PRESDENT Donald Ramotar has told Guyanese in Toronto that the country has made tremendous strides over the past 20 years, and that a number of new projects have been initiated to significantly improve the country’s infrastructure and health and education sectors. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the annual Guyana Festival at Centennial College in Toronto, he said several infrastructure projects are in the pipeline, including the specialty hospital which is intended to provide health care of an international standard at an affordable cost.
Ramotar said he was confident the Opposition politicians who opposed this project would rethink their position, given the tremendous benefits at stake for Guyanese.
The president noted that Guyana has one of the fastest growing economies in the Americas and major new developments are underway.
He said plans are progressing for the construction of a second bridge over the Demerara River, as well as a road linking the East Coast and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri. In addition, he said, a hydro project aimed at providing cheaper electricity is coming on stream.
Ramotar also pointed to significant developments in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, citing the fibre optic cable, which will link Guyana and Brazil.
He reported that there have been substantial improvements in the education sector all across Guyana, including in Sand Creek and Paramakatoi.
Ramotar said the country still has a number of challenges and problems which the Government is addressing, including the crime situation. He reported that there are several training initiatives with support from the international donor community, including the United Kingdom, Canada and the U.S., to beef up Guyana’s crime fighting capabilities and equipment.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali, in his address, urged the Guyanese diaspora to come and rediscover Guyana, which he said has been described by the international media as “untouched” and a “paradise”.
“Your home, our home, beautiful Guyana awaits you,” he told the crowd, which included representatives from several Toronto-based organisations affiliated to Guyana, consular representatives from the Caribbean and members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs).

Ali said a number of high-profile Bollywood artists have been visiting the country recently, and exhorted Guyanese in Toronto to take a vacation in Guyana to see some of the natural wonders in the home of the Amazon, including 600 species of birds.
Exhibitors at the Trade and Tourism Expo at the Guyana Festival included the Roraima Group of Companies, Princess Hotel and Casino, Hurakabra Resort, the Guyana Tourism Authority, the Guyana Office for Investment, Banks. D.I.H., The Small Business Bureau,  Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), Fly Jamaica, several  Guyanese, travel, food, art and craft producers, and Guyanese businesses in Toronto.
The festival programme included cultural performances, among them the Katiwau Amerindian Dance group from Guyana.