PM Modi to Address Guyana Parliament Today: A Milestone in Global Diplomacy
Georgetown [Guyana], November 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make history during his visit to Guyana today by addressing a Special Session of the Guyanese Parliament. This marks a key moment in India’s global diplomatic outreach.
As part of his three-nation tour, which previously included visits to Nigeria and Brazil, PM Modi’s trip to Guyana carries special significance, as he becomes the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country in over five decades.
This address will mark the 14th time PM Modi has spoken in the legislative assemblies of foreign nations, a record among Indian Prime Ministers. Former PM Manmohan Singh had addressed seven such sessions, while PM Modi has more than doubled that number.
Other notable instances of Indian leaders addressing foreign Parliaments include four addresses by Indira Gandhi, three by Jawaharlal Nehru, and two each by Rajiv Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Morarji Desai and PV Narasimha Rao each delivered one such address during their tenures.
PM Modi’s speeches in foreign legislative chambers—spanning continents from the Americas to Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia—are reflective of India’s growing global influence. These addresses underline India’s role on the international stage.
Among his notable appearances, PM Modi has addressed the U.S. Congress twice—in 2016 and 2023—and the Parliaments of Australia and Fiji in 2014. He also addressed the British Parliament in 2015. In Africa, his speeches include the National Assembly of Mauritius in 2015 and the Parliament of Uganda in 2018.
In Asia, PM Modi spoke at the joint session of the Bhutanese Parliament and Nepal’s Constituent Assembly in 2014 and addressed the Parliaments of Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Afghanistan (2015), and the Maldives (2019).
During this visit, Prime Minister Modi was also honored with Guyana’s highest national award, The Order of Excellence, presented by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. This prestigious recognition was conferred upon him for his statesmanship, contributions to global progress, and efforts to strengthen India-Guyana ties.
Additionally, the Commonwealth of Dominica recently awarded PM Modi its highest national honor, The Dominica Award of Honour. President Sylvanie Burton presented the accolade in acknowledgment of his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and his commitment to fostering India-Dominica relations.
PM Modi’s address to the Guyanese Parliament underscores his ongoing commitment to deepening India’s global partnerships and enhancing India’s voice on the world stage.
