨-𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐮𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚, 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞. 𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐤𝐡𝐢

𝐀 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧

It is with a heavy heart that I have received the news of the passing of Hon. Chandrikapersad Santokhi, former President of the Republic of Suriname. A voice of wisdom has fallen silent. A friend has left us.
On behalf of the Government and people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and on my own behalf, I offer our deepest condolences to the Government and people of Suriname, and to the family of the late former President.
Former President Santokhi was a brother forged not by blood but by conviction, not by birth but by the shared calling of service. During his tenure as President, we walked a path together— leaders who understood that the destiny of our nations is woven from the same cloth.
We were brothers in regionalism, standing shoulder to shoulder in the councils of CARICOM, labouring in the vineyards of unity when the harvest seemed distant and the work was hard. We were friends in the advancement of our shared global interests, raising our voices together on matters of principle. And in the quiet spaces between formal engagements, we were simply two men who had come to trust one another and to understand one another.
Under his steady guidance, the relationship between Guyana and Suriname blossomed. He understood, as I do, that the river which divides us also connects us, that our histories are intertwined, and that the prosperity of one cannot be separated from the prosperity of the other.
The region has lost a fine statesman, one who carried the mantle of leadership with grace and humility. Guyana has lost a friend, one who gave of himself freely and without pretence. I have lost a friend,someone whose presence in this world made the burdens of leadership lighter and the triumphs sweeter.
To the Government and people of Suriname, I say that your former President was a man of quiet strength . He served you with dedication and conviction. May his memory be a blessing that sustains you in the days ahead.
To his family, I extend my most heartfelt condolences. May you find solace in the legacy he leaves behind. And may the love that surrounded him in life be a comfort to you in this hour of loss.
The sun sets now on a life well lived. But for those of us who were privileged to walk alongside him, the light of his example, his friendship, and his brotherhood will not fade. It will remain, a quiet glow in the memory, a gentle warmth in the heart.
May he rest in eternal peace.

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧


I extend warmest greetings to all, and most especially to the Islamic community in Guyana, for whom Eid-ul-Fitr is a triumph written in faith, sacrifice, and devotion.

Eid-ul-Fitr is culmination of the Holy Month of Ramadan. It is the flowering of restraint, the answer to nights of prayer, to hunger borne with patience and to charity given in quiet humility.

Eid-ul-Fitr is an opportunity for a renewed spirit, one that is purified, uplifted, and turned once more toward the Divine. As the Holy Quran reminds us: “And that you complete the period and glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful” (2:185). Gratitude, then, is the crown of Eid, and joy its companion.

This is why hearts are light today. Families gather, forgiveness flows more easily than words, and the barriers between people seem, if only for a moment, to dissolve. The poor are remembered, the lonely embraced, the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood renewed. For in giving, we receive; and in remembering others, we rediscover ourselves. As the Quran teaches: “Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and rivers, in a seat of truth, near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability”(54:54–55).

And as we celebrate, we stand in a moment in Guyana that is nothing short of extraordinary. This is a time of immense promise, of boundless possibility, of a future shimmering with opportunity. Never has our nation stood at such a threshold of potential prosperity. Yet prosperity, like faith, is not self-sustaining. It must be nurtured, guided, and shared.

A nation, like a soul, is measured not by what it possesses, but by what it practices. So as we build and share this prosperity let us not forget the timeless message of Eid-ul-Fitr. That message is one of discipline, compassion, generosity, and unity. These are not virtues for a season, but for a lifetime.

Yet even as we celebrate this wonderful occasion, we are reminded that we do not live in isolation from the world. There are lands today where the call to prayer is drowned by the sound of gunfire, where celebration is replaced by sorrow. Let us, therefore, pray for peace—true and lasting peace. Let the guns be silenced, the fighter aircraft rest their wings, and the missiles sleep in their silos. For without peace, prosperity is but a fragile illusion.
Let us cultivate peace—in our hearts, in our homes, in our communities, and across our nation. Let us be living examples that harmony is not weakness, but strength in its purest form.

As we strive to embody this spirit of peace in every corner of our lives, let it not remain mere words, but become the very essence of how we live, give, and relate to one another.

Eid Mubarak to one and all! May your hearts be full, your homes be blessed, and your path ever guided by divine wisdom.

Guyana High Commission Participates in International Yoga Festival 2026 in Rishikesh 🧘‍♂️🌎

H.E. Dharamkumar Seeraj, High Commissioner of Guyana participated in the prestigious International Yoga Festival 2026 at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, hosted by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, which brought together Ambassadors, diplomats and participants from over 80 countries, joined by the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt. Gen. (Ret'd) Gurmit Singh Ji.

Organised in partnership with the Ministry of AYUSH and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the Festival celebrated yoga as a bridge for peace, harmony and international friendship.

Guyana remains committed to such meaningful platforms to further strengthen the longstanding cultural and spiritual ties with India.

I extend my best wishes to all but especially to our Hindu brothers and sisters on the occasion of Navratri. This festival is a profound season of the soul, an auspicious nine-day journey into the deepest chambers of our own being.
Navratri is the celebration of the Divine Goddess Durga, who Hindus believe is the primordial energy that animates all of creation, and the embodiment of strength and the destroyer of all that is dark and ignorant within us. This period of worship and devotion calls on us all to confront our fears, our pettiness, our anger, our illusions and to awaken the latent power within ourselves.
During this period, we are especially reminded that we are not just of body or mind, but a vessel of the divine. Navratri is a time to step away from the clamour of the world and listen to the still, small voice within. Navratri invites us to wash away the dust of worldly cares and rekindles the inner glow that connects us all.
It is my wish that the blessings of this Navratri not be confined to the temple or the home. May they radiate from our hearts like the light of a thousand lamps, dispelling the shadows of adversity and ignorance.
May the divine strength we invoke give us the courage to overcome life's formidable challenges with grace, and the wisdom to see our own reflection in the eyes of every neighbour. Let this be a time of renewed confidence in the power of goodness, a commitment to spread goodwill, and a celebration of the one spirit that dwells in all.
I wish you a Navratri filled with devotion, joy, and inner renewal.
Happy Navratri!

Happy International Women’s Day to the incredible women across the globe!

Your strength, love, resilience, and leadership enrich our societies and inspire progress every day.

Today we celebrate your achievements and reaffirm our commitment to a future of greater equality, opportunity, and empowerment for all women and girls.

🇬🇾 Mashramani 2026 - Celebrating the Birth of our Republic 🇬🇾

Mashramani is Guyana’s annual national celebration held on 23 February to commemorate the country’s transition to Republic status in 1970. Derived from an Indigenous word meaning “celebration after hard work,” Mashramani reflects the creativity, cultural diversity, and unity of the Guyanese people.

The Float Parade, with its vibrant costumes, electrifying music, and artistic displays, remains one of the highlights of the festivities, showcasing the rich traditions and lively spirit that define our nation.