Guyanese receive $1M grants to boost creative arts industry

SOME 30 Guyanese each received approximately $1 million through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports’ Cultural and Creative Industry’s Grant programme to further boost the creative arts industry.

Subject Minister, you will find people being represented from across Guyana.

“Which shows that it is just not diversity in appearance and diversity in the projects but also diversity in the location, all which combines into the creation of this invisible fabric called

President Ali resolves age-old land lease issue for over 30 Tuschen residents

In addition to the financial grant, the ministry has also created a cohort of cultural and creative industry ambassadors. Every new grantee must commit to becoming a cultural and creative industry’s grant and Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports ambassador.

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali’s intervention on Thursday has brought relief to over 30 residents of Tuschen, Region Three, who have been struggling to get transports for lands they have been leasing for the past 30 years.

The President met with some of the residents at the Office of the President (OP) Direct initiative at the Leonora Track and Field facility, West Coast Demerara.

He assured the residents that the issue will be addressed by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) within a month.

One of the residents, Gnarine Ramnaught, shared his story with the Department of Public Information, stating that he had been living in Block 20 Tuschen for over three decades.

Charles Ramson Jr, said the programme was designed to reach every region.

This policy of inclusivity and diversity is an essential aspect of the initiative, reflecting the government’s commitment to knit the country together and it’s recognition of the importance of culture.

“A condition of our cultural and creative industry’s grant was that every single region at least one grant was earmarked for that region. Even though we didn’t have as many in aggregate from that region you will find people here from Region Nine, Region Seven, Region Eight, Region Six, all over, our culture uniting our people called Guyanese,” he emphasised at the prize giving ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre on Wednesday.

The annual budget for the project is $30 million. This represents the largest investment of its kind in the Caribbean, both in terms of the amount of money given and the size of the individual grant, which is roughly US$5,000.

The ministry received over 200 applications for the grant, indicating a high level of interest in developing the creative arts sector in Guyana.

This initiative will help to promote the country’s creative arts sector both locally and internationally.

Minister Ramson noted that the investment is a significant step towards recognising the cultural and artistic talent of Guyanese. As it will enable artists to create, develop and showcase their work, which will ultimately contribute to the country’s economic growth, by generating significant revenue. Meanwhile, the ministry also distributed the prizes to the Mashramani competition winners in the various categories. (DPI)

Despite being granted a lease through the GLSC, the lease had expired, and he was unsuccessful in his attempts to have it renewed.

The lots leased by the residents are solely residential and are situated along the Tuschen public road. This area is part of the old Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Scheme.

According to Ramnaught, he was paying $325 per year for 25 years as part of the lease agreement Ramnaught and the other residents are appreciative of President’s Ali’s intervention in the matter.

“The land is government land and the government made a decision to give transport. The president said within a month,” he said.

The outreach provided res- idents with a direct opportunity to interact with the president on issues affecting them and their communities. Among the issues raised were housing and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) concerns, as well as community infrastructure.

The activity was first launched in New Amsterdam, Region Six, where hundreds of residents had their concerns addressed. (DPI)