Against the backdrop of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s visit to Antigua and Barbuda for the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Guyanese nationals residing on the island have expressed renewed confidence in their homeland’s development trajectory, with some signalling an interest in returning to participate in the country’s expanding economy and hoping to meet with his people before he returns to Guyana.
In exclusive engagements with The El Dorado Beacon, members of the Guyanese diaspora shared their perspectives on the economic and infrastructural transformation taking place in Guyana, while acknowledging what they described as significant progress under President Ali’s administration.
They explained that there is a changing outlook for most of them, particularly those who have migrated for decades in pursuit of employment, financial stability, and improved living conditions.
Noting that many Guyanese have since established successful lives abroad, the opportunities emerging in Guyana have rekindled a sense of possibility, encouraging some to contemplate a return to the country they once left behind.
Among those who shared their perspectives is Mr Terrence Hernandez, popularly known as “Terry,” a native of Smithfield, New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six who resides in Antigua for more than two decades and established himself as a successful businessman.
Terry, the proprietor of TNA Sports Bar, located in West Coast Village, Jolly Harbour, expressed a strong sense of national pride as he reflected on the transformation taking place in Guyana, drawing comparisons between the country he once knew and the significant developments he witnessed during his most recent visit.
“Like many others, I remember what it was once like in Guyana, the struggles Guyanese endured, and how the world didn’t know who we were. Some never cared about us or our country, which was regarded as a Third World nation,” he recalled.
Look at us today; we are one of the most desirable countries to visit and work.
The last time I visited Guyana was in 2024, and I was so happy to see the transformation then, so I cannot wait to visit next year, 2027,” Terry told The El Dorado Beacon.
Beyond expressing admiration for Guyana’s development, Terry also made a strong appeal to regional and international investors, identifying his homeland as an attractive destination for business expansion and investment.
“My first piece of advice for anyone, especially my fellow businessmen from the Caribbean and other countries, is that if you are considering which country to invest in, I recommend Guyana,” he declared.
“I’m not saying this just because it’s my home; I’m saying it as a fact: Guyana has the world’s fastest-growing economy, is self-sustainable, and is a good place to invest.”
Meanwhile, in a special message to President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the people of Guyana, Terry expressed pride in his Guyanese heritage, reflecting on what he described as a significant shift in the country’s international standing and the recognition now afforded to its citizens abroad.
He recalled a time when Guyanese travellers often felt overlooked at international airports, sitting for hours on benches only to be sent back home, contrasting those experiences with what he believes is the greater recognition and respect Guyana commands today.
Against this backdrop, Terry urged his fellow Guyanese to recognise the opportunities emerging in their homeland, set aside differences and work collectively towards the country’s continued progress and development.
“We may not agree with all of the government’s actions, which is understandable, but we must acknowledge President Ali for positively representing our country,” Terry declared.
“It is because of him and his administration we are seen, appreciated, and given respect as a country and as a people, but we need to also have that respect and pride in and for ourselves too.”
Meanwhile, after nearly four decades of residing in Antigua and Barbuda, Guyanese-born Mr Lindsay Ralph says the transformation taking place in his homeland is unmistakable, with the country’s development increasingly attracting attention and recognition beyond its borders.
Mr Ralph, who hails from Cumberland, Berbice, Region Six, and currently serves as the Boatyard Manager at Jolly Harbour, shared that having lived in Antigua for approximately 37 years.
According to him. he takes considerable pride in the progress Guyana continues to make, particularly as discussions surrounding its economic growth and major development projects become increasingly prominent.
The Boatyard Manager echoed the sentiments of fellow Guyanese businessman Mr Terrence Hernandez, asserting that the magnitude of Guyana’s transformation is self-evident.
He said, “We have been seeing and hearing from others about the developments that are taking place at home, and it gives me a sense of deep satisfaction.
Years ago, when we visited our families and friends, we understood that we had to buy; today, when we visit, we are treated to the best without having to spend any money.
Guyanese have money today; they are not depending on families overseas as they once did before, and that says a lot.”
Moreover, Mr Ralph expressed appreciation to President Ali and his administration for the infrastructural developments that are taking place across Berbice and the wider country, placing particular emphasis on the economic opportunities being created for Guyanese across multiple sectors.
He noted that the benefits of these developments extend beyond physical infrastructure, pointing to the opportunities emerging in tourism, agriculture and construction, he said are positively impacting the livelihoods of residents across Guyana, including one of his brothers who is in the tourism sector.
In addition, while reflecting on the changing economic circumstances of residents in his former community, Mr Ralph expressed satisfaction at the progress made by people he had known before migrating to Antigua nearly four decades ago.
“I remember when I was living in Guyana, I was ahead of the guys in my community in terms of material accomplishments.
However, looking at them today and seeing the homes they have built and the lifestyles that they have created for themselves, I can say that some of them are ahead of me now, and I am happy to see that,” he told The El Dorado Beacon.
His remarks offered a personal perspective on the improvements he has observed in the living standards of people from his community, developments he welcomed with pride rather than envy.
Meanwhile, Mr Samuel Daniels, also known as Danny, Chief Operator at Jolly Harbour in Antigua, who has resided on the island for more than 36 years, and his wife, retired Guyana Defence Force Sergeant Simone Robertson, have expressed pride in Guyana’s transformation and their desire to return home permanently.
Sergeant (Retd) Robertson, who served in the GDF for approximately 20 years before retiring and has been residing in Antigua for the past two years, told this publication that both she and her husband are in awe of the pace of development in Guyana.
They expressed admiration for the progress that the country has made in a relatively short period.
Despite having established their lives abroad, both maintained that their attachment to Guyana remains strong, with plans to eventually return and resettle in their homeland.
“We love our country, there is no place like home, and we cannot wait to go back and live,” they expressed.
Beyond their aspirations to return, the couple also issued a call for greater national unity, urging Guyanese to put aside their differences, foster mutual respect and work collectively with the government to advance the country’s development.
“Our country is at its best, but we as a people need to work together with each other and the government and stop being against each other,” they stated.
Reflecting on the economic and social challenges Guyanese have endured over the years, the couple acknowledged what they described as significant progress under the administration of President Ali.
“We all need to remember that we went through hardship as a people, and today, from what I am seeing, we have a President that is doing well for our country,” they said.
“None of us are perfect, and he isn’t too, but together we need to stop putting each other down and just live as one and stay united.”
Their remarks highlight the continued attachment of overseas Guyanese to their homeland while underscoring their belief that national unity, cooperation and shared responsibility are essential to sustaining the country’s development.
For the couple, Guyana’s transformation has also renewed the prospect of returning to the country they call home, reflecting a sentiment shared by some members of the diaspora who are increasingly considering resettlement as opportunities continue to emerge.
As President Ali participates in the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, the sentiments expressed by these Guyanese nationals provide an insight into the changing perceptions of their homeland among sections of the diaspora.
Their accounts reflect not only pride in Guyana’s economic and infrastructural development but also renewed interest in the opportunities emerging across the country, with some now considering a permanent return after decades of living abroad.
While acknowledging the challenges that remain, those interviewed emphasised the importance of national unity, continued development and ensuring that the benefits of economic progress reach Guyanese across all communities.
The diaspora members also expressed hope that President Ali would have an opportunity to engage with Guyanese nationals residing in Antigua and Barbuda before concluding his visit, providing a platform for direct dialogue on the country’s development and their aspirations to contribute to its future.
For these overseas Guyanese, the changing national landscape represents more than economic advancement.
It has renewed their confidence in their homeland and, for some, transformed the prospect of returning to Guyana from a distant aspiration into a future they are actively considering.
