The Vice President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the newly
built cricket stadium at Providence in Guyana, with great fanfare yesterday.
The stadium has been built for the forthcoming World Cup Cricket - 2007 with
financial assistance and technical expertise from India.
The President of Guyana Shri Bharrat Jagdeo, alongwith the Prime Minister,
Mr. Samuel Hinds, the Minister of Culture, Youth
and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, his cabinet colleagues, Leader of the
Opposition and leaders of all political parties of Guyana were present on
the occasion.
In his address,
the President of Guyana, Shri Bharrat Jagdeo said that besides sports, the
new stadium would also help in promoting tourism and tourism infrastructure. While thanking India for the support and help
in construction of stadium, he said that his country would also ask India
to help Guyana in the area of Information Technology.
The following
is the text of Shri Shekhawat’s speech on the occasion:
“I bring to
you very warm greetings, fraternal good wishes and best regards from the people
of India, from the Members of the Indian Parliament, and from the Government
of India.
It is a great
honour and privilege for me to be here in this beautiful edifice on the momentous
occasion of dedication of the Providence Cricket Stadium. This beautifully constructed Stadium is not
just a magnificent structure of brick and mortar; it symbolizes and visibly
demonstrates the strong bonds of deep friendship between the people of two
countries. This occasion certainly
is an important milestone in the growing cooperation and deepening partnership
between our counties.
The Stadium is also an example of
South-South Cooperation to which India has a historic commitment. It is matter of some satisfaction to us that
India’s development partnership has contributed to socio-economic and human
resource development of many developing countries including Guyana.
I compliment the Government of Guyana
for their support at all stages of the project. We are grateful to His Excellency President
Bharrat Jagdeo who has paid personal attention to ensure the success of this
project. I also felicitate Shapoorji
Pallonji and Company, who have fulfilled their contractual obligation to build
the stadium to international standards and in time.
Excellency, both in your country
as well as ours, cricket is not just a game;
it is indeed a passion with the people.
Our partnership in the Providence Stadium is, therefore an appropriate
reflection of our common passion for the game of cricket. We, in India, would certainly feel a special
sense of pleasure and bonding when we watch the World Cup 2007 matches played
in this stadium. Our happiness will
be all the more if teams of the West Indies and India meet in the World Cup
Final!
Friends, I am not a professional
cricketer myself, but I follow cricket avidly.
In my long innings in public life, I have always played with a straight
bat on front foot to secure maximum runs in the account of welfare of the
poor and the deprived. I believe people in public life can learn
a lot from our cricketers to develop a big match temperament to achieve sublime
goals of promoting people’s welfare and national interests.
Ladies and gentlemen, relations between
India and Guyana are marked by mutual trust and understanding. We share similar values and aspirations.
We have abiding faith in the values of freedom, dignity and respect
for the individual. The philosophy of peaceful coexistence and
non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries have been the
cardinal principles of our foreign policy.
We have a deep understanding of and respect for each other’s concerns
and view-points.
Excellency, India stands for commitment
to the common ideals of democracy and secularism. In fact, our struggle for independence led
by Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, was an epic struggle for democracy,
freedom and liberty. After attaining
independence, India’s experience has shown to the world how complex problems
of a developing country can be addressed within a constitutional and democratic
framework.
However, for pursuing and accomplishing
the agenda of growth and development without any distraction or hindrance,
we need an international environment conducive to peace and growth.
Peace must prevail if humanity has to survive.
We must strive hard for a world free from fear, violence, conflicts
and terrorism. Let us be vigilant against the threat to democracy
and the forces inimical to it, whether from terrorists or others.
Friends, the new era of globalization
offers great opportunities to build a new world order. But, globalization is not just breaking barriers
of trade; it also enjoins upon us to build new human relationships.
In this context, ancient Indian concept of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam
which means all the world is one family and that a common humanity unites
all civilizations, acquires contemporary relevance.
In my view we can achieve real globalization and have a peaceful world
only through building a humane and value based environment which contributes
tolerance, respect and understanding about the diversity and richness of different
civilizations.
Ladies and gentlemen, on this occasion,
I would like to reaffirm our commitment to further strengthening mutual cooperation
between our two countries. There is
so much to gain and benefit through mutual help and understanding.
India is committed to creating conditions that would facilitate acceleration
of cooperation. The constructive cooperation between our nations
would not only be to our mutual advantage but acting together with understanding
and shared values, we shall be partners in contributing to the building of
a better world-order. On our part,
I would like to assure this august gathering of our very best efforts in this
direction.
Distinguished friends, precious things
should never change and ever remain alive and inspiring. River Demerara here and the river Ganges in
my country continue to flow majestically along their well traversed courses,
converting land within reach into greenery, grain, fruit and flower. May the warm and close relations between India
and Guyana continue to flow and flourish in the years ahead.
Your Excellency President Jagdeo,
let me say how much beholden we are to you for having invited us to be here on
the momentous occasion of dedication of the Providence Cricket Stadium. My presence, as also of my delegation,
reflects the esteem and high regards we have for your great country, its people
and your dynamic leadership. I take
this opportunity to wish your country and the people ever greater progress,
prosperity and success in the years ahead.”
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(Release ID :21907)