Dharamkumar Seeraj MP is poised to become Guyana’s next High Commissioner to India, pending final approval from New Delhi, following an extended vacancy of the office of nearly two years. His nomination appears to reflect a strategic move by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime to bolster diplomatic ties with India, a crucial partner in economic and developmental ventures. It is generally believed that Seeraj is not a controversial figure, and does not carry publicly known political baggage.
Seeraj, a veteran of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and a longstanding Member of Parliament since 2006, is believed to bring extensive experience from Guyana’s agriculture sector, particularly in key roles within the rice industry.
In contrast to the current, impending appointment, the PPP has a history of controversial diplomatic appointments to India. Notably, Charrandass Persaud, the previous High Commissioner, played a pivotal role in bringing the PPP back to power by defecting and voting in favor of a No Confidence Motion in 2018. This act precipitated the collapse of the coalition government and triggered general elections that resulted in the PPP’s reinstatement.
However, Persaud’s tenure was overshadowed by scandal when he was recalled amid a widely publicised incident involving verbal abuse directed at an Indian citizen outside his official residence in New Delhi. Although Indian authorities later cleared him of misconduct related to the incident that came to light more than a year later, President Irfaan Ali emphasised the imperative for Guyana’s representatives to uphold the highest standards of behavior abroad.
Before Persaud, Rajendra (Ronald) Gajraj, another controversial figure, served as Guyana’s High Commissioner to India. Gajraj’s appointment was contentious due to allegations linking him to extrajudicial killings during his tenure as Minister of Home Affairs. These allegations, which included involvement with notorious “death squads,” drew significant international scrutiny and strained diplomatic relations during his time as Guyana’s envoy to India.
Seeraj’s potential appointment signifies a critical phase in Guyana-India relations, with expectations high for him to forge robust ties and advance cooperative ventures across various sectors.