…AG woos US-based Guyanese at NY event

THE ‘Good Life’ was promised to Guyanese living in the Diaspora as they were encouraged to return to Guyana and invest in the rapidly developing sectors, especially in the oil and gas and tourism industries.
This was highlighted at a Guyana Unity Day held in New York on Sunday when members of the Diaspora congregated to commemorate Guyana’s 51st Independence Anniversary.
Speaking at the event was Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams who represented President David Granger since he was regrettably unable to attend the event. While addressing the gathering, Williams stressed, “everyone else is coming to Guyana except you.”
He reflected upon the interest many foreign persons are showing in Guyana, especially with its large oil find and expressed his concern that many persons are not scooping up the opportunities to invest in Guyana. Tourism is another budding industry he identified and he noted that Guyana presents a unique opportunity for eco-tourism. He related that the eco-tourism is there in abundance for Guyana.
Relating to the declaration of Guyana as a green state, he highlighted endeavours to foster the use of sustainable energy in Guyana. The minister noted that there is also scope for investment in hydropower, and solar and wind energy and said, “You have great opportunities in those areas if you wish to invest.”
“You can’t wait until other people come to Guyana and take up all the opportunities to invest,” Williams declared and said, “Our message to you is, come back to Guyana again.”
The Attorney-General also attested that the government has been able to “substantially” reduce crime in Guyana and it has been able to eliminate piracy in some areas. He explained many areas where improvements have been made and said, “Crime is not isolated; it is backed up by intelligence.” “Crime is no longer a factor to deter would-be investors,” the minister posited to members of the Diaspora.
Several additional measures are also being considered in an attempt to improve the lives of Guyanese in a “holistic” way, according to Williams who disclosed that the government will focus on juvenile justice and will seek to amend the legislation for wandering. He related that persons would see children wandering on the streets when they should be in school and immediately seek to employ punishment. This will be changed however, because as Williams said, “You are punishing children without examining why.” “Our goal is to ensure each and every Guyanese has a good life,” he affirmed.

Also speaking at the event was Guyana’s First Lady, Sandra Granger. She highlighted the number of projects she has been engaging in and the progress made in these projects in the relatively short time they have been implemented. Notably, she related that with the help of other stakeholders she was able to create and develop an interest for robotics among young people in Guyana.
She also highlighted her Youth Development Initiatives in which remedial education is provided to learners and her Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshops for women in all regions of Guyana.
Other initiatives include: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programmes accredited by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT); re-integrating teenage mothers into the schooling system and caring for young children and the elderly. The event was held at the Thomas Jefferson High school Football Field in Brooklyn, New York. The Guyana Unity Movement organised this charity fundraising event to garner funds for organizations and developmental projects in Guyana.
The Guyana Unity day Charity Event in Aid of the First Lady’s Initiatives was geared at uniting Guyanese across diversities in the New York area. The Spacious and Breezy Thomas Jefferson High School Softball Track and Field was the ideal venue for such an event. The venue was outflanked by food and beverage vendors offering goodies such as coconut water fresh from the shell and baked chicken with any side you like. The Spacious field was perfect for the kids present to play and run worry free, while being careful of course. The crowd was as diverse as Guyana itself and in every age range. Every person was wearing a piece of apparel, bandana, flag, tights, cleeves, hats and everything else they could put their hands on relating to “GUYANA” in some way.
The Charity event was hosted by Mr. Ervin Washington. Shortly after exchanging greetings with the event hosts and persons in attendance, Mr. Washington took to the stage to greet the gathering and thanking them for standing with Unity as they stand in support of the First Lady’s Initiatives. Sharief Barker Fraiser was credited with bringing the aim of the Guyana Unity Movement to the attention of Consul General Barbara Atherly by none other than herself. This happened as she addressed the gathering at the Charity Event. According to Consul Atherly “I was very impressed by her approach”; she also wished the organisation good luck in the future, in addition to wishing the gathering well.