Dear Editor,
I rebut P. Rampersaud’s argument that “Guyanese returning to Guyana for a visit are usually at a loss for night entertainment.” The countries where Guyanese mostly return from are in North America where casino gambling and night life are phenomenally more exotic than in Guyana.
As a Guyanese living abroad, my friends and relatives who come back to Guyana look forward to the fresh food and relaxation with family and friends rather than to be engaging in active night life. New York City, where most returning Guyanese come from, has one of the most dynamic and exotic night lives. It is not what most tourists look forward to. What tourists look forward to in any country is the history, museums, and local cultural and distinctive forms of art, music and destinations. A casino is not distinctive or unique to Guyana, it is found in most countries. It would just be another place to visit but not the attraction of an exotic night life. For most Guyanese living in Guyana it would definitely be a fad – the place to be.
If I were returning to Guyana, and should I bring friends, the attraction would be our unique eco-tourism, national places/buildings of historical value, the local art, music and culture.
Yours faithfully,
Steve Hemraj