From left to right are the recipients of the 'Outstanding Non Resident Indian' award: Justice Ahmed Moosa Ebrahim from Zimbabwe, Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha, Narinder Singh Kapany, USA, Mahendra Pal Chaudhary, Fiji, Bharrat Jagdeo, President of
President Bharrat Jagdeo, in his address to the Second Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi, India, a conference devoted to the Indian Diaspora, told participants that "love of one's country of origin is natural and that there ought not to be, therefore a conflict between national identity and ancestral pride".
Speaking yesterday at the opening of the conference where he is the chief guest, Jagdeo also advised, "However, one must always be careful to distinguish between ancestral pride and national loyalties. As President of Guyana, a land of six races, I represent all of the people and I am duty bound to govern in their interests.
At the same time, I am very proud of my Indian ancestry and I experience no conflict in my determination to work towards forging greater national cohesion. In my country each ethnic group is encouraged to preserve and express its heritage within the national context and we are determined to live and work together as a single united Guyanese nation."
Jagdeo also said those of the Diaspora "have a duty to ensure that our children are imbued with the virtues and values that have made us what we are, without becoming parochial. In many parts of the world children of Diasporas are subjected to various pressures to abandon their culture and forsake their heritage and indeed are even made to feel that both are inferior. We must find creative ways of developing in them a sense of pride in their cultural legacy without affecting their ability to assimilate and develop loyalties to the countries in which they live."
He commended the Indian government for its decision to establish special governmental and diplomatic offices as it has led to increased contact and communication with overseas Indians. "This outreach is welcome since no matter how far those in the Diaspora have travelled, India is always present in their hearts." The President was among recipients of the `Outstanding Non-Resident Indian award' at the conference yesterday.
Accompanying President Jagdeo are Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Reepu Daman Persaud, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Manzoor Nadir, PPP parliamentarian Dr Bheri Ramsarran, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper and Director of Protocol in the Office of the President, Lieutenant Colo-nel Francis Abraham.