ENSURING that every region capitalises on opportunities to showcase and promote domestic and international tourism, Vice President (VP) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, stated, in a recent press conference, that the country will not rely solely on oil and gas. The government of Guyana is committed to maintaining economic diversification across all sectors.

Aiming to create a better living standard for all Guyanese without being exclusively dependent on oil and gas resources, the Vice President explained, “We want the economy to remain diversified because in more oil-producing countries, they lose all of the other sectors and come to heavily rely on the oil industry alone. And then, when the fortunes of that industry subside, they suffer enormous loss of welfare, and we don’t want that to happen in Guyana’s case.”

During his outreach to the Cinderella County of Essequibo and meetings with the business community, Vice President Jagdeo also mentioned that Minister of Tourism, Oneidge Walrond, would return to Region Two to meet with the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and other business communities.

Expressing his appreciation for the cleanliness and tranquility of the people and environment in Region Two, as well as its numerous lakes, resorts, and leisure spots, the Vice President stated that the government’s outreach efforts are ensuring the development of the tourism industry in Essequibo County.

Vice President Jagdeo further suggested that the government’s aim of creating job opportunities for young people through the expansion of initiatives in tourism and other sectors within the region is a promise to the people of the region. He stated, “There is a big push to expand tourism in that region, and they need a lot of help on training and regulation.”

The Guyana Chronicle contacted the Regional Chairman of Region Two, Vilma DeSilva, who stated that Dr. Jagdeo’s presence in the region has not only pleased the citizens but has also made a “huge impact” on the lives of young people regarding job opportunities and recognising their self-worth.

According to DeSilva, significant development in the region has occurred since President Dr. Irfaan Ali took office in 2020 and this has resulted in a social reconnection with families and friends. The influx of people returning to live in the region demonstrates their satisfaction with the ongoing regional development.

“When it comes to development in terms of tourism, we have a number of hinterland areas where tourism has always been one of our main focuses for this region, and to have Dr. Jagdeo’s commitment towards that is a tremendous boost for us and the economy in this region alone,” DeSilva said.

She added, “We have a lot of visitors coming to this region now; some are visiting our lakes, some are travelling to our resorts, and some are experiencing what being on a citrus farm looks like. There is a variety of different farms that our tourists can visit, as well as experiencing the hospitality of Essequibians, or, as some may say, country life.”

Regarding the Vice President’s outreach and meetings with the people of Region Two, DeSilva noted a significant increase in interest from people, particularly young people, who have expressed a desire to work in the tourism sector. Several people have contacted her for information on getting into the “Air B&B” and transportation services.

“Dr. Jagdeo’s visit to this region has definitely brought about a positive increase in people’s attitudes. They were just sitting at home and waiting for somebody to employ them; now they are open to creating their own employment, and we can see that the passion is there,” she said.

DeSilva added that while there were some concerns from people, the number of complaints was significantly lower compared to when the government took over from the previous administration. Most of the major problems once experienced in the region are almost fixed under the PPP/C administration.

“Region Two and the residents of this region have high praise for all the development that has happened and is happening in our region. Dr. Jagdeo’s presence here definitely satisfied our questions, and I must say we’re very grateful for the support and the visit that he made to the region,” she concluded.

The Regional Chairman also shared that there were additional commitments made for the region, which she will announce at the appropriate time.