Flag in every hand, on every home for CWC
- President calls for awakening of national pride
By Neil Marks
Guyana Chronicle
March 22, 2007
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said more than just cricket, for which the government has had to spend some US$5M-10M for additional works beside the US$25M stadium, Cricket World Cup (CWC) should be the spark that brings all Guyanese together.
Addressing the 1,350 volunteers recruited to work March 28-April 9 when Guyana hosts six matches in the Super Eight category of the tournament, President Jagdeo said he would love to see every Guyanese with a flag in their hand or posted on their home to awaken the national pride.
Speaking at the National Cultural Centre, Mr. Jagdeo thanked the volunteers for coming out and to help the world see the “the face of Guyana” and said far more than making cricket a success, they would be participating in a “culture change” -- that of spurring national pride.
The President said hosting CWC represents a “Herculean effort” but one that will help break down negative vibes about Guyana, and help to boost tourism.
Mr. Jagdeo said Guyana’s hosting has spurred many development projects, moreso hotels, pointing out that the government worked “every day” with the private developer Buddy’s to build the international hotel at Providence which will host Teams, Officials, Media and Sponsors for the CWC matches here.
He said this hotel, among the others, and the extensive training provided to hospitality workers and the volunteers will boost tourism in Guyana.
Mr. Jagdeo said Guyana’s image overseas is anchored in the Jonestown mass suicide of 1978 and it is often mixed up with the West African nation, Ghana.
He said CWC affords the “wonderful opportunity” to change the outside world’s impression of Guyana, “that we exist”.
“If people don’t know you exist, they treat you as such,” the President said, noting this has caused some Guyanese to be hassled when travelling.
He said despite the problems, Guyanese are “a happy people…a close knit country”.
“This is a national effort. It is Guyana on show.”
He said the volunteers play a critical role since they would be among the first to whom visitors would interact.
Minster of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony said the volunteers would be working in a variety of fields including being attendants, queue busters, ushers, and media and accreditation assistants.
Some 350 of the volunteers are directly associated with CWC, while the others are national volunteers who would be working to assist visitors in various ways, especially in providing information.