Georgetown : Members of the Chance and Rimple Families held their reunion at the Park Vue Hotel on the East Bank of Demerara earlier this week with some 65 family members.
Kenton Chance, who organised the reunion pointed out that the descendants of John Rimple are eager to return to their homeland.
Special invitees to the reunion included President Donald Ramotar, Minister of Tourism (ag) Irfaan Ali and Head of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Indranauth Haralsingh. The family members are the descendants of John Rimple who lived 100 years ago.
President Ramotar pointed out to the family that families are the bedrock and pillar of any society and that the reunion is a good example to promote a tighter knit family. Welcoming the overseas members, he acknowledged that while there are problems in Guyana, they are not worse than in other Caribbean countries.
The President pointed out that while the administration is working on the challenges, there are beautiful places across the nation, at Kato, at Akawini, Moruca and other places. The Head of State also noted that the infrastructure is now available in Guyana to accommodate many more visitors and conference delegations.
“It is better to see with your own eyes than to read on the internet,” President Ramotar noted. He pointed out that the massive development of the tourism industry is the reason why Minister Ali is still heading it.
The Head of State also told the family of the need for cheaper energy to push the industrialisation of the country. He said however, that the country is moving as rapidly as it could towards this with plans for hydro power.
The continued move towards educating Guyanese is geared towards making them ready for when the industralisation of the country would make jobs available.
He mentioned Guyana working with Brazil to create two hydro power facilities which would send power to that country also, even as he posited that the anticipated change in Guyana is the reason for the rapid development of infrastructure.
The Head of State mentioned that television programmes made about Guyana which are being aired overseas focus on places and things which he himself had visited and seen. He mentioned Rewa, Essequibo and Rupununi Rivers and the largest fresh water fish in the world, the arapaima.
He commended the family for holding the event and urged them to visit as many places as they could to whet their appetites to return.
A promise was extended as permission was sought from and accepted by the President for the input to be made into mental health in Guyana in whatever way possible. It is a way for the family to give back to Guyana.
Haralsingh expressed gratitude that the family chose to return to Guyana to reconnect and renew acquaintances with their roots. He pointed out to the family that Guyana has been listed among the top 21 places to visit in 2014 by the National Geographic Traveler Magazine. This brought a rousing cheer from the gathering.
Minister Ali welcomed the family to the land of ‘Gold Rush’ (an international TV series) pointing out the expectations for when they would return to Guyana. He mentioned the Marriott and a larger international airport, and urged the family to spread the word when they returned to their homes.
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