News Americas, New York, NY, October 2, 2024: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the road in front of the Jamaica High Commission in New Delhi has been officially named ‘Jamaica Marg’, symbolizing the growing ties between India and Jamaica.
Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on October 1, Prime Minister Modi, who has been pushing a Hindu nationalist agenda, expressed optimism that the relationship between the two nations will grow “faster than Usain Bolt”.
Emphasizing the role of sports in strengthening their bond, Prime Minister Modi noted, “Both India and Jamaica are cricket-loving countries and sports play a very strong and important role in our relationship.” He stressed that the people of India have a special love for cricketers, adding, “The outcome of today’s discussions will accelerate our relationship even faster than Usain Bolt and we will continue to reach new heights.”
Prime Minister Modi also praised the Indian community in Jamaica, calling them a “living example” of cultural heritage. He acknowledged the nearly 70,000 people of Indian origin in Jamaica and thanked Prime Minister Holness for his support and care for them.
The Jamaican Prime Minister’s visit to India, from September 30 to October 3, marks the first official bilateral visit by a Jamaican Prime Minister to India. Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that this historic visit will inject new energy into both India-Jamaica relations and India’s engagement with the wider Caribbean region.
India has been a “reliable and committed development partner” in Jamaica’s growth, PM Modi added, underscoring the shared history that binds the two nations. Diplomatic relations between India and Jamaica were established on 12 August 1962. Following Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s visit to Jamaica (1975), a Resident Mission was established in Kingston in 1976. A Resident Mission of Jamaica in India became operational in 2020.
Holness on Tuesday acknowledged the bilateral relationship it shares with India, saying Jamaica has a lot to learn from the country.
“As India positions itself as the knowledge capital of the world, we recognize the tremendous strides made by your government in STEM education and digitization,” he said. “Therefore, we look forward to learning from India as a beacon of technological advancement and in the global south as the Government of Jamaica seeks to equip itself and its people with the relevant skills to navigate this changing and dynamic world.”
