Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Guyana on Wednesday—the first visit by an Indian head of the state in more than 50 years—said his visit “will deepen the friendship between our nations”.

In an unprecedented gesture, Modi was received at the airport by Guyana President Irfan Ali, his counterpart Mark Anthony Phillips and over a dozen cabinet ministers. While at the hotel, they were joined by the Prime Ministers of Grenada Dickon Mitchell and Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, too.