Interviews by Sara Bharrat and photos by Jules Gibson
This week we asked the man/woman on the street about their dream place to travel.
Paul Ramlochan, private sector employee: ‘I would like to travel to Canada, that’s my dream place, because most of my relatives are there. I miss them and I’d like to see the place they call home. While I want to go there I only want to be there on vacation and not to live. I love Guyana and my dedication is to this country. I know I’ll get there but I’m not ready just yet. Maybe later in the year I’ll go. I definitely want to see a bit of Canada’s landscape because I hear it can be beautiful especially during certain seasons.’
Dhanraj Ramroop, public sector employee: ‘It’s not a dream of mine to travel anywhere but there was one time quite recently when I really wanted to go to another country. My mother died in the United States last November and I wanted to be there like any son should for her funeral. However, I was denied doing this duty of mine because I was turned down by the US Embassy when I applied for a visa. I had the assets, the finance, everything they required but I still didn’t qualify. All I wanted was 7 days or even less if they were willing to give so that I could be at her funeral. I believe that once you’re a human being you should be allowed to be in any part of this world you want.’
George London, private sector employee: ‘I don’t dream of going anywhere because of the state of our country. Financially things are getting increasingly hard and I don’t know where I’d find the money to travel. I mean no one would want to leave their family here to face financial difficulties while they leave to go see some part of the world. However, if I were to be honest if there were one place I could travel to that would be the United States because I have relatives there. Besides it’s an English speaking country and I would be able to communicate better.’
Martin Braam, private sector employee: ‘I don’t particularly want to go anywhere because I like my country just fine. I mean look at how many Guyanese are getting deported these days from various countries. They are going out there and giving all of us a bad name on the international arena. But I suppose if I could travel to some place it would have to be the United States and that too only because I have relatives there. While people are excited by places like India and China I don’t want to go there because both those countries are over populated. I would like to visit the Kaieteur Falls. When you think about it Guyana has everything. We have Chinese and Indian food, many cultures, we have the perfect blend.’
Cedel Softley, private sector employee: ‘Jamaica now that is definitely the dream place for me. I’ve heard that it’s a very relaxing place with some of the best and most beautiful beaches. The whole Jamaican atmosphere attracts me. I want to experience the real Jamaican music and try the food. I can’t wait to have some real Jamaican jerked chicken. I have friends and relatives who have been there and they’ve said that the place is busy but wonderful to experience. I’ll get there soon because I’ve already started to save for the trip. While I really want to there it’s only a few weeks of time off for me because I’m coming back to Guyana my first love.’
Delon Brandt, private sector employee: ‘I haven’t really travelled a lot in Guyana I don’t really know where I want to go. Travelling has never really been something on my mind but whenever it pops up I think of going to New York because I’m fascinated by what I’ve seen on television of the place and the things people have told me. I’m not sure if I’ll there though.’
Lisa Gray, student: ‘My dream place to travel is right in Guyana. That’s the Kaieteur Falls because the pictures and video clips I’ve seen of it are so beautiful. I don’t know my own country well and I’d like to see here first before I begin thinking about visiting anywhere overseas. I guess prices and lack of knowledge about how to make travel arrangements cause a lot of people to not travel. Not sure when I’ll get to go to my dream place. I’m not even aware of how to arrange such a trip so I will have to do some research.’
Fiona Lall, student: ‘I’m not sure what my dream place would be to travel because there are so many beautiful and exotic places to choose from. But when I think of travelling I immediately think Barbados, London and Hawaii. Hawaii would perhaps be the choice because of their pretty scenery, blue water and peaceful beaches. The food would definitely be something to try as well. When I think Hawaii I think exotic but I don’t know if I’ll ever get there.’
Marian Dodson, self-employed: ‘Holland is my dream place to travel. I have family there and the pictures they’ve sent me have me dreaming of visiting the place. Besides going there would be a whole new experience for me. I’d get to experience a new culture, new weather and just see something different. Sadly we don’t always get the things we want so I am not sure if I will ever see Holland.’
Malika Hinds, student: ‘The land of opportunities America is my dream place to travel. However, I don’t just want to travel there I want to live there because it provides a faster way to make it in life. But while we are still in Guyana we must fight to get a proper education and make the best of what is available for us here. It might not be much but it still is something. America is my dream because Guyana is too slow and makes you feel like you’re stifled.’
This is for fiona lall don’t let your dream place be barbados because the experiance @ the barbados airport immigration will give you a bad start.
Normally I deal with issues. But Why not the USA that has withheld visas form many who otherwise qualified. There are thousands of Guyanese who come to Barbados, without any bother and return time after time. Stop spreading dissension between the Barbados and Guyanese people.
Presumably you are still in Barbados with no intention of returning to Guyana. Something must be good for you here.
DON’T DREAM FOR CANADA IN WINTER EXCEPT IF YOU WANT A SUPER CHILL OUT
And this one is for Lisa Gray, thanking her for the intelligent answer she gave. Its great to see that despite the general desire of everyone to go anywhere but Guyana, you still have the desire to travel your country. Perhaps, others should consider the same thing. In my travels to Guyana’s interior, I can’t recall a more beautiful place than the dear land of Guyana. Indeed as I look at documentaries of Guyana, I wonder why there isn’t more emphasis on folks getting to visit the beauty that’s in Guyana. Lisa, keep researching and start planning.
Addy
i agree, i believe too that this was the most inteligent responce that this student gave, i for one was born and bred in guyana but never visited the majestic kaieteur falls,and am sure many in the diaspora hav’nt also.
Fiona, don’t be discouraged. Not every one has a bad experience. If you genuinely want to vacation there, go ahead!
Ms Softly,Jamaica will truly be a delight,it’s like home away from home.
Lisa Gray, How old are u? You are very intelligent! Very wise beyond your years!Guyana is very beautiful! Stay in school!
GUYANA IS GOOD
best answer.
fiona say she would like to visit london well my daughter it is not what u think the best time is summer coz winter is very cold to when rain falls in guyana i am not discouraging u coz i feels it i am telling u like a daughter.
Cedel Softley, please if you don’t know letme tell you. Jamaica nice but Jamaica tight the place hard. If you leaving to go spend sometime it would be good to go to MoBay, not Kingston. This part of Jamtown is tuff especialy Kingston 11 (Maxfield Ave), and 12 . One can boil over into another.
It would be better for you to visit Mighty Kaiteur if you do want to relax.
I like Lisa’s answer, but like all the other little islands, where tourism is a main highlight, I still think Guyana is way behind in opening doors for visitors to come see the beautiful land, in terms of making it inexpensive and affordable enough for not only tourists, but for the people like Lisa who wants to know and see more of the country. I am guyanese living in the States and have been fortunate enough to see more than 49 places and I tell you, visiting Barbados was an experience, the people see that you are a Guyanese, regardless of my American Passport and immediately get an attitude. Their hatred towards us is appaling, but we the Guyanese allow it by obiviously wanting to be there as if it’s the land of paradise, and it’s not… when I began to look around Barbados, some of the areas is worse than Guyana and to see all the people wearing the Guyana gold was shocking, they treat us like dirt and they own land in Guyana, they buy our food because it’s cheaper in Guyana, they buy our lumber to build their homes, and they are always in Guyana,check out Palace De Leon, it is always packed with Bajans, but when we visit it’s a problem, so figure that one out. it is not a bad thing to travel if you can afford it, because travelling is an education in itself, and rememberno one can take your memories from you. I do come back to Guyana often also.
I must say this, I have traveled the length and breathe of the Caribbean. Most of my traveling around the Caribbean was with the Caribbean Medical Mission and I don’t think I want to see anymore of the Caribbean. Guyana is a very beautiful place. I must tell you that.
Guyana is a beautiful place, and I am not spending my money anywhere else, anymore. All my country need to do is bring Guyanese together and they would see the joy of Guyanese living together. Guyanese should stop looking to Government for help. We are very creative and can do much better to bring attraction to our self and our country.
Guyana’s beauty is the old talk back home sister, meeting friends, horse back riding, visiting the savanha, and your old school and making donation, and spending time with the little ones in school. They make you weep as you leave. I have a culture project in my village and its off and running at home.