PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has said the economic and social atmosphere created in Guyana by the present administration is one of the reasons so many Guyanese are coming back home for the holidays.
“It is good when people are coming back home, joining with their friends and families to celebrate Christmas and the New Year,” he told the Government Information Agency (GINA) after witnessing the large turnout at the ‘Main Big Lime’ in Main Street, Georgetown, on Boxing Day.
“There was a time when many people did not want to come back home to celebrate the festive season, so this is a good sign,” the Head of State asserted.
Before commenting, President Jagdeo, for his usual walkabout on the occasion, started from State House and interacted with some of the thousands of people gathered for the last major 2006 event, under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.
GINA said he remarked: “This is always good, because this is a season when people get together and have a good time. It also helps them to build the spirit for the New Year.”
Asked about areas that could be improved to make the event more successful, President Jagdeo said: “There must be a bit more control over the crowd in certain parts of the streets and a bit more lights. But, from what I gather and what they have told me there is adequate security and things seem to be okay. But there is always room for improvement.”
GINA said President Jagdeo also pointed to the need for the business community to take an active role in such activities.
“Here, in Guyana, the government seems to be in the lead and I think that should not be. We should take the government into the background more and more and get the business community to come forward, especially the big ones. But, sometimes, they are very narrowly focused on individual activities and cannot see the big picture,” he noted.
President Jagdeo cited Trinidad and Tobago, where similar initiatives are undertaken by the business community, as there are economic and other gains to be had.
“The business community needs to get more involved. It amazes me that, in some countries, the business community runs these events, not the government,” he said.
Accompanied by Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, President Jagdeo said the ‘Lime’ augurs well for Guyana’s tourism thrust and many Guyanese living abroad look forward to returning home at Christmas to socialise with their friends and families.
GINA said craft and other locally produced items were on display and a number of service organistaions were present, on Tuesday, along with big food and beverage companies.
The promotion is aimed at creating and fostering greater tourism awareness amongst Guyanese and the product Guyana has to offer, not solely for foreigners but also for locals to explore and discover, GINA said.
The first ‘Main Big Lime’ was staged in 1999, with specific focus on promoting the rich Guyanese culture, music, arts, dance and food.