PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday at noon cut the traditional ribbon and delivered the keynote address to launch the 15th annual Guyana Festival in Toronto.
The two-day festival brings to a close a month of activities celebrating Guyana’s independence and showcasing Guyanese culture, which started with the Guyana Awards Gala on May 29.
The day turned out to be a scorcher by Canadian standards — typical hot, humid Guyana weather as if ordered for the festival.
It lent a great start to the Guyanese-style celebrations, which included the opening ceremonies, a food festival, arts and crafts fair, trade show, tourism display, softball competition, soccer tournament, dominoes tournament, cultural show, children’s activities and the Guyana Independence Lime.
Today’s features will include an interfaith service, the famous ‘Duck-Curry Competition’, A Taste of Guyana, and the Western Union 20-20 Cricket Competition.
This is the third consecutive year that the president has travelled up to Canada to officiate at the ceremonies, and to meet with the Diaspora.
Housing and Water Minister, Mr. Irfaan Ali and Dr. Bobby Ramroop, CEO of the Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC) accompanied the president.
Also in attendance were representatives from various levels of the Canadian government, CARICOM and other Canadian organizations lending their good wishes, including among others: Hon. Jim Karygiannis, MP for Scarborough-Agincourt; Hon. Bas Balkissoon, MPP for Scarborough-Rough River; Toronto City Councillors, Michael Thompson, Dean of the Toronto Consular Corp, and Consul General of Trinidad & Tobago, Mr. Michael Lashley; Consul General of Cuba, Mr. Jorge Soberon Luis; Consul General of Grenada, Ms. Jenny Gumbs; and Deputy Police Chief, Mr. Tony Warr.
Declaring the Festival open, President Jagdeo thanked the many persons who worked hard to put the event together over the years.
He reiterated High Commissioner Rajnarine Singh’s remarks that Guyana is making progress and has moved up from among the ranks of most indebted nations.
The President told an appreciative audience that his government has made significant strides in developing Guyana. “Literally, if you visit Guyana,” he said, “you will see tens-of-thousands of houses going up.”
This construction boom at reference, he said, is contributing to economic activity in the country, with financial institutions earmarking huge sums to satisfy the demand for mortgage financing.  He noted, too, that the mortgages are going to people who can repay them, unlike what has occurred in the housing bubble in the US.
Having completed the first level of reforms and rebuilding of the infrastructure and with debt servicing down from 94% to 4% of revenues, the government has undertaken unprecedented spending on education and healthcare and housing.
He said that with the assistance of Cuba, 750 doctors will be coming to Guyana over the next three years, and that numerous clinics and hospitals have been built throughout the country to provide the requisite facilities.
While proud of Guyana’s world-leading position in funding education, the president said he was not completely satisfied with the return on monies being spent and has called for a review of the education model.
He also remarked on the importance of the Diaspora to Guyana, and encouraged continuing engagement.
Consul-General, Mr. Danny Doobay, under whose patronage the Festival is organized, commented on the feeling of pride as thousands of Guyanese happily converge at the L’Amoreaux community centre. “What started out 15 years ago as a single event to mark Guyana’s Independence anniversary has now evolved into a Guyanese heritage celebration,” he said.
Mr. Doobay said evidence of the President’s commitment to the event and to the Diaspora was its being the 9th occasion he has made time to be at the event.
He further noted this year is particularly special, with the President bringing with him the accolades of world-class leadership, having claimed the great distinction of being named one of the United Nations Environmental Programme’s six Champions of the Earth.