InTouch 2018

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LEGACIES 6 11 16 21 26

Narine’s Bakery Sharma & Sharma Legal Bedessee Imports John Persaud: Superbilt Shutters Jay Brijpaul

FEATURES: 33 38 42 46 51

Guyanese-Canadian Tourism Council (GCTC) Launched Fly Jamaica Endearing Itself To Guyanese Locally And Internationally Greenheart Tree Energy Enters Guyana’s Renewable Energy Market Demerara Distillers From 300 Estates To One World Leading Rum Producing Company Tourism Policy: A Framework For Guyana’s Tourism Development

LISTINGS: Tier 1: 10 15 20 25 32

Alima’s Roti Rudy Lochan Centum Anava Financing Sandler Training Norwich Plastics Topnotch Employment

Category Indexes:

56 Guyanese-Canadian Businesses 58 Guyanese-Canadian Organizations

Tier 2: 50 55

Crown Transportation, Mungol Law Office, Roraima Travel Enduro Training, The Travel Agent Next Door, Steve’s Auto

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TMac Publishing 917 Grenoble Blvd Pickering, Ontario L1W 1T9 PUBLISHER: Tony McWatt CONTRIBUTORS: Lyndsay Davidson Tony McWatt Kamla Sharma Donald Sinclair PHOTOGRAPHY: Air Guyana Inc. Guyana Tourism Authority Sherry Hack-Gill Tony McWatt GRAPHIC DESIGN Mesfun Haile MyDsgn.ca

The InTouch Guyanese-Canadian Directory is published annually by TMac Publishing for electronic and printed copy distribution within Canada. Change of email address notices and requests for electronic copies should be sent by email to graphiclyn@gmailcom. Attn: Tony McWatt. All rights reserved. Duplication of this publication in whole or part should be with the Publisher’s permission only.

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The 2017 Inaugural Edition of InTouch was intended, as an annual GuyaneseCanadian Business Directory, to serve as a catalyst for the formation of an Association that would bring the community’s business owners together under one umbrella, as a means of inducing their greater cohesion and communication. As fate would have it, for one reason or another, the envisioned Guyanese-Canadian Business Association (GUCABA) never materialized. As the saying goes however, when a door closes, oftentimes a window opens. And so it was that no sooner had my hopes for GUCABA proven to be forlorn than I found myself at the forefront of activities that would eventually result in the formation of the Guyanese-Canadian Tourism Advisory Council (GCTC). As is outlined in the article which covers its formation, the GCTC was formed in June 2017 as a direct outcome of the May 17 hosting of a May 17 Tourism & Diaspora Forum by Guyana’s Tourism Director General Donald Sinclair. Soon after that meeting, Mr Sinclair and I had extensive discussions at various points during our attendance at the May 21 Ottawa Guyana Day, which served as a joint celebration of Canada’s 150th and Guyana’s 51st anniversaries. During our Ottawa discussions, Donald convinced me that the Council’s formation would be a very useful and important step towards the furtherance of Guyana’s Diaspora Tourism development plans. Tourism has always been a major interest of mine and like so many other overseas based Guyanese, I have been extremely frustrated by the turtle slow pace at which the various Guyana based authorities have been engaged in activities and initiatives that are necessary for the full realization of its enormous potential. The opportunity to become directly involved in adding some Canadian jet fuel to the further promotion of Guyana’s Tourism therefore proved to be irresistible. Within days of my return from Ottawa myself, Syed Rayman and Lyndsay Davidson, who’d chaired the May 17 Forum, were busy reaching out to those who like ourselves had expressed their genuine interest in contributing meaningfully to Guyana Tourism’s further development and promotion. And so it was that just a mere few weeks after the May 17 Forum, eight members of the Guyanese-Canadian community met for a few hours at a Centennial College classroom. That meeting was the starting point for the formulation of plans that would eventually result in the Council’s engagement in concrete Tourism development activities and its official November 17 launching, appropriately during Tourism Awareness month. Understandably this 2018 Edition of the InTouch Annual GuyaneseCanadian Business Directory features a number of Guyana Tourism related articles, including a recap of the GCTC’s evolution and a report on its recently concluded Guyana FAM Tour. It also chronicles the outstanding achievements of five GuyaneseCanadian Business Owners/Companies that have now been in existence for twenty-five years or more. It is hoped that the provided insights to the principles and practices that have guided their outstanding longevity will serve as both an inspiration and worthy example for others to follow. InTouch’s primary objective remains to foster a greater sense of cohesion, community spirit and pride in our shared national heritage within all GuyaneseCanadians households. Individually and as a an ethnically diverse Community, we have made many significant contributions to the betterment of Canadian society. As evidenced by the outstanding accomplishments of the companies and business owners featured in both the Legacy and Tier I Listings. Here’s hoping that the Contents of our InTouch 2018 Guyanese-Canadian Business Directory will be an enjoyable read and a valuable resource for all of its Readers. Cheers - Tony McWatt

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Naraine’s Bakery Top Guns For Tasty Buns! Twenty- five years ago Robin Naraine decided that he wanted to be his own boss. With the help of his father and

about getting into it,” said Robin Naraine. “Opening a business in Canada was a new ground but we started at a good time. There wasn’t a quality product like ours out in Canada and our name was popular back in Guyana.” With the help of his Dad, Naraine spent about a month fine-tuning the recipe to make it suitable for Canadian ingredients and the climate before beginning production. In the twenty-five years that have passed since it first opened its bakery doors in Toronto, Naraine’s Bakery has become the front-runner in Guyanese baking thanks to the continued support of its customers as well as the Guyanese-Canadian Community. Naraine’s Bakery’s management and staff are fully trained and are always striving to produce only the very best from facilities which maintain the highest health standards. Narine’s Bakery’s quest is to always provide the highest quality products to its customers. That means starting with the best ingredients. The flour that is used for both the breads and pastries is always of the best that’s available in the Canadian market. All of Naraine’s Bakery’s speciality products are also 100% vegetarian, completely free of pepsin, rennet, whey, soy or preservatives. Any monoglycerides used in the Bakery’s vegetable shortening are also only plant based. The Bakery’s whole wheat and multi-grain products are all made authentically and have been approved as “clean label!”

the support of his family, he brought the authentic taste of Guyanese baking to Canada. It started off as baking for friends and family out of the basement of their home and evolved into a community bakery. Robin and Padi Naraine have been on a roll with the business ever since. In 1992 the Naraines opened their first Canadian bakery, carrying the name on from the original shop in Guyana that was opened 65 years ago by Robin’s father. “I grew up in the business but I never really thought Page

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Two and a half decades since its initial store opening Naraine’s Bakery has produced and distributed hundreds of products to shops around the GTA each day. From the factory in Scarborough, breads and pastries are sent to the other franchise locations, community shops and even some mainstream stores such as Loblaws. The company’s franchise operations have grown impressively. In addition to the main location at 2691 Markham Road in Scarborough, there are now four additional locations, two in Brampton (Jas Foods & Ravi’s West Indian as well as others in Etobicoke (Westwood Supermarket) and North York (Caribbean Island Foods).

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The Company’s plan is for the addition of further Franchise locations in the immediate future. “People are able to get the quality products they remember from back home and give their children a taste of the culture,” Naraine said. While Naraine is now based in Florida with his wife Padi and their two kids, the business is seamlessly integrated through technology in order to keep him connected to the Toronto based bakery.

As a certified natural healthcare practitioner, Padi Naraine is a proponent for healthy foods and looks to make the products as nutritious as possible. “We use quality ingredients with no preservatives and no artificial ingredients,” she said. “We understand that it’s important to our customers and we want to create the best products for them.”

“Although we’re not here physically, we’re definitely here. I can see everything instantaneously and I can focus more efficiently.” Aside from staying connected through technology, Naraine says the key to the success of the bakery lies in their spirituality. “Spirituality is very important. We implement those teachings every day. We encourage our staff to work with a high consciousness of spirituality and awareness,” said Naraine. Once a week, Naraine has a virtual meditation session with his staff in order to renew their spiritual awareness and create a positive working environment. Along with maintaining a healthy spirit, the bakery is also expanding the product line to include healthier options. With products like multigrain bread and flax seed bread already in the line up, customers can also look forward to whole grain pastries that are in the works.

“We use quality ingredients with no preservatives and no artificial ingredients”

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Naraine’s bakery currently has a line up of around 20 products including tennis rolls, plait bread, and plait loafs that all come in multi-grain options. The Naraines are excited to continue expanding and evolving the business to suit the needs of the community. Robin says that the last 25 years have given him, the Bakery’s management team and its staff a pretty good

idea about what people are looking for in Guyanese baking. From the crust on their breads to the filling in the pastries, they have taken their customers’ input and are constantly looking for new ways to make their Narine’s Bakery products even better! Foremost among Narine’s Bakery’s many signature items that have long since become a customer favorite is their Plait breads: soft, fluffy and popular for its versatility, it’s great for sandwiches, toasting, or just plain with some butter. For a true Caribbean experience, it can also be tried with some guava jam and hot tea. Of course, at Christmas time, Narine’s Bakery’s plait bread is a huge favorite with pepperpot. Cheese Rolls are another of Narine’s Bakery’s much favoured pastries. Flaky and filled with their own special cheese spread recipe, they are best eaten warm for full enjoyment of the melty, cheesy goodness. Cheese rolls are sold in six packs in support of the Naraine’s claim that you can never stop at just one! Then of course there are the Bakery’s everfamous tennis rolls. Slightly sweeter than the plait breads tennis rolls are the perfect size for a busy morning on the go and are an absolute hit with kids of all ages. When paired with a generous slice of cheese they become an undisputed gastronomical delight

“We have been so blessed to have accomplished all that we have within the past twenty-five years. That will always encourage us to continue giving our customers our very best and to do so humbly and with absolute pleasure. Page

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Sandler Training: Finding Power In Reinforcement To Create Required Results For Growth Oriented Businesses! Leaders of companies trust and rely on Sandler Training Mississauga to accelerate the growth of their firm by driving increased revenue of at least 15% while containing operational costs. Return on investment for many of our clients occurs within 6-9 months. The success drivers of Sandler clients are: Growth Oriented • Driven to Succeed • Good-to-Great Mentality • Intellectual Humility. The business challenges that these companies used to face were no systematic, repeatable process for Sales, Sales Management or Customer Care; not enough A-players; Team members lack assertiveness and/or the selling skills to grow the business profit margins under pressure; market share below desired level; sales cycle too long; discomfort in the role of business development. Robin Singh, President of Sandler Training Mississauga is a Guyanese native who relocated to the Toronto area in 1973. He has been a successful business leader with over 20 years of experience driving revenue growth and profitability for diverse regional and global operations. Known for his expertise in channel sales strategies, strategic partnerships and customer relationships, Robin is skilled at building and leading successful teams to exceed personal and company goals. Robin effectively uses a nononsense consultative sales and management techniques which produce results while preserving and championing the individual team member’s self respect. Ongoing Reinforcement is an integral component of the “Sandler Difference!” This is provided through the understanding and implementation of a complex set of human attitudes, behaviors and selling techniques, as opposed to the quick fix solutions that are oftentimes presented during one-day seminars. Comprehensive trainings address professional development issues that are critical to success, such as goal setting, action plans, performance evaluations and communications skills are also integral aspects of the Sandler Training methodology. Sandler is a nine-time holder of Entrepreneur Magazine’s #1 Training ranking. We work with companies, organizations, teams and professionals to… build high performing people & teams that deliver, train & coach the people on the skills and behaviors necessary to excel, design a game plan to win...and to keep winning. Our formula for success is based on real-world best practices that grow the top line. Contact Robin at robin.singh@sandler. com or visit www.singh.sandler.com if you are ready to take the next steps at accelerating your success. Page

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Roop Sharma’s reputation as a legal and cultural pioneer of the highest order has long since been established. Roop was the winner of a Gold Medal in Public Speaking from the London England’s prestigious Academy of Dramatic Arts. An award that had provided very early evidence of his impressive oratorical skills, which are inclusive of an uncommon command of diction and tone of speech. As the first from his family to study law, he led other members of the Sharma clan into that prestigious field of study. His son Ishwar was soon following in his father’s illustrious footsteps, revealing himself to be similarly bright, well qualified and articulate. Ishwar has always praised his Dad as being the inspiration behind his accumulation of two degrees in his chosen field of law. “ I wanted to see my photo featured on the walls of the Law Faculty at Windsor Law School, just as my father and my uncle Chet had been!”

his own illustrious career. “My father’s community involvement has taught me that it’s not the dollar figure that’s important. It’s about assisting people that counts at the end of the day!” Ishwar in his first year of practising law in Ontario represented clients in the Federal Court of Canada. The successful decisions in those cases positively changed the lives of many immigrants in Canada. For decades now the Sharma’s have conducted their law business from a solid looking former CIBC Branch building at the corner of Pape Ave. and Gerrard Street. Unpretentious and far removed from the prestigious downtown Toronto Bay Street law office area, it has always been easily accessible to the now hundreds of acquired clients that have made Sharma & Sharma as successful as it is.

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testimony to the outstanding success of his law practice. Spacious with woven rug adorned floors, its walls were covered with the awards he’d collected during his years of study and practice. There was also an ample supply of newspaper clippings of cases he’d won. It was in London, England where Roop Sharma’s legal career had begun. After being admitted to the bar in 1964 he’d decided not long after to return to his native Guyana to practice there. He began his law career in the chambers of R.H. Luckhoo who later became an appellate judge in Guyana’s Courts. Sharma served as Legal Counsel in the Attorney General’s Office from 1965-1967 before joining the office of the Director of

Roop Sharma’s private general practice was established in 1977. He was soon making a name for himself as an Immigration Lawyer, representing scores of clients from within the Guyanese and Caribbean Canadian communities who were experiencing challenges in that area. Roop would later enshrine himself as the first ever lawyer to win a case granting a citizen of Guyana the right to live in Canada under refugee status and later became a Canadian citizen. Roop Sharma’s reputation as an international refugee lawyer was further solidified by his involvement in the successful acquisition of Canadian Refugee Status for a Bangladesh native, who had been working as a Chef on Yonge Street in Toronto. This client was the first ever Bangladeshi citizen to be granted such status in Canada. Listed among Sharma’s many notable community involvements was his service on the Toronto Police Service Complaints Board. He also served as a Board of Directors member for Ward 7, and is the President of the Canada Hindu Organization for over 40

Public Prosecution. Roop Sharma’s reputation as one of Guyana’s most outstanding Crown Prosecutors was solidified during his involvement in the trial of 22 individuals who had been charged with attempting to overthrow the country’s Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham. The case received international media attention with Sharma as the focus of many of the plaudits for the manner in which he’d handled the case. Roop Sharma migrated to Canada in 1970 and quickly became fully involved in furthering his reputation as an outstandingly efficient lawyer. His early Canadian law practice was with one of Toronto’s largest legal firms at the time, Blake, Cassells and Graydon, where he functioned as an estate manager, administering the affairs of the firm’s deceased clients. After completing his Canadian Law Degree at the University of Windsor Law School in 1974 he articled with the Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General. Page

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years as well. Roop was a founding member and legal advisor of the Caribbean Children Foundation. He served as chairman of the Canada Pandits Parishad and is currently President of Gayatri Mandir. Roop Sharma has won several awards and accolades throughout his career, including a Certificate of Appreciation for volunteerism in the community by the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture; the Adyatam Sadhak Award, New Delhi, for selfless contribution in propagating the Hindu Religion and Culture Overseas;

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Dharm Ratna, presented by the Canada Hindu Organization and Dharm Bhushan, presented by the Guyana Pandits Council.

his Dad. To close your eyes and listen to Ishwar speak, is almost identical to hearing Roop himself. The apple fell that close to the tree. Much like his Dad had done, Ishwar quickly developed

He was most recently, in June 2013, awarded with two Lifetime Achievement Awards. The first was the Canadian Association of South Asian Lawyers (CASAL) President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to society and culture in Canada, Guyana, India and England. That presentation was witnessed by Ujal Dosanjh, former premier of British Columbia; Minister Bal Gosal, MP Parm Gil, Dhaman Kissoon, LL.B., and hundreds of South Asian lawyers. Two days later, in front of an audience of thousands at Celebration Square in Mississauga, Sharma was presented his second Lifetime Achievement award by Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, Masood Khan, Chair of the South Asian Canada Day Committee; MP Brad Butt, MP Dr. Kristy Duncan and Councillor Ron Star. The City of Mississauga presentation was witnessed by Sharma’s five children, Prabha Bassoo, Ishwar Sharma, LL.B.; Astuti Sharma, Kamla Sharma and Mala Singh, who sang Canada’s national anthem before the ceremony. “We thank God for granting our dear father this great honor,” said Ishwar. “He has worked hard all his life and truly deserves these accolades.” Humbled by the accolades, Sharma gave an eloquent acceptance speech and a moving dedication to his late wife, Dhani Sharma, for inspiring him to achieve his goals. He also praised his brother, Chet Sharma, a prominent practising lawyer who attended the ceremony with his wife, Bhaminee. In a celebration and collection of profiles comprising of 600 pages compiled by Vidur Dindayal in the U.K., of “Guyanese Achievers in Canada and U.S.A.”, both Roop and Ishwar are included in that book for outstanding achievements. Recently, on October 7, 2017, at the M3 celebrations in Toronto fostering Global Peace, Roop received an award and was commended by the Federal Government for his efforts as a “Global Peace Ambassador.” Also present and receiving a similar commendation was Maha Guru Yogi Srinivas Arka of India. When Roop had migrated to Canada from Guyana in 1970, Dhani and their five children had been at his side. As previously indicated one of those five, Ishwar, who was only three at the time, has now almost fully taken over the reins of Sharma & Sharma Law Practice from INTOUCH 2018

his own reputation as a formidable legal advocate. One of his early triumphs was the successful acquisition of Refugee Status for a St Lucian born female client. The Sharma’s seem to have a penchant for successfully taking on difficult immigration cases. Ishwar has also attributed much of the outstanding success Sharma & Sharma has enjoyed over the past forty years to his late mother Dhani, who’d served as the Office’s General Manager during its formative years. She was also an outstanding administrator with a natural talent for preparing legal briefs. Like his father had done before him, Ishwar has grounded his successful law practice on the cornerstones of integrity, honesty and generosity. In doing so he’s won the respect of his clients and that of his community as well. “You have to set yourself apart by developing a reputation that will shine through, even at the most difficult times!” That’s the mantra he’s adopted over the years as he sought to emerge from the shadows of his father’s outstanding legal career and into his own self derived limelight. A transition which has since been so successfully achieved as to now guarantee Sharma & Sharma legal prosperity for years to come. Page

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A Dynasty Created. A Legacy Ensured!

The year 2017 will now forever be etched in the minds and memories of all members of the Bedessee family, as well as their friends and well wishers, wherever they may be. On March 11, 2017 the family sadly lost its patriarch, the Bedessee Imports Ltd, Founder, Lionel Moona Bedessee. His sad passing at the age of 83, completely overshadowed the Bedessee Imports celebration of its May 2017 fortieth anniversary as a Canadian

Berbice, Guyana. He was the 4th child of the late Ramnauth and Mary Ramkumarie Bedessee. By the age of 20, he’d made a decision to venture out on his own and start a business. He began selling small household items such as twine, balloons, and rubber bands. After examining the market, he realized that there was a lack of supply of cricket gears and so he began to sell these products also to others within the community. This was the stepping stone for his future business ventures. In the 1950s, Lionel was determined to get his business off the ground. He would ride his bike to sell many goods throughout Guyana’s Corentyne Region.. One of the stops he would often make was at the Ganga Persaud Family Store. It was there that he would meet his future wife, Evelyn. On April 24th, 1960 Lionel aged 27 and Evelyn 19 were married, vowing to spend the rest of their lives together. Evelyn became his wife, partner, friend, life companion and child mother of almost 57 years. Together they raised and built a successful family business. After the birth of their 7th child, LMB decided to embark on a new journey so he moved to Canada with the 4 eldest children to be of assistance to his older brother, Dr. Manwel Bedessee. Coming to Canada, was challenging for LMB as there were many adjustments that had to be made with respect to climate, culture and business.

Company. Lionel Bedessee may have passed, but in the forty years since he first established Bedessee Imports as a family owned business, he impressively created a dynasty and ensured a legacy. Lionel Moona Bedessee (LMB) was born on November 11th, 1933, in Port Mourant, Corentyne, Page

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Despite settling in within Canada, LMB was not entilrely satisfied. He tried many different jobs and took a course in Appliance and Refrigeration at Conestoga College at the age of 42. Some of his odd jobs included painting the GM factory in Woodstock, making rubber shoes for Kaufman. He even worked at a Twine Factory. At his core though he always wanted to be an employer and in charge of his own business. Being simply a company employee was just not to his liking.

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In 1974, Evelyn and the youngest 3 children moved from Guyana to Canada to reunite with LMB and the family in Waterloo, Ontario. In 1977, the entire family moved from Waterloo and became resident in Toronto, where LMB restarted his entrepreneurial journey. He rented a small retail store on Queen St, West, and that was the beginning of the business operations.

In 1984, Bedessee closed its retail operations and opened up their strictly only wholesale and manufacturing operations in Scarborough, Ontario. LMB was constantly looking for ways to add innovative technology to his business. He successfully did just that by he designing a state of the art chow mein factory, which is now still operational at Bedessee Imports’ Scarborough headquarters.

While running the retail store, LMB was attentive to the requests of his customers. He realized that his customers needed products that were unavailable in Canada. So, being the determined individual he was, he sought out and started exploring more business opportunities within the import and export industry to accommodate the needs of his customers. LMB travelled to numerous countries worldwide in search of well-known Guyanese brands. Some of the countries, at the time, were considered unsafe for travelers but that did not stop LMB, as determined as he was to acquire his customers requested goods and supplies.

LMB’s creation Bedessee Imports has since flourished to now encompass operations in several cities including Toronto, New York, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Kingston, Jamaica.

LMB’s good insight permitted his business in the import and export industry to grow exponentially. As the children began to get older, the family became completely dedicated and involved in the process of operating the business’ day to day activities. The business began growing so rapidly that by the early 80s it had become evident that they needed to relocate to a much larger space. The business was thus moved from its original 1373 Queen Street location to a larger facility at 1429 Queen St. in Toronto. By this time, the company had become incorporated. The family also began making regular commutes to New York to trade various items, such as sporting goods including cricket gears. At that point in time, Bedessee Imports was historically considered to be one of the pioneers for importing West Indian Foods and Spices to North America. Many of us, can remember the times when products were scarce and limited. LMB paved the way to make products such as spices become easily accessible to those who desire them.

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Throughout this entire forty-year period, LMB maintained a simple humble lifestyle. He had the opportunity to live a life of luxury and could have dined at will at expensive restaurants. He prefered instead to enjoy his own self made home-cooked meals. LMB loved cooking and serving the people of his community. He regularly held pooja ceremonies which brought his family and friends together. LMB was known to welcome everyone with open arms and treated everyone like a family member.

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A Dynasty Created. A Legacy Ensured! LMB’s determination to get what he wanted was insurmountable. What he cherished most was to raise a good, hard-working family which would serve as an example to the rest of society. Bedessee Imports Canada is now managed by Lionel’s two Canadian based sons Rayman and Invor. Under the brother’s management, the Compnay’s core philosophy has consistently remained the same – work hard, remain humble and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty, even if it means picking up a pickaxe to break the concrete wall for a door to be fitted in. This is how the business was built - from a bottom house grocery store into a global food distribution giant – by the hands-on approach. Guided by Rayman and Invor’s co-management, Bedessee Imports has expanded its production capacities for its noodles, chowmein, and pasta-style West Indian foods core products. It has also significantly increased the volume of other food products the Company now distributes. The firm packages oil, flour, soya protein and spices. It is also the owner of “hundreds” of popular food brand names; Bedes-

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see trades in “thousands” of food items, shipping to 500 stores in Canada and 1,000 in the US. The company has tapped into the niche market of the spreading North American Caribbean Diaspora. “It’s a multi-million dollar business,” Invor admits proudly, if shyly. True to their father’s training, humility has remained a trademark of the Bedessee business philosophy. As it celebrated its 2017 40th year as a Canadian company, Bedessee Imports, has remained true to the mission and philosophy of its patriarch Founder, the now deceased Lionel Moona Bedessee. The unwavering dedication to its value mantra has been reflected in the outstanding success the Company has enjoyed. Small wonder that they are indeed “In Your Kitchen More Than You Think!” The legacy of Lionel Bedessee lives through his wife Evelyn, children, Pamela, Rose, Verman, Ravi, Rayman, Chubby and Invor, as well as his 12 grandchildren, Bradley, Brandon, Ariana, Andrew, Amanda, Chris, Sean, Lisa, Elliot, Jenna, Nick and Mark.

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Nestled in one of its many strip plazas is Alima’s, the one stop shop for roti and pastry. It is a favourite destination for persons in the GTA and way beyond, who appreciate authentic Caribbean Roti, and who find it’s just worth the drive. Alima’s is a take-out service, offering Roti Wraps, Parathas, Dhalpuris and an impressive array of Guyanese and Trinidadian pastries, in addition to traditional loaf breads. For busy moms and dads as well as young professionals, Alima’s carries a wide selection of frozen curries, both meat and vegetarian, chokas, dhals and other Caribbean meal items. These items as well as Alima’s famous dhalpuris and parathas are conveniently packaged, ready to be reheated for a fast delicious meal. All of Alima’s Eat-Easy Convenience Meal items are freshly frozen to preserve their delicious individual tastes. Curries and chokas are provided in 1 pound portions. All meals are cooked in small batches, with no added preservatives, artificial flavours or colours. Wholesome, healthy goodness made easy! You can pick up these packaged ‘Eat-Easy’ items in-store or have them delivered to your door using Alima’s online ordering system at www. OrderFromAlimas.ca. Online-ordering is for the Eat-Easy items and condiments only. Alima’s caters to a diverse range of customer types. Walk-in customers in search of delicious healthy meals, pastries, sweets and drinks are the largest base. There are also significant numbers of phone-in customers seeking to order in advance for their special occasions; an impressive array of institutions wishing to secure appetizing meals for their one-off events as well as for long-term contracts; professional caterers, banquet halls, hotels and even some restaurants. The management at Alima’s goes to great lengths to maintain very hygienic facilities. All staff members are continuously trained on food-handling. Such high standards are maintained as a means of ensuring that when each and every customer receives their specific order, the food quality is exceptional. Alima’s Management and Staff also constantly provide advice on foodhandling and care to their valued customers, again as a means of ensuring that they continue to enjoy the great meals that are provided days and weeks after they have been purchased. The entire range of Alima’s delicious food offerings can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.alimas.ca Call Alima’s Today (905) 791 ROTI (7684) Page

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He continues to move mountains in his own personal life and the lives of people whom he touches. His day is full of fast paced movement. After surviving a cardiac bypass surgery in 2015, he is even more motivated to live life to the fullest with integrity and honesty like each day is his last. He is easily accessible to his loved ones, family and friends. His phone chimes constantly, and whether the phone call lasts for one minute or one hour he makes the other person feel that they have been heard, helped and their spirits heightened. He disguises his intelligence and vision, with unassuming humor and humility. He is one of our Caribbean gems, a son of Guyana. He is Bodenarine John Persaud.

will always be in exact proportion to his contribution and service to others. “If my actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then I consider myself to be an innovative and creative person. As the founder and CEO of Canadian Superbilt Shutters, innovation has been the process of turning ideas into manufacturable and marketable commodities. As Walt Disney states, you can design, create and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality. am a strong believer that vision without action and the right people is only a daydream”. John Persaud

“When you are motivated by a deep desire to achieve a superior quality of service and customer excellence, your business is guaranteed to be successful”. John Persaud The touchstone to John’s charm is his humility and school boy sense of humor. On most days you will find him reciting inspirational quotes from poets, philosophers and great leaders. In a New York minute, he will make you laugh from the pit of your belly sharing a joke or creating a rhyme. John uses laughter to connect people. He diffuses any kind of distance or any sense of social hierarchy with humor. He is a man full of inner creativity and blessed with short and long term vision. John is constantly thinking about his next positive impact. His respect and high standing in our community was not achieved by a sole focus on his academic and professional contributions, but rather based on his steadfast attitude that his rewards in life INTOUCH 2018

John’s pathway to success was in part due to guiding angels like his mother, countless close and dear family and friends from all walks of life, cultures, religions and professions. As well as his early teachings from his spiritual mentors from Cove & John Hindu College and his current guru Swamiji Bhajanandan. He constantly seeks out the wise and sage counsel of others, but ultimately relies on his gut instincts and common sense to make financial business and personal decisions. John believes that one must diversify their portfolio in order to prevent losses and create wealth. His financial success over the last 25 years is based on his keen entrepreneurial strategies with Canadian Superbilt Shutters, real estate investments and day trading in the stock market. Page

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He keeps his business model simple by always maintaining a commitment to high quality, high standards and integrity. When John is asked to provide a quote on a window covering, it is like a new adventure for him. He is a social being who gets inspired by human interaction. So as he enters the home of a potential client, he approaches the window like a doctor conducting an initial examination. Every measurement must be precise, every recording of the measurements accurate and every proposed recommendation for the window covering the best for the home and client. His approach to his client is consistent. John believes in high quality products like Hunter Douglas and Altex/ Sun Projects, and he believes in providing excellent installation services as if it were his own home. He receives more satisfaction in a job well done than even the client. John takes pride in his work and it shows in his commitment to his successful business.

John and his team made a calculated decision in 2015 to redesign their business model from manufacturing shutters to shifting to a sole focus on installation of shutters and hard wood flooring. This restructuring of the business is yet another reflection of John’s progressive forward thinking approach. He critically examined the niche markets that would influence his business such as the costs of wood; the staffing budget required to run the manufacturing side of his business and determined it was time for Canadian Superbilt Shutters to shift its production model. He shifted the focus on becoming leaders in light control, energy efficiency operating systems and motorizations. John believes that if you do not drive your business, you will be driven out of business. For a business to be profitable and relevant, one must always be ahead of the game. And a key to staying ahead is to always examine your business from a paradigm shift that change is inevitable.

“I don’t believe in thinking outside of the box because I never think from the inside of any box. I approach my business as I approach my life, with a great deal of creativity, innovation and common sense”. John Persaud

Most of his referrals are by word of mouth. His building, at 1571 The Queensway, located in the high profile brightly lit Queensway is the hub of activity for new and old clients alike. Highly satisfied customers recommend Canadian Superbilt Shutters to family, friends and neighbours. As such John has amassed international clients located in places such as reknowned resorts in the Turks and Caicos and more locally at the White Oaks in St Catherines. He’s also done work for the Niagara Falls Casino and for quite a few major celebrities as well. He has also outfitted windows for Princess Margaret Homes for Cancer. His success is not a case of luck, it is born of hard work and sweat equity. Another key to John’s success is the team he has built around him. His right hand partner is his youngest brother Eric, along with his sister-in-law Sharmilla. They all bring their unique skills sets to the company which includes a strong work ethic and commitment to making Canadian Superbilt Shutters a sustainable business. Page

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John has applied this thinking to his community and family life as well. At this stage in his life, retirement is not on his horizon. However, as he continues to lead the success of his company; he strategically places equal effort into the Caribbean community that has made him the man he is today. “I strongly believe that you should never forget your humble beginnings and you should always leave an imprint on society, your own unique footprint”. John Persaud John was raised by a single mother in Essequibo, Guyana. Times were hard and basic survival was the sole focus. He recalls a life changing moment when as a young child, he asked his mother for a penny to buy an ice block Popsicle. His mother replied, “Son, if you search our entire home for a penny and find it; then take it and buy your ice block.” Her hidden message was clear to John. There was no extras; just enough to provide for core basics. John also recalls, later as a teenager, his mother coming to visit him at Hindu College and giving him a dollar for his allowance. When she arrived at his college, she said, “Son, there was a boy on the street

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in Georgetown who looked thirsty and hungry. I used some of your allowance and bought him a drink and snack. Here is what is left for you.” These indelible lessons have left an imprint on John. His actions towards community giving and community empowerment are born from these early lessons as a young man. To this day, he gives back to the Hindu College though his weekly sponsorship of Swami’s television show, namely Reflections on Hinduism and his weekly contribution to the Cultural Centre/temple. His giving is selfless and motivated by a sense of gratitude and ‘paying forward’ what he has reaped in life. John has spearheaded numerous charity events and raised significant funds to support children in medical need, local charities that support artists, poets, politicians and the less fortunate abroad and in his home land of Guyana. He is a man who believes that helping others is how you build a legacy and giving is sowing seeds that

will produce great harvest of fruits. His latest manifestation of community development is reflected in a motto developed by himself and his close friends namely “All of Us”. The thinking behind the motto “All of Us” is that together we are stronger and united we are unbreakable. John and his community partners, organize and lead annual events such as New Year’s Dinner and Dance, summer boat cruises and picnics in the park with the sole aim to unite people and create opportunities for people to network with credible and integral community members. John rises by lifting others. Mother Theresa said “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things”. And Satoro stated “Individually we are a drop, but together we are an ocean”. These words inspire John to strengthen his business and community ties. John has a stellar track record of leading events for decades. His events are sold out and infused with high energy, laughter and positivity. Not only does his net worth reflect his success, but his network of friends, colleagues, INTOUCH 2018

business associates and family creates his rich and colourful life. “It has always been my belief that you should surround yourself with people who are going to lift you higher and motivate you to be the best version of yourself. My mentors have taught me that if you want to go somewhere, it is best to find someone who has already been there”. John Persaud John exemplifies a transformative style of business leadership. He couples this leadership with a Caribbean flavor of humor and humility. This recipe is unique to John. He is a progressive complex thinker who wears a mask of unassuming simplicity. So if one were to come across John they would immediately say “he is a good man”. But there is a lot of progressive action and thinking that goes on behind the scene to make him a good man and a great business leader. If you scratch a

bit deeper, you will find a man who believes in action and the law of karma. “What you put into your business and life; is what you will get out of it. What you creatively think, you can manifest, if you truly believe. I believe that only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go”. John Persaud In the window fashion industry, the secret is light to a happy life. John has been unlocking the secret to a happy life by being a beacon of light to not just homes, but society at large. John is one of our adored and beloved community leaders. He will continue to weave his legacy by bringing people together in unity and joy. He will continue to create beauty and light in homes, one window at a time. He will continue to inspire people to be their best, one heart at a time. “Try not to become a man of success, but rather a man of value”. Albert Einstein.

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As Managers for Corporate Development and Sales respectively Guyanese-born Paul Persaud and his son Tribu are among the principals at Norwich Plastics, a Cambridge Ontario based plastics reprocessing facility. Dwarka Paul Persaud was born in 1948 and raised in post colonial Guyana immigrating to Canada in 1969. His experiences in Guyana and in Canada through the 1960’s and 70’s left him with a strong belief in the equality of all humans – after witnessing much of the race politics of Guyana, and in the recently desegregated southern U.S. Dwarka attended Radio College of Canada where he got his grade 13 and subsequently attended the University of Waterloo. On Oct 24th 1972 he married a fellow new Canadian and recent Trinidadian immigrant – Koomarie Molly Sudama and they soon started married life with a family to come. Dwarka’s plastics career begins in 1974 when he was hired by Butler Polymet initially as a summer student. Impressed by Dwarka’s knowledge, work ethic and innovative approach, Butler offered Dwarka a full time position where his plastics environmental career began with the recycling of scrap materials from automotive parts, back into automotive parts and later into new products. During this time Dwarka met his former business partner Bill Gosse where they worked together on diverting millions of pounds of scrap materials from Butler through the 70’s and early 80s’. In 1987 Dwarka left Butler Polymet and started Norwich Recycling in Woodstock, ON with Bill Gosse and other partners, initially recycling a myriad of polymers and helped to pioneer the city of Toronto’s first bottle recycling program. By 1992 Norwich had decided to focus exclusively on PVC materials and though the years have operated many facilities and projects specialized in PVC reclaim, recycling and re-use. The efforts of Norwich Plastics and its team over the years has led to the diversion of as much as one billion pounds of post industrial, pre consumer and most recently post consumer PVC and other plastics from landfill. Recently in 2017 Dwarka Paul Persaud and his family assumed 100% ownership of Norwich Plastic’s Canadian operations and 50% of its U.S. holdings. Dwarka Paul Persaud recently received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Canadian Plastics Industry Association. Currently he and his son Tribu continue to operate Norwich Plastics endeavoring to grow the volumes of plastics and PVC reclaimed and recycled in North America and throughout the world. For over 30 years, Norwich Plastics has been an industry leader in plastic reprocessing. Norwich Plastics helps extend the life of plastic because it’s cost-effective and good for the environment. Both of which everyone can all feel great about. INTOUCH 2018

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Canada’s Real Estate Guru

Jay Brijpaul

Real Estate professionals internationally! It has also long since achieved household name status throughout Canada. Jay unhesitatingly states that service for the customer has been the primary driving force behind all of the success he and his team have achieved to date. Integrity, honesty and direction have been the additional cornerstones upon which that principle has been practiced. The manifestation of such practices has been for

“All the wealth you can create in your lifetime will not matter much unless some of it is utilized towards the improving the welfare of others!” every customer transaction to be handled as if it were The Brij Team’s very own. The focus is invariably always on what’s best for the Client. Never on what’s in it for them! Having studied Chemistry at the University of Guyana, Jay Brijpaul came to Canada in 1983. While working part-time at a factory, he entered University of Toronto in 1985, intent on acquiring his chemistry degree and pursuing a career in that field. As fate would have it however, Jay’s 1987 purchase of his very first home created an irresistible attraction to the Canadian Real Estate industry. That attraction led to the acquisition of his Real Estate license in 1988 and the embarkation on a career that has since evolved into him becoming one of the industry’s most outstandingly successful practitioners. Jay became a Broker for Remax in 1990 and within five relatively short years, had gained his Fellow of the Real Estate Institute of Canada (FRI) designation in 1995. In the interim he’d established his “The Brij” team of seasoned Real Estate practitioners in 1994. Performance wise, The Brij Team now consistently ranks within the top 100 Page

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Jay and his team have also always been guided by the belief that an educated client will make the most well grounded decisions. As a result, The Brij IQ, a Series of free Real Estate Educational Workshops, was established for interested individuals to attend, whether they be clients or not. The Workshops allow for discussions on real estate, investments and related matters and are held at least six to seven times each year. Jay also hosts a free, one hour weekly podcast: Let’s Talk Real Estate, on different industry related topics. Needless to say, given his immense demonstrated knowledge and experience, he’s also constantly invited to share his thoughts, particularly those on real estate investments, on countless radio and television programmes. A real estate investor since 1989, Jay now owns an ultra impressive portfolio of both

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Talking The Talk, And Walking The Walk! residential and commercial properties. A testimony to his knowledge and confirmation of his tendency to not only talk the talk but also walk the walk! He readily shares both his extensive theoretical and practical industry knowledge with his clients and will unhesitatingly provide them with every advice required. Jay’s fundamental advice to young persons seeking to embark upon a real estate career is that “Legacy is more important than currency!” He suggests that they should attempt to build their name and reputation, one client at a time.

“It’s much better to stay as humble as the valley and allow the streams to flow to you than to be as mighty as the mountain and have everything drain from you!”

“Always be willing in to put in the required effort, for you will indeed reap only that which has been sown! Disciplined management of your time and available resources will be key to your ultimate success. These are all additional nuggets of advice, he suggests that any budding Real Estate professional would be wise to follow, while insisting that consistent long term efforts will in time produce desired results. He therefore suggests that they should stick to the tasks at hand and not allow themselves to be distracted. Energy breeds rewards he advocates. He also suggests that newcomers to the

“You can’t put water on a warm stove and expect to get steam!” industry should focus primarily on investing in real estate, Jay says he’s made more money investing in real estate than actually selling properties. To others who may be at the beginning of their respective professional careers, his advice is for them to focus on service. He says that there are abundant opportunities in every field but the key is to be of valued service. Again, work hard with honesty and integrity and good will come to you. INTOUCH 2018

He also suggests that young professionals should develop and practice, as quickly as possible, the habit of making meaningful contributions to their society. Married since 1989, to his wife Nan, Jay is now the very proud father of four children, all of whom are University Graduated and much like their Dad, charity minded. The apple never falls far from the tree! Page

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www.thebrij.com Jay himself spends much of his outdoor, summer, spare time gardening. He plants an impressive assortment of vegetables to serve his household’s kitchen needs. He and Nan both like to travel. As such they spend as much time as possible abroad, visiting different countries and experiencing various cultures.

International Children Heart Foundation. Those ties have allowed teams of doctors to visit the Dominican Republic and Guyana, to address the heart surgery medical needs of kids in those two countries. Plans are also now in the making for heart surgery centers to be established in Jamaica and Trinidad, so as to serve the associated surgical needs of kids from all parts of the Caribbean. The Foundation has also enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Toronto’s Hospital For Sick Kids International Patients Department. That continuing relationship allows for kids with more complex surgical needs to be transferred to Sick Kids’ Toronto Hospital headquarters.

Now very well known within the Canadian Caribbean community for his outstanding philantrophy, Jay is the founder and President of the Caribbean Children’s Foundation. The Foundation’s activities unofficially began in the mid nineties when funds were being sent to the children’s wards in the Georgetown Hospital, Guyana, to assist in offsetting the associated costs of expensive medical procedures. That initial activity eventually evolved into the 2000 official formation of the Caribbean Children’s Foundation, the mandate for which was to help cover the expenses of afflicted children for services, particularly surgeries, that were not available in their homelands. The Charity has since grown to such an extent that it has now provided assistance for well over 200 children, across the Caribbean. In the process it has developed very close ties with the Page

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The Foundation also works very closely with the Texas based Spine Hope, which takes care of any spinal injuries. Kids with such surgeries are transported to Spine Hope’s Texas facilities to receive the required treatments. Now still the Foundation’s functioning President and its driving force, Jay says it now has a very solid support base of well over 150 professionals in and out of the Caribbean. The Foundation also enjoys the support of a large group of 500 – 600 other individuals. As an immensely successful Real Estate practitioner, one of that industry’s proven sage investors and for his outstanding philanthropic activities towards the medical needs of afflicted Caribbean children, Jay Brijpaul is truly a Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk, son of the soil of which the Guyanese-Canadian community should be justifiably proud.

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TOPNOTCH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES Topnotch Employment is a privately-owned, full-service staffing company serving the GTA for the past 24 years. Today, the company employs 13 full-time employees; three of which have worked with Topnotch for over 24 years. Terry Sawh's story is perhaps all-too familiar to many immigrants. Leaving Guyana at just 18 years old, he landed in Canada with just $24 in his pocket and a burning ambition to succeed. He believes that Canada offers tremendous opportunities to anyone who decides to call it home, but you must seek out your own path and create your own niche.

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Above and beyond your expectations!”

Since the beginning, Topnotch Employment has embraced diversity including people of color, women and the differently-abled. The company acknowledges that there are many barriers to employment faced by newcomers arriving to Canada. Canadian employers mainly look to hire employees with “Canadian Experience”; because of this, new immigrants are unable to find an adequate job. Topnotch Employment looks to provide Canadian experience to these new immigrants. Topnotch Employment Services Inc., has been a leading provider in the Recruitment industry, servicing clients throughout the GTA. Topnotch specializes in temporary and permanent staff to major corporations in the areas of administration, finance, IT, engineering, warehousing, and logistics, as well as fulfilling special requests. Boasting a 98% retention rate, Topnotch Employment Services is committed to providing their customers with the best possible value for their supply chain. Operating as a one-stop shop for staffing solutions, the firm thrives as a minority business in Canada despite the sometimes challenging business environment. inTOUCH Page 32

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Guyanese Canadian Tourism Council Launched

On June 21, 2017, in a Centennial College Progress Campus classroom, nine members of the GuyaneseCanadian community met with the objective of forming a Canadian Advisory Council that would function to serve Guyana Tourism’s further promotional interests. That initial meeting which had been initiated by Caribbean Graphic Publisher Tony McWatt and subsequent others that were held monthly at various venues, primarily in Scarborough and once at the Guyana Consulate’s North York offices, resulted in the formation of the GuyaneseCanadian Tourism Council. The Council was officially

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launched on Thursday, November 16 at a Reception held at the Toronto Guyana Consul’s new offices at Suite 709, 505 Consumers Road, in North York. Guyana’s Department of Tourism Director-General, Donald Sinclair, through whose initiative the GuyaneseCanadian Tourism Council (GCTC) was established, was appropriately among the persons present to witness its official launching at the November 16 Reception. The formation of the GCTC was one of the main decisions emanating from Sinclair’s hosting of a Diaspora Business and Tourism Forum, held at the JC Banquet Hall,

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vision and seek business opportunities for members of the Council. He also alluded to his long-term vision that when the GCTC gets going in 2018 and beyond, the Council should be in a position to seek some kind of formal incorporation with the national tourism structure, whereby it could seek allocation in the national tourism budget. He pledged his full assistance in this process. As the GCTC first appointed Chairman, well known GuyaneseCanadian Roraima Travel Owner Syed Rayman, also welcomed the Reception’s close to 100 guest attendees. He pointed out that the GCTC’s mission is to further promote Guyana as an attractive tourism destination, while the purpose and objectives are to plan, promote and provide educational programmes and activities; to engage the community in promoting togetherness and respect for each other; to develop community knowledge of Guyana’s eco-tourism and to generate funds for the implementation of the Council’s objectives.

Scarborough, Toronto, Canada, last May, at which time he’d urged participants to accelerate its implementation. In his Forum address, Sinclair had said he was eagerly looking forward to the formation of the body and that those chosen should also be tasked with initiating further discussions on FAM trips to Guyana, another area which those present felt should be pursued. Reflecting on what has taken place since the GCTC was established, Sinclair lauded the efforts of the body, pointing out that its existence could have far-reaching effects on thousands of Guyanese in the Diaspora. According to the Director-General, “it is one of the most significant initiatives to have occurred as far as Diaspora tourism is concerned”. Pointing out that any initiative of this nature will have challenges, Sinclair urged the members to keep the Page

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The nine-member Council was formed in June and on the November 10-14, 2017 weekend; its first Guyana FAM Tour was completed. Fly Jamaica provided airline travel sponsorship for the four member FAM Tour party which included GCTC Council Chair Syed Rayman, its Media Relations & Promotions Director Tony McWatt, seasoned Guyanese-Canadian Travel Professional Sherry HackGill, as well as Nathan Fong, the Vancouver based Head Chef for the Province of British Columbia, who is also a well established tourism oriented radio broadcaster and travel writer. The group’s Guyana accommodation was provided, courtesy of the Ramada Princess Casino and Marriott Hotels, while the Guyana Tourism Authority hosted all of the associated ground transportation and local travel requirements. As McWatt’s brainchild and implementation baby the visit, which included tours to Kaieteur Falls, Fort Island, Saxacalli, Bartica, Baracara Falls and a three hour stay at Guyana’s magnificent Aruwai white water resort,

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was a resounding success. The FAM Tour Members also participated in a debriefing session with Guyanese media reporters, held informal networking discussions with Guyana Tourism Authority officials, representatives of the country’s Tourism Hospitality Association (THAG) and Tour Operators, and engaged in a courtesy call visit to Fly Jamaica’s impressive local headquarters at Ogle Airport, where they were enthusiastically met by Owner CEO Roxanne Reece. Two of the most memorable highlights of the FAM Tour were the outstanding examples of customer service demonstrated by Old Fort Tours Owner Camille Budhoo and the Marriott Hotels’ recently appointed Director of Sales Davie Sukdeo. Mrs. Budhoo had turned up in person to greet the Canadians and other members of the group that had participated in the Essequibo River Tour that was conducted by her company Old Fort Tours. Shortly after the tour had begun the speedboat that was being used had developed engine problems and had to be switched during the first stop at Fort Island for a slightly smaller vessel.

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Mrs. Budhoo’s appearance to greet the disembarking tour guests was her way of apologizing for the minor inconvenience, which unknowns to her none of the passengers had really minded. She also presented each disembarking passenger with a Cadbury chocolate bar. Needless to say all four of the Canadian FAM Tour members were overly impressed by her magnanimous gesture.

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On the final evening of their Marriott hotel stay, the three Toronto based FAM Tour members, Sherry Hack-Gill, Syed Rayman and McWatt himself, were treated to a guided tour of the hotel’s facilities by its recently appointed new Director of Sales, the ever charming, gorgeously attractive Davie Sukdeo. The tour was transformed into an outstanding example of superior customer service by the fact that Ms Sukdeo had generously given of her personal time to return to the hotel to accommodate the three Canadians at close to 9:00 pm, hours after she had completed her official day’s work and had gone home to tend to the needs of her two very young kids! The Canadians, McWatt in particular, were simply blown away by her demonstrated generosity and kindness prompting him to comment to Donald Sinclair in their

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subsequent discussions “Marriott’s in good hands with Davie Sukdeo. I think the hotel will do very well under her Sales management!” In his brief remarks to the Reception’s attendees, McWatt expressed his profound gratitude to all the FAM Tour sponsors, Fly Jamaica, Ramada Princess Casino & Marriott Hotels as well as the Guyana Tourism Authority. Noting that without the sponsors’ generous and enthusiastic support the FAM Tour would never have been possible. McWatt also suggested that its actual implementation within its relatively short planning cycle should serve as a wonderful example of how easily ideas can become implemented realities when the various Guyana Tourism entities work harmoniously in sync with each other towards a common goal.

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FLY JAMAICA

Becoming Guyana’s Favorite Carrier Internationally And Locally! In the three years since its November 2014 inaugural flight to from Toronto to Guyana, Fly Jamaica has indisputably become the most favored carrier for back home flights among Guyanese-Canadians. Its two suitcases baggage allowance, free in-flight meals, attractive friendly air-hostesses and ever improving customer service are just a few of the many features Fly Jamaica offers that has endeared it to Fly Jamaica Airways began with a dream to create a truly regional airline, using local talent and with an emphasis on providing a truly local experience to its customers. A full-service, local airline that would bring the Diaspora, and the world, home to the Caribbean. Fly Jamaica Airways is a partnership between Chief Executive Officer and Guyanese-born Captain Paul Ronald Reece, and Jamaican shareholders, including Chief Operating Officer, Captain Lloyd Tai and Manager of In-Flight Page

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Services, Christine Steele. The Company was incorporated in Kingston, Jamaica on September 7, 2011 and started with a Boeing 757 aircraft. IT faced a rigorous start-up process, including meeting national and international requirements. Through the stewardship of its experienced management and dedication of its amazing employees, Fly Jamaica proved to aviation regulators that it has what it takes to be a world-class airline. On August 24, 2012, Fly Jamaica Airways conducted its demonstration flight from Kingston, Jamaica to Georgetown, Guyana, as part of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority’s (JCAA) approval process. On August 31, 2012 the JCAA issued the required Air Operators Certificate (AOC). Fly Jamaica Airways has also satisfied rigorous require-

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ments for the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Transportation and Security Administration (TSA), in order to operate as a commercial US-registered carrier. Perhaps unknown to many Guyanese-Canadians and indeed many others across the global Diaspora, is that Fly Jamaica’s Guyana based parent company, Wings Aviation Limited also operates a local subsidiary Air Guyana Inc.

and extended the Caribbean charter service to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and North America. In November 1993, Wings Aviation Ltd. became an ICAO approved aircraft-operating agency in the State of Guyana. On January 20, 1999, Wings Aviation Ltd. registered the trade name "Air Guyana". On November 21, 2003 the company received its new AOC (Air Operator Certificate) from the Guyana Government. Air Guyana became incorporated on September 1, 2009, and has since been operating a Cessna 206G and a Cess-

Wings Aviation Ltd. was initially established on February 1, 1984 in response to the demand by the local mining sector for reliable and economical air transport service to the Interior of Guyana. Initially, Wings Aviation Ltd. provided charter services to the mining and indigenous communities in various interior locations utilizing, in the initial stages, a Cessna 185F, a Cessna 182, a Cessna 402B, and a Cessna TU206G. In November 1985, the company acquired a Mitsubishi MU-2 turbo-prop, which complemented its Cessna 402B charter service to the Caribbean and South America, INTOUCH 2018

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na 208 B to the interior of Guyana and adjacent countries. The company’s Chairman, Captain Ronald Reece, a qualified Check Airman, is also a licensed commercial multi-engine land, single-engine land & sea pilot, a commercial rotorcraft helicopter pilot and an Airline Transport Pilot, type rated on B757/767 aircraft. Air Guyana’s senior pilots are also three of the most experienced in Guyana. Among the three senior pilots they have flown over 50,000 hours. The line pilots and administrative staff are also highly trained and qualified. Air Guyana now conducts attractive and affordable tours for visitors to Guyana to areas of interest, both in the interior and on the coastland, including of course scheduled flights to the world famous Kaieteur Falls. Visiting Kaieteur National Park is definitely an experience of a lifetime. You will marvel at magnificent Kaieteur, the largest single drop Falls in the world at 741 feet and enjoy the natural symphony created by the sound of the tumbling water. The aerial approach to Kaieteur provides an ultra enjoyable a frontal view of its grandeur. Have your cameras at the ready throughout this tour, as there is lots to see including a unique variety of flora and fauna, and hopefully a glimpse of the famous Cock of the Rock. Snacks & drinks are included in this guided tour. Air Guyana’s Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls combination package includes a tour of both falls and is all-inclusive with snacks and beverages. Orinduik Falls lies on the Ireng River, which borders Brazil. The oxygenated water tumbles over steps and terraces of jasper providing the perfect therapeutic massage from its cascading water. Bring your swimming gear and sun block. Air Guyana also offers a Kaieteur and Baganara combination tour, which allows participants to, not only to have a breathtaking experience at Kaieteur, but also to relax and lunch at a peaceful island resort. Baganara is the place to put your feet up, and enjoy the ambiance. Takers can travel in comfort and style in Air Guyana’s Grand Caravan aircraft, equipped as it is with the latest in avionics and technical equipment. Page

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Baganara Island The Baganara Island tour provides opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the Essequibo River. With a onehour bus ride along the coast and a jet boat ride on the

great river, there is so much to see. Arrival at Baganara’s resort offers entry into a haven of peaceful relaxation. Baganara, one of the largest of the Essequibo River’s 365 islands, is the place to put your feet up, and enjoy the view. The resort’s extensive menu of activities includes canoeing, fishing, water skiing, kayaking, volleyball, table tennis, pools, riding wave runners, banana and pedal boats, as well as simply sunbathing and swimming. Visitors can also enjoy nature by engaging in a jungle walk. Back on the mainland, Wings Aviation also caters to the needs of river wary landlubbers with its Georgetown Heritage City Tour and Shopping. Participants enjoy the rich history, diverse culture, magnificent architecture, and shopping in Georgetown, Guyana’s capital city. Georgetown’s jewellery stores are famous for their fabulous gold creations. The City of Georgetown received official city status in 1842 during the reign of Queen Victoria. The Heritage City Tour includes the Umana Yana, an example of Indigenous architecture, the African Liberation Monument, St. Georges Cathedral, which was completed in 1899, The Public Buildings the seat of Par-

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liament, the Victoria Law Courts, the National Museum of Guyana, Castellani House which hosts Guyana National Art Gallery, City Hall, the Stabroek Market and the Walther Roth Museum among others. At the Walter Roth Museum visitors can see the pot of bones and hear the story of Kanaima, and also ask to view the 10000 years old bones of the 20-foot sloth. Wings Aviation also offers aerial costal tours form Ogle airport to Guyana’s most famous international musician Eddie Grant’s island home on the Essequibo River and also from Ogle to the Berbice River Bridge. INTOUCH 2018

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EL DORADO Demerara Distillers From 300 Sugar Estates To One Company

The story of Demerara Distillers started in 1670 when every sugar estate had its own rum still, and a group of sugar cane producers formed an exporting co-operative. This early production of rum for sailors was the beginning of the company today.

From Over 300 Sugar Estates To One Company! In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were in excess of 200 small distilleries operating in Guyana, each attached to the existing sugar plantations, each with its own special blend of rum. However, following the years of consolidation and amalgamation, there remains today just the one unrivalled distillery at Plantation Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara - wholly owned and operated by Demerara Distillers Limited. At Diamond, the standards and methods of this age-old industry have been maintained and the unique original heritage stills and equipment have been preserved in working order – all operating in tandem with the most up to date production technology.

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Unrivalled Bulk Rum Capacity The distillery has the capacity to produce in excess of 26 M litres of pure alcohol annually, and is the largest supplier of bulk rums and alcohols from the Caribbean to brand owners in Europe and North America. The company’s impressive list of clientele includes companies such as Diageo, Jim Beam Brands, Hiram Walker, Allied Distillers, and Corby’s. Demerara Distillers is an internationally recognised producer of award-winning rums with a range of over 20 different varieties of premium, standard and speciality products, all with the distinctive Demerara ‘stamp’ of quality and flavour.

Green Credentials DDL also possesses its own CO2 plant, utilising the waste product from the distillery to produce piped liquified gas for their aerated beverage plant, as well as cylinder gas for industrial use and dry ice for the fishing and frozen food industries. Warehousing for over 50,000 barrels

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ensures availability of aged spirits for premium rums. In addition, the company has a gin-flavouring still, liqueur production facilities and raw sugar caramel plants. The corporate head office, marketing division, central quality control laboratory, R&D department, export terminal and shipping office are all located in Georgetown. The story of rum in Guyana started in the 1640’s with the introduction of sugar cane by the early European settlers. But it was not until distilling was introduced into the new territories by the British in the 1650s that the foundation of Demerara Rum production was laid down.

The Columbus Connection When Columbus first sighted Guyana in 1498, a land inhabited by the Arawak and Carib tribes of Amerindians, he had recently introduced sugar cane to the Caribbean from the Canary Isles. 150 years later the Dutch came to Guyana and established the first settlements of Essequibo and Berbice, introducing the cultivation of sugar cane in the 1640’s along the coastal plain and the banks of the great rivers. By 1658 sugar was being produced in Guyana and within three years the first shipments sailed for Holland.

Over 300 Sugar Estates Over 300 Stills! The breakthrough came in the 1650’s when the British planters introduced the pivotal process of distilling. This proved so popular that by 1670, every sugar estate had a INTOUCH 2018

small still attached to it. In the same year, the local sugar cane producers formed an exporting co-operative, and by the 1700s there were well over 300 independent estates involved in producing their own unique rums from the molasses - a byproduct of sugar production. In 1752 the third Guyana settlement, Demerara, was established on the banks of the great Demerara River.

The Choice Of The Royal Navy Rum’s association with the Royal Navy first began in 1677 when the Admirality decided to issue an official daily rum ration for all ratings. When the Port Mourant Estate distillery - one of the oldest in the world - was established in 1732, the extra character and depth of the rum from its Double Wooden Pot Still made it the choice of the Royal Navy.

British Guiana And The Estate Rums By the 1814 the three Guyanese colonies were handed over to the British and merged into British Guiana in 1831. In 1834 slavery was abolished and a plantation labour force was imported from Europe, China and India. Colonial rums, utilising British blending, were becoming more popular and the first Old Vatted Demerara (OVD) was made with Guyanese Port Mourant as the major component. By the second half of the 18th century, sugar estates Page

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were closing and consolidating with only 180 remaining and in 1880 the Wooden Framed Coffey Still was installed at the EnmoreEstate distillery. Each estate produced its own distinctive rum which was given its own mark or Marque identifying its origin. (eg. SWR, ICBU, PM, EHP, LBI, AN) These rums were shipped to England, establishing the worldwide trading name of Demerara Rum. Rum was now established as a polite middle class drink replacing gin. The True Taste Of Demerara More and more of the sugar estates and distilleries merged during the early twentieth century culminating in the amalgamation of all the various stills, equipment and expertise in 1998 by Demerara Distillers Limited at the last remaining Estate, Diamond, on the East Bank of the Demerara River.

The ‘Benchmark’ From the launch of the El Dorado range of Demerara Rums in 1992 on the local and international market, the brand has gone from strength to strength, epitomising the unique quality of the true taste of Demerara. It was in that year that DDL became the first rum producer in the world to market a premium quality aged rum: El Dorado 15 Year Old Special Reserve. Since then this superb spirit has become the internationally recognised benchmark for aged rums and the company has gone on to develop an unrivalled portfolio of Age Statement Rums.

oldest may be many years older.

The Stills Demerara Distillers is the unique position in the world of rum in continuing to operate the original production Stills used on three of the great Sugar Estates of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Wooden Coffey Still The Wooden Continuous Coffey or EHP Wooden Still is the last fully working example of its kind in the world today. It is similar, if not identical, to the very first continuous still constructed and patented by an Irish excise officer, Aeneas Coffey in 1832, after whom the Still was named. This Still is the original and last surviving one from the EnmoreSugar Estate founded nearly 200 years ago by Edward Henry Porter. Since 1880 it has been producing a medium bodied rum with a mild, fruity aroma, and its unique flavour is attributed to the wooden structure of this tall still, described by the rum writer, Dave Broom, as ‘looking like a giant filing cabinet’. While rum from this Still is used in the blending of other El Dorado rums, the El Dorado EHP Marque Single Barrel Rum is a single distillate from this venerable but highly productive Still. The Wooden Pot Stills

The significance of this is that each age statement specifically indicates the youngest rum in the blend, even though the Page

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Demerara Distillers benefits from being able to operate the last two original Wooden Pot Stills (one Single and one Double) in the world. √Over 250 years old, and originally used to produce the Demerara Navy Rums in the past, they are nowadays often referred to by their old names of Demerara Vat Stills. The Double Wooden Pot Still originated from the Port Mourant Estate, founded in 1732, and was later moved first to Uitvlught and then, in 2000, to Diamond. INTOUCH 2018.

In the same way the original Single Wooden Pot Still was moved from its original home at Versailles on the west bank of the Demerara River, via Enmore and Uitvlught to its present home at Diamond. These two unique copper-necked Stills are valued by blenders and other experts as a source of very heavy bodied, very flavourful and deeply aromatic rums – the ancient Green Heartwood of the Still playing a major role in the development of these distinctive characteristics. While rum from this Still is used in the blending of other El Dorado rums, the El Dorado PM Marque Single Barrel Rum is a single distillate from the Double Wooden Pot Still from the old Port Mourant Estate.

The French Savalle Still Demerara Distillers continues to use the original four-column metal French Savalle Still inherited from the 18th century Uitvlught Estate on the west coast of Demerara county. The rum produced from this Still is characterised by a pronounced sweet, sugar cane nose combined with a dry medium-bodied flavour – qualities unmatchable by any other distiller.

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The modern version of this still is versatile enough to produce nine completely different types (marks) of rum ranging from the very light through to heavy bodied rums. While rum from the original French Savalle Still is used in the blending of other El Dorado rums, the El Dorado ICBU Marque Single Barrel Rum is a single distillate from this Still. The distinctive El Dorado flavour, characterised by a deep, mellow sweetness, is a product of three centuries of tradition and expertise and a production process unique to Demerara Distillers - including the use of original old wooden stills, one dating as far back as 1732. The El Dorado range offers the ultimate in rum drinking experience. Nowhere else can you find such a vast choice of high quality rums to suit every palate and every occasion. From superb aged sipping rums for the connoisseur – to versatile yet sophisticated mixing rums for the most exciting cocktails for today’s lifestyle.

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Guyanese-Canadian Owned Green Heart Energy Enters Guyana’s Renewable Energy Market. Guyana President David Granger’s please for his diaspora based country folk to return home to contribute to the country’s further development has been heeded by Guyanese-Canadian owned Green Heart Tree Energy (GHTE) March 3, 2017 entry to Guyana’s renewable energy market. On that date Green Heart Energy commissioned a 10 kilowatt system to power the Paramakatoi Flavours Sun Dried Tomato Processing Plant.

system for the owners of homes and businesses that will reduce their dependence on GPL for power and lessen their electricity costs at the same time,” said Klass. “With this approach we will help to eliminate blackouts as there will be a collective alternative source of electricity resulting in less demand for power from the utility,” he added. Green Heart Tree Energy Inc. is a Guyanese company with international partners that has Guyanese at the forefront including Chief Executive Officer Esmonde “Gamo” Klass.

“The Paramakatoi project is the beginning of GHTE’s commitment to long term investment in the Guyana economy that will see the transfer of knowledge, investment of training and the utilization of local skills in job creation,” GHTE said. For the Paramakatoi project GHTE employed local contractor Christopher Cheong to build the concrete foundation for the PV Solar Panel array. The company also flew in from Georgetown Aubrey Marks, an experienced solar system installer who worked alongside a Canadian based engineer from GHTE’s supplier, Franken Solar Americas to install the system. GHTE said since the system was installed on March 3, 2017 the Pakaraima Flavors Sun Dried Tomato Processing Plant has been running on a reliable source of green energy without a hitch. The system is equipped with a feature that allows the owners to monitor its energy load via the internet 24/7. The company’s more immediate focus however is to provide affordable PV solar energy solutions for the residential and commercial markets in Guyana. “We are looking to introduce to the market a PV solar

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It was formed following President Granger’s call for diaspora Guyanese to return, invest and contribute to the development of the nation during a visit to Toronto in September 2015. They said they have since registered companies in Canada and Guyana. The company’s strategy is to forge relationships with multi-national companies that will result in investment here and jobs for Guyanese. It is also working to ensure

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these relationships result in the transfer of technological expertise, the opening up of more economic opportunities, strengthening of the manufacturing base and new capital inflows.

As part of this plan GHTE has signed joint venture agreements with 5 successful international companies that span industries including renewable energy, large infrastructure development like highways and power generation, and home construction using new technology materials. In the large infrastructure development sector the company plans to get involved in the construction of oil facilities, high span bridges, deep water ports and water treatment plants. “Our strength lies in the international relationships we have established,” said Chief Executive Officer Esmonde ‘Gamo’ Klass. “We have a Polish-Canadian International businessman and a Shanghai based business owner, along with a Canadian engineer who also owns his own engineering firm who are also members of the GHTEE team. We see the opportunities to contribute to Guyana’s development and we are here for the long haul.” GHTE said it has taken the initiative to design, engineer, procure, construct and deliver a non-grid connected solar PV micro-grid system for the Paramakatoi Flavours Sun-Dried Tomato Plant. The company said the system is designed taking into consideration the actual climatic data and historical weather patterns of the area. The company added that. “Our engineers ran multiple Page

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simulations to determine the correct system size based on battery storage capacity, solar PV capacity and the predicted electrical loads requested in the Request For Proposal (RFP) by the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST).” The Paramakatoi Flavours system includes 3 solar PV racks or arrays complete with top grade Hanwha Q-Cell Modules and American made, German Engineered Schletter Racks. Adjacent to the solar PV arrays is a small building, shipped from Canada, designed to house the batteries and electronics. The lead-acid batteries are on a pre-assembled custom built battery skid. Each battery comes complete with a visual monitoring float for each cell within every battery. GHTE has included in the shipment additional battery water to ensure the system is maintained using the correct materials and fluids. The battery inverter, solar PV inverter and a SmartTransformer will be mounted inside the building on a custom build galvanized steel frame. AC Coupled MircoGrid System GHTE says it has engineered a system that is on the leading edge of technology for microgrid systems. This is an AC coupled system unlike a typical DC coupled one. Even though they usually include an inverter, most battery-based PV systems are “DC-coupled” meaning the PV array sends DC electricity to the system through a charge controller to the battery bank. That DC power is then drawn from the batteries for the loads, including through a battery-based inverter for AC loads. The company said AC coupled PV systems are gaining wider support through several battery-based inverter

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manufacturers. In AC coupled systems, the DC power from the array is first converted to AC by a batteryless inverter, to be used by the AC loads through an AC load panel. Any unused energy is consumed by a separate battery-based inverter that either converts the AC to DC to charge the batteries, or, if it is a gridtied system, it can also pass through to additional AC

loads and/or the grid. GHTE added that it pre-assembled the entire battery system on a custom built skid and electronic components on a custom steel frame to test and confirm operation prior to shipping. Testing in Canada ensures that when the system arrives in Guyana the ‘bugs’ have been worked out and reduces the installation time on site. “Once the system installation is complete our engineer completes a final quality control check to ensure that all check points of the system construction have been completed to our high quality standards. GHTE has provided technical manuals for all components used along with a technical users guide that outlines necessary maintenance check-points, schedules and defined user necessary operating details.” GHTE said it is providing a top quality system with tier 1 components. The system was engineered and built in Canada and is being introduced for the first time to the Guyana market. INTOUCH 2018

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Tourism Policy; A Framework for Guyana’s tourism development Background

Vision

The need for an overarching framework to guide tourism development in Guyana has been voiced and demanded for over two decades in numerous tourism quarters. That call has been inspired by the recognition that tourism development needs to occur in a structured and orderly manner, driven by a clear vision and integrated within the overall plan for national development. In 2015 then Minister of Tourism Mrs. Cathy Hughes requested the Director General of Tourism to elaborate a National Tourism Policy that would be a synopsis and compilation of the numerous recommendations and policy positions proposed over the years as the fruits of consultancies, consultations, studies, workshops and other information gathering mechanisms. The task then fell to the successor Minister of Business Mr. Dominic Gaskin to take this initiative to its conclusion, and subject the Draft to wide consultation. At the point of writing this Draft National Tourism Policy has been submitted to a special Subcommittee of Cabinet for review.

To be recognized internationally, by the year 2020, as a leading destination for sustainable, mainly nature-based, tourism experiences.

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Mission To raise the profile of Guyana as a tourism destination that emphasizes the development of a sustainable, and essentially, though not exclusively, nature-based product that exceeds visitor expectation while making a substantial contribution to the national economy and to the enhancement of the quality of life of all Guyanese. Guyana – South America un-Discovered National Geographic Traveller listed Guyana as one of the must see destinations in its Best Trips 2014 report. In 2016 Business Insider UK named Guyana as one of the 12 emerging travel destinations to be visited in 2016. These accolades are not to be regarded lightly or dismissed as trivial.

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They represent the recognition by the global market of what the tourism directorate has long known and has been struggling to make public for many years. Now comes the task of growing and sustaining the image of destination Guyana in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Now comes the task of internal strategizing, product development, industry awareness, training and planning in order to strengthen the image of Guyana as a destination to be taken seriously by tourists and one eminently worthy of development as part of the national economy.

3. Enhancement of the quality of service The provision of quality service to both foreign and domestic visitors is an important priority for the tourism industry. This means that the service culture in Guyana needs to be enhanced to provide this level of service excellence that exceeds visitor expectation. To pursue this goal, strategies will be developed to improve the delivery of relevant and effective Tourism and Hospitality Education and Training as well as Customer Service training for a broad spectrum of front line operatives. 4. Meaningful and beneficial involvement of rural and hinterland communities in tourism enterprises Tourism in Guyana must not only add wealth to the investors but it must also be a means of strengthening local economies and enhancing capacity among rural and hinterland communities as a tool integral to their development. Rural and hinterland dwellers should therefore expect to be meaningfully involved at all levels of the tourism operation.

Strategic objectives. Apart from the intention of the Tourism Directorate to attract half a million visitors to Guyana by 2025, the Policy is driven by the need to realise a number of strategic objectives. These are: 1. Development of market ready tourism products and attractions Tourism products that have an appeal to the global tourism market will be the foundation of its tourism strategy and the biggest call upon financial, human and technical resources. 2. Increases in visitor arrivals and spending More visitors arriving in Guyana to spend more money on accommodation, transportation, food, services, shopping and other activities will boost returns from tourism and raise the profile of tourism in the national economy. Page

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5. Protection of national and cultural patrimony Tourism will be pursued as a development tool that is strategically integrated into the other sectors of the economy. Tourism activity is therefore expected to bolster and sustain the collective national heritage in its varied manifestations – biodiversity, culture, industry and creative expression. 6. Enhancement of the destination image in the global market Much of the success of Guyana’s engagement with tourism will depend upon the country’s ability to enhance its visibility in the global tourism marketplace, sustaining market interest in the ‘undiscovered’ South America destination. This effort entails reaching markets that were not previously on Guyana’s radar (millennials, for example) and consolidating efforts among our traditional markets. 7. Generation of increased employment in the tourism sector

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The capacity of tourism to boost employment and enhance economic opportunity generally needs to be increased so that tourism could play a larger role in sustaining livelihoods nationally. 8. Growth in the tourism contribution to the national coffers The size of the tourism contribution to the national coffers will be significantly enhanced through the larger role envisaged for tourism in the economy both as an earner of revenue and a generator of employment.

structures, as well as the surviving or restored evidence of the country’s industrial heritage.

Product Innovation. The competitiveness of the Guyana tourism product will be strengthened by the country’s ability to innovate;

These objectives represent the macro thrust of the tourism industry in Guyana and the foundation for the strategy measures and recommendations contained in the National Tourism Policy. The core tourism product For the foreseeable future Guyana will be marketing and promoting itself as essentially a nature and adventure destination that offers unique cultural expressions. A number of areas of Guyana are highlighted as tourism hotspots in this regard. Some of these hotspots will be promoted either as places for extended stays or as parts of internal nature/adventure/ community tourism circuits. Specialty niches. Guyana recognizes that it has some comparative advantage in a number of niche areas. This strength derives in large measure from the ‘Amazonian’ character of the Guyana territory, offering rich opportunity for tourism based upon the country’s store of biodiversity as well as other heritage and cultural resources. Prominent among these would be birding tourism, sports fishing, small yachts and cruises. In addition significant attention will be paid to community-based tourism especially as that form of tourism embraces the development of attractions based upon agriculture (agri-tourism, for example) and other sustainable community enterprises in the hinterland. Sports (including multi-sport) tourism is another niche area that offers opportunity for growth in such activities as cricket, motor-racing and other spectator sports. Closely related is the development for tourism purposes of the heritage resources of Guyana – attracting visitors to view old buildings, forts and other historical INTOUCH 2018

essentially to renew itself and offer attractions and experiences that are off the beaten track and prove refreshing and imaginative to the tourist market. Already some of those innovations show promise and will be further developed as part of an overall strategic plan for tourism development in Guyana. Innovations of interest are international student travel. A conservative estimate predicts that the youth, student and educational travel market will reach 300 million arrivals by 2020 and represent US$320 billion in market value. At the moment student travel globally Page

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accounts for over 20% of all international travel. Agribased festivals are another emerging product innovation with a major coconut festival executed in 2016. Guyana will also be tapping the potential of its fashion, style and entertainment assets so as to make these drivers of tourist arrivals in their own right, even as they add value to local entertainment culture. The Rupununi and Guyana festivals, as well as the new May 2018 Guyana Carnival event, are examples of innovations that will be encouraged and supported. Festivals attract overseas visitors, stimulate local economies and support the creation of jobs. Services. Growth in the tourism sector has been constrained by limited airlift. Priority attaches to the deepening of engagements with international airlines with a view to attracting more flights from a wider variety of source markets, especially from cities in North America, Europe and South America.

Guyana. Some estimates place this figure as high as 75% (Critchlow-Earle, 2014). These visitors travel mainly from North America (New York, Atlanta, Florida and Toronto), but also from many Caribbean countries of origin. With a growing diaspora (factoring the off-spring of emigres) this market is of importance to Guyana and increased efforts will be made to structure the marketing to this special group. Domestic market The marketing strategy also entails more concerted efforts to grow the size of the domestic tourism market, essentially through more focused awareness campaigns and the institution of more flexible pricing strategies especially as

Reaching the market A weak image in the international tourism market has been recognized as one of the limitations constraining the volume of visitor arrivals into Guyana. The Policy defines the traditional markets for Guyana’s tourism product, assesses the strengths of each and proposes alternative markets as well as alternative market niches that Guyana will be exploiting in both the short and long terms. Niches in birding, sports fishing, yachts and cruises will be further developed as well as new destinations on the South American continent forming part of a northern Amazonia region. In addition, current marketing techniques are examined and new strategies outlined, especially including increased use of social media, multi-destination packaging through arrangements with Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Barbados and other destinations. ‘Celebrity’ marketing is another tool whereby internationally famous Guyanese and non-Guyanese personalities lend the weight of their name to the Guyana tourism product as a means of raising the visibility of the Guyana product.

those apply in non-peak seasons. Conclusion The local and global contexts provide Guyana with both prospects and challenges for the development of tourism in the destination. While challenges of airlift, infrastructure and security engage the attention of tourism planners, the status of Guyana as an oil-producing nation presents prospects and economic opportunities that are likely to have favourable impacts upon tourism development. More importantly, the opportunity offered for Regional and community participation in the creation of new tourism hotspots is one of the important outcomes expected from the implementation of National Tourism Policy.

The Diaspora. Overseas-based visitors of Guyanese origin constitute a significant proportion of the overall volume of arrivals into Page

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Donald Sinclair Director General Department of Tourism Ministry of Business

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Guyanese-born Sherry Hack-Gill is an overly experienced Travel Professional. Her outstanding reputation and well deserved respect within Travel industry circles has been based on her adherence to the highest standards of customer service. She is also very well known for her delivery of competent and reliable service and as well for her appreciation of and ever enthusiastic responsiveness to the respective, individual and collective, needs of her diverse customer base. An acknowledged industry expert in all aspects of travel, the Sherry Hack-Gill led Travel Agent Next Door has also become renowned for its demonstrated expertise in the development and operation of group tour packages, cruises and destination weddings. Available after hours.

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Guyanese-Canadian Bussines DIrectory Listings

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Guyanese-Canadian Bussines DIrectory Listings

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Guyanese-Canadian Community Organizations

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