Destination Guyana

Investing in Destination Guyana

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:19:00 +0000

Guyana has got to be among the most frustrating place to do business. If you are a potential investor I caution you. If you are a young person going off on your own....again I caution you. I can now see why so many people are leaving Destination Guyana for Destination anywhere else...

The non-formal things you will need when considering investment in Guyana:

Friends in high places that can give you a break or help you cut through the red tape
Friends in low places that can give you a break or help you cut through the red tape
Already having a business that is well known also helps (like a huge pool hall or the like)
Having one of your parents as a minister also helps
Drinking with a minister on Fridays or weekends or anyone else u can suck up to or kiss A** ....Join the grow more campaign
Having a well known last name like correia for example
Being of a certain color may be relavant unless you have alot of money or go to Jamaica to make music videos
I see also spamming people has become popular "Dutch Bottle Cafe happy hour friday"
and finally you MUST ensure you have a grand launch of your service, product or place inviting the creme de la creme of society. Make sure you have prawns, pleny coverage in the Guyana times and people with shirt Jacks on.

Giving you some cold hard facts, not my opinion, as to how hard it is to do business in Guyana I will highlight some data from the DoingBusiness Guide of 2008.

Regulations affecting 10 stages of a business’s life are measured: starting a business, dealing with Licenses, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and closing a business.

Guyana's Ranking

Guyana is ranked 104 out of 178 economies.

Ease of doing business: global rank is 104
Starting a business:84
Dealing with Licences: 69
Employing workers:71
Registering property: 53
Getting Credit: 158
Protecting investors: 64
Paying taxes: 100
trading across borders: 101
enforcing contracts: 73
Closing a business: 123

We have had NO reforms in doing business in 2008....none...positive or negative.

Look below for the amount of time alone you can take when just starting a business:Note this is the MINIMUM amount of time:

Starting a business:

procedures: 8
Duration (days): 44
Dealing with licences:12 procedures
Dealing with Licences: 222 DAYS?!

According to the World bank:
"Cumbersome entry procedures are associated with more corruption, particularly in developing countries. Each procedure is a point of contact—an opportunity to extract a bribe..." I rest my case....so be prepared....walk with extra money.

Ok, now onto One extra word of caution: If you are smart, qualified and experienced in the field you wish to open a business in... but have no money, no contacts and plenty of ideas ;don't even think about it...Don't go to IPED, don't go to goInvest....just go....preferably out of Destination Guyana

Carifesta

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:46:00 +0000

I really did not want to write about Carifesta since everyone else is....however as I was involved in tourism for a number of years I am always thinking of not only the preparation that goes into hosting an event but I always think of what after? It's funny....thinking about the what afters actually, in my opinion, helps with current event planning. For example, if one of the things you think of when planning the event is "country dressing and clean up", you should question in your mind "what will the visitor leaving these shores say about regent street?" or sophia? or the road leading to Umana Yana? These questions allow you to view the places in question with a critical eye, even more citical than a tourist.

One of the things I hope the event planning bodies in question will be doing is collecting as much ctitical visitor data as they can. It is about time the public is privy to visitor data. Perhaps this will get them started on thinking of tourism in a more serious manner. If they know things like:
1) Visitors loved our pepperpot over our curry goat
2) Tickets were sold out for each and every local cultural show, indicating people love our culture. Can we package this and market it?
3) People loved Orinduk falls over Kaieture survey shows....
4) Our wood craft was a huge hit with Visitors buying 79% of all displayed at X show. They most popular item being XYZ.

It's about time we all recognise the importance of specific data that can help us on a business decision and planning level.

Anyway Carifesta is in two (count 2) months. We don't look ready, but I am confident that the event will flow and everyone will enjoy themselves. I don't think persons really realise what a big deal is, and only will on opening day. In fairness, the tourist board, Min. of culture and THAG etc can't do everything alone. Everyone has to be involved. Everyone. Our manners are a reflection of us. We have to pull out all the "old time" values and show these visitors a good time. Pretent they are visiting your home. How would you treat them? What the planning committee should do is air PSA's reminding people of this. I know Guyana has problems (Which country doesn't?) but ....at the end of the day this event is upon us and we should all do all we can to make it successful.

I love to show off my country, in spite of all the negativity. I can be my country's harshest critic, but I love to show it off. I hope visitors can enjoy all we have to share. Welcome!

New tourism?? New Slogan...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 21:30:00 +0000

Guyana's new official website done by the Guyana tourism Authority is www.guyana-tourism.com. It's branded as "Guyana, the Amazon Adventue". In the past everything was branded Guyana, Naturally. I personally like the Amazon Adventure slogan, however it's a slogan that comes with responsibilities. I hope when deciding on it officials thought about the image it would conjure up for a potential visitor and if Guyana can deliver on the promise both Amazon and Adventure brings to mind.....

Amazon Adventure...

well Guyana is certainly a country filled with Adventure.

According to answers.com amazon is described as:

1)Greek Mythology. A member of a nation of women warriors reputed to have lived in Scythia.
2)often amazon A tall, aggressive, strong-willed woman.
3)A small green parrot of the genus Amazona, having a short tail and red-and-blue wings, native to Central and South America.

And When you google Amazon .....of course Amazon.com comes up....not only number one...but number two and three as well....hope we can top that...

However when you google Amazon Adventure....the website amazonadventure comes up fortunately Guyana is listed as one of the destinations along with many many others....unfortunately guyana does not own that URL with our slogan going in that direction an all....oh well....that says alot for prior research done. Anyway when all is said and done I do think Guyana has the ability to offer a good amazon adventure if researched, packaged and managed well.

So...pack your bags...come to destination Amazon.....Guyana

Guyana: Tell me more

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:12:00 +0000

Guyana (properly pronounced [ɡaɪˈa.na]; more frequently Anglicised as [gaɪ'æ.nə] or [giˈɑ.nə]), is officially named the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and is the only nationstate of the commonwealth of Nations on the mainland of South America. Guyana lies north of the Equator, in the Tropics, and is located on the Atlantic Ocean.Guyana is the only English speaking country in South America.

What makes Guyana special is our ability to offer a diverse range of activities for a visitor to partake in. Whether you wish to relax on a beach at one of our beautiful resorts or be a part of a wild adventure on a safari. Guyana has something for everyone.

Guyana: Top 10 places to see

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:55:00 +0000

1 Kaieteur Falls It is a waterfall on the Potaro River . Kaieteur Falls at over 700 feet is five times taller than Niagara . Kaieteur National Park is situated on the Guiana Shield, a plateau that is one of the world's oldest and remotest geological formations. Kaieteur is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. It is one of the few places in the world where endangered species are easily observed. www.kaieteur.gov.gy

2. Orinduik Falls Orinduik falls is another one of Guyana 's 300 waterfalls. The Falls lie on the Ireng River a highland river that thunders over steps and terraces of jasper on the border with Brazil before merging with the Takutu River and into Brazil to join the Amazon River . It lies amid the rolling, grass-covered hills of the Pakaraima Mountains .These falls are ideal for swimming.

3. Iwokrama Rainforest reserve and Canopy Walkway The Iwokrama Forest is nearly one million acres (371,000 hectares) of central Guyana in northeastern South America . It is located in the heart of the Guiana Shield. At 1000 metres (3,281 ft.) high, the Iwokrama Mountains form the geographic focal point of the Forest ; they once provided a "place of refuge" for the Makushi people. The Forest has a Field Station, a canopy walkway, several satellite camps and a nascent trail system. The Field Station is equipped with visitor cabins, dining facilities and transport vehicles. Opened in November 2003, the 154 metre (505 ft.) state-of-the-art Canopy Walkway envelopes you in the jungle's mid-level canopy from heights of up to 30 metres (98 ft.). If you visit at dusk or dawn, you'll have the best chance to see birds like the Green Aracari, Scarlet Macaw, Guiana Toucanette or Channel-bill Toucan. Red Howler Monkeys may also be observed www.iwokrama.org)

4. Shell Beach Shell Beach extends for about 90 miles along Guyana 's northwestern shore, in the area between the Pomeroon and Waini Rivers . True to its name, this remarkable strand consists of uncounted numbers of tiny shells, a composition that makes it an ideal nesting site for sea turtles. Four of the world's eight sea turtle species come here each year between March and July, struggling ashore at night to dig nests among the shells, lay as many as ten dozen eggs, and returns again to the water. ww w.gmtcs.org.gy

5. Essequibo River Guyana 's main waterway, it runs from the Atlantic to the Amazon dividing Guyana in half. The Essequibo offers wildlife watching trips through some of the most pristine parts of the Amazon. Numerous wonderful lodges and resorts can be found along the river where the service is second to none and activities for the entire family are plentiful. Take a dawn boat ride on one of the river's many small tributaries when you visit.

6 . Rupununi Savannahs The Rupununi Savannahs is situated in the south of Guyana , 300 miles inland from Georgetown its capital and extends into Brazil . Stunning and unique, the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana is considered the largest open range of savannah lands in the world. The savannah is divided into the North and South Rupununi by the Kanuku Mountains ; This vast open savannah is scattered with mountains, fresh water river systems, Amerindian reservations/villages and fields of majestic anthills, which can be over 6ft tall. Standing like a solitary mountain in the mists of the South Savannahs is the famous SHEA ROCK. On this scenic frontier you will find rustic cattle ranches with all the trappings of open plains, from horse back riding, working the range and exploring the wild life to humble, but comfortable home styled guest houses that offer a once in a life time opportunity to experience firsthand a rugged and vanishing lifestyle.

7. The Kanuku Mountains in Southwestern Guyana rise out of the grasslands to form a stunning backdrop to the Rupununi savannah. With wind-sculpted crowns rising to just below cloud level, the range is notable for its exceptionally diverse bird and mammal species--approximately 80% of the known species of mammals in Guyana are found here. The Kanukus are bisected by the Rupununi River , one of the primary tributaries of the Essequibo .

8. Demerara Harbor Bridge Opened on July 2, 1978, the Demerara Habor Bridge at 1 1/4 miles is the longest floating bridge in the world. This 2 lane bridge spans the Demerara River from Peter's Hall on the east bank to Schoonord on the west bank. It is made of steel, and pontoons are used as floatation devices. The middle sections of the bridge retract to allow large vessels to pass.

9. Georgetown The vibrant character and graceful beauty of Georgetown reflects much of the city's exceptional cultural history and diversity. Designed by the Dutch (and first known as Stabroek), Guyana's capital has wide, tree-lined avenues, lily-covered canals, and many fine examples of 18th and 19th century colonial buildings. Georgetown 's tropical botanical gardens and zoological park, as one might expect in a country of such incredible natural beauty, are considered to be among the very best in the world. Throughout the city are colourful markets, historical monuments and wonderful museums packed with items of yesteryear. Because Georgetown lies below sea level at high tide, it is protected by an amazing masonry wall, referred to as the “seawall” which is alive with activity in the evenings. While in Georgetown check out the beautiful St. Georges Cathedral and the Umana Yana, a 55-foot high cone-shaped benab constructed by Amerindians of the Wai Wai tribe.

10. Mount Roraima is the highest point in Guyana , the plateau standing at 2700 m with the peak at 2810 m in Venezuela . Roraima is the tripartite border of Guyana , Venezuela and Brazil , and at the moment can only be approached from the Venezuelan side. Roraima has developed unique flora which huddles for shelter in pockets on the exposed, windswept plateau. Amazing rock formations have been carved by wind and water, and the ground is uneven and rocky with frequent crystal clear pools of excruciatingly cold water (good for the circulation apparently!) There are crystal beds that contain large, individual crystals in interesting shapes.