CARICOM heads upbeat about Guyana tourism
THE tiny island of Canouan, part of the St Vincent and the Grenadines chain, is the perfect hideout for those who can afford it. Prime Minister, Sir James Mitchell says Microsoft boss, Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world - if not the richest - has been here for holiday and to play golf. Sir James, without a blush at the opening of the current 21st CARICOM summit Sunday afternoon, openly touted the delights of the island which happens to be where he and former St Lucia Prime Minister, John Compton, were born (Probably a world record that two Prime Ministers from a five-and-a-quarter square mile island with a current population of about 1 000!) Attractive though Canouan is, two other CARICOM Prime Ministers, Basdeo Panday of Trinidad and Tobago and Owen Arthur of Barbados, couldn't contain themselves thinking about the very different delights available in Guyana. Chatting Monday with Guyanese journalists covering the summit, their eyes lit up in recalling time spent at tourist resorts on the Essequibo River and other parts. "Guyana is so different and wonderful!" Arthur exclaimed, agreeing there was scope for multi-destination tourist packages that could take in the sun, sand and sea of the Caribbean and the jungle and eco-tourism wonders of Guyana. Panday's eyes widened as he recounted his times holidaying in Guyana. He plans to spend four days playing golf in Canouan before heading back home after the summit. But "Guyana is great," he enthused; So much promise to be tapped. If the leaders in Caribbean countries think so highly of Guyana's tourism, it wouldn't be too hard for the multi-destination links to be forged. It's time to package the joys - Guyana does not have to beat Canouan and the rest of the Caribbean in the bid for the tourism potential. It simply has to get into the act and get on with it - fast.  Follow the goings-on in Guyana
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