–eager to take advantage of incentives it offers

GUYANESE living in the US who are interested in coming back home can now do so, safe in the knowlege that they can at least bring in a vehicle or two, as well as some household items and tools of their trade, particularly those tools having to do with agriculture or mining, all duty-free.

The foregoing provisions are all enshrined in a new remigrant policy crafted by the Coalition Government, and shared with Guyanese living in the Tri-State area during a town hall meeting on Monday evening in New York by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Several of those present at the meeting immediately perked up on hearing the good news, and expressed an interest in either coming back or investing in Guyana in some way or the other, a decision the prime minister not only applauded, but assured his enthusiastic audience that the government would welcome with open arms. He also told them that it was for the very reasons they articulated that the policy was amended in the first place, so as to better meet their needs and make the process easier for them. “This thing has been looked at, examined and reexamined over a period of time, and I think we have come to some compromise with persons in the Diaspora who want to go home. And this is an incentive they can enjoy,” he said.

He encouraged his compatriots to take a keen interest in the affairs of their country and help where they can, and in whatever way possible. “You can come to Guyana; claim your inheritance; claim your spot where your navel string bury. Convert it into capital; work the land; show that we are worthy of the freedom we celebrate… Join us back home and make your contribution,” he urged.

He also announced that the government is in the process of opening new avenues for more airlines to operate out of Guyana, which will, in due course, see airfares being lowered significantly, which news was met with resounding applause.

Consul-General to New York, Barbara Atherly, who was also at the meeting, seized the opportunity to encourage her fellow Guyanese to take advantage of the amended policy, and in so doing contribute positively to the development of Guyana. She said that making positive contribution does not necessarily mean uprooting themselves and coming back for good, but sifting out those niche areas that can do with some assistance and expertise and taking it from there. She suggested that they can either lend their skills set to whatever cause they choose during their vacation time, or by making other tangible contributions to the education, medical or other sectors.

She said that persons have already been giving of their time while on vacation by helping out with training at the Cyril Potter College of Education, as well as to medical missions that perform outreaches in Guyana. “For persons who want to invest,” she said, “I say now is the opportune time, because different opportunities are opening up now, and they don’t want to wait until other persons, especially foreigners take full advantage of the opportunities.”

One organisation that has been giving of their time and resources during vacation periods, and has been contributing tangibly in the education sector is the Linden Fund USA. Annually, they would host workshops to train teachers to become better administrators and guidance counsellors. The last workshop was held in April in Linden. The Linden Fund USA also hosts competitions such as Spelling Bees and debates, also in Linden.

EAGER TO INVEST
Many Guyanese living in New York have expressed confidence in the APNU-AFC Coalition Government in setting the stage for investment, and are eager to do so. One such person is Phyllis Montague-Paul, who told the Guyana Chronicle: “This is the time! Everybody-else is running into Guyana; why shouldn’t Guyanese! This is not only investing for yourself, but for your children and grandchildren.”

Trenton Hamidan has gone one step further and secured a few acres of land at Loo Creek, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, which he said is his way of demontrating faith in the country and the administration. “I have already begun investing on the land,” Hamidan said, adding: “Right now, I am looking to meet with a team of people from Guyana to set up a masterplan for the development of 700 acres of land they got from the government several years ago.” Hamidan said he will continue to lobby persons living in the Diaspora to invest in Guyana, particularly now that oil is in the picture.

He, however, believes that while the government is putting things in place to make the process of investing and remigrating less complicated, there is need for a change in mentality by officers working at the various agencies involved in the remigration process. “It can be very frustrating for us who are accustommed to things moving a little faster. And you go there and there is this backlog,” he said. “I believe things need to move a lot more expeditiously.”

Ms Montague-Paul, on the other hand, would like to encourage persons to have a little a patience, as everything takes time. “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” she said.

Foreign investors have been calling out the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC) for its sloth in allocating land for investment purposes. President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Victor Fernandes has been calling on the Ministry of Business to allocate industrial lands to the group, and place directly under that agency, so as to allow for the process to be expedited.