Minister of Tourism Cathy Hughes, accompanied by Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Immediate Past President Kit Nascimento represented Guyana last Sunday at a seminar for the Nereid’s Yachting Rally 2015.The seminar held at Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago was geared at briefing members of the international yachting community on the rally.
The rally, which is now in its 3rd year, is scheduled to leave Trinidad and Tobago on September 4 for the Essequibo River, Guyana and will conclude in St Laurent du Maroni, via Suriname, in French Guiana on October 4.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of the Arts and Multiculturalism, Dr Lincoln Douglas, welcomed Minister Hughes, the Guyana and French Guiana delegations to the seminar on behalf of his Government, a release said.
In addressing the approximately 50 cruisers from some 25 yachts attending the seminar, Minister Hughes said her Government looks forward to officially hosting the rally on its arrival in Guyana.
The Ministry of Tourism will host the rally on September 11 at Hurakabra River Resort, which is close to Bartica where the yachts will be at anchor until September 17, when the rally departs for the Maroni River.
The minister said she welcomed the opportunity to speak with the sailors and to encourage their participation in the rally. She emphasised the fact that already, with the support of the rally, yachting was a niche tourism attraction for Guyana and that her Government recognises it as an important area of potential development and growth.
The minister noted that the Essequibo River provides a magnificent selection of beautiful and safe anchorages for visiting yachts and Guyana has ensured that its customs, immigration and health clearance arrangements for yachts are amongst the easiest and most convenient in the Caribbean.

Minister Hughes and Nascimento, in their respective video presentations, shared Guyana’s exciting and varied tourism attractions, including the spectacular Kaieteur Falls, the Rupununi Savannahs and heritage buildings of the Capital City, Georgetown.
The minister noted, in particular, that Guyana is becoming one of the most popular birding destinations in the hemisphere, with over 800 varieties of birds to be seen.
A delegation from St Laurent du Maroni led by Bernard Brieu representing the Mayor’s Office, addressed the seminar together with Guyana.
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