Ministers, a city tour and the richest guy in the land

We expected an official meeting but when we saw several camera crews, journalists, professors and the ministers of Agriculture and of Public Works.

We realized how serious this student project had become. It became clear that Joost did not only have to give an explanation of the project to some important people but to the whole television and newspaper reading population of Guyana. Seeing ourselves back on TV and on the first pages of every newspaper was an amazing surprise.

After an overwhelming first day we went on a tour along Georgetown’s hydraulic structures and drainage system. The tour was headed by the deputy major of Georgetown and over three busses followed us, the group of students from the Netherlands, throughout the city. All this only emphasized the relevance of the project and it is amazing to work on a problem which is relevant to so many people en organizations. However, we are fit and ready for this enormous job. The rest of the week was planned full with meetings at ministries, authorities and the university. On Friday we celebrated our first week together with some of our partners on a great birthday and goodbye party in one of the local rum-shops. There we had our first taste of the hospitality which Guyana is famous for.

The next day we experienced more of this hospitality when we and all the partners at ministries and university were invited to visit a developing project next to the Essequibo river. The project was funded by one of the wealthiest man Guyana who is also involved in many of the projects around the drainage system in Georgetown. After an explanatory talk and showing us around the area there was some time to relax next to the river. Of course the weekend was not complete without a little jet skiing and racing in karts.

On Monday we celebrated emancipation day with (especially) the African population from the very multicultural Guyana. We spent our day in the national park with some drinks between local food, traditionally dressed inhabitants and the national steel drum orchestra. It was an amazing first week and it created some expectations for the rest of the project.

See you next week. We’ll keep you posted!