The Guyana Tourism Association (GTA) gave a warm welcome to visitors who

arrived here on Arrival Day at the CJIA and it was a pleasant surprise to many, as they did not expect such a welcome,
The GTA must be commended for mounting such a thoughtful exercise and it shows that we have people here who are committed to the development of our country and are capable of providing the necessary innovative and creative skills to accelerate development.
Very noteworthy is that one of the visitors who spoke to this newspaper made some very interesting and positive comments and observations.  She noted that from the arrival at the CJIA she felt the lush, fresh air and saw some beautiful flowers at the airport.
She noted that this visit was the first in 22 years since she had migrated to the U.S. She expressed her disbelief of the opposition slashing the 2013 budget on the expansion project of the CJIA since she was looking forward to contribute her expertise to the project.
She said her present job as an aviation security consultant working in the USA, she was planning to return home to seek the opportunity in having a job to share and contribute some of what she has gained overseas.
‘All is not lost’ she said and that she has faith in the Almighty and the government of our country and hopes shortly all this dust will be settled and progress will continue.
Another passenger who returned after 30 years for a week’s vacation was flattered at the welcome by the GTA.
She noted that in years travelling to many different countries the experience yesterday was overwhelming, as she too felt a true, traditional Guyanese welcome.
Working in the tourism sector in between the USA,The Bahamas and Jamaica this was a true surprise and innovation of the GTA she added.
‘ I felt lost for words, never remembered that  it was a holiday, Indian Arrival Day, 175 years of these great people coming here’ as tears came from her eyes down her face.
These comments by these overseas-based Guyanese clearly showed that despite leaving their homeland they still love it and have a commitment to its development. And also very importantly they are following and keeping in touch with developments here and as such, are fully aware of the many positives that are taking place despite the relentless campaign by the political opposition, newspaper columnists and sections of the media to paint a negative picture of our beautiful country. Their position is that there are no positive developments happening and therefore paint a picture of “gloom and doom.” But as these two visiting overseas-based Guyanese observed, this is far from the reality.
These cynics need to take a page out of the Americans’ book because despite all the negatives happening in their country-shootings in schools, murder , drug killings, terrorist attacks etc., they never paint a picture of “gloom and doom” of their country. Instead, they take the negatives in stride and continue to be inspired and motivated by the positives in their quest to further develop and advance their country.
What these two overseas-based Guyanese have said actually mirrors what many of their counterparts, in recent years, have been saying and observing. In fact, many of them have been buoyed with renewed hope of their country’s future that they have decided to re-settle here.
In addition, never before has there been such an outpouring of goodwill and interest by the Guyanese diaspora as regards their homeland. Undoubtedly, this is because they are seeing a bright future for their country and this certainly augurs well for our continued development.