Children from the Scout Association of Guyana were left disappointed yesterday after missing an anticipated opportunity to meet and greet King Charles III during his visit to the Kingston Bandstand.
Andrew Ramcharitar, group scout leader at Queen’s College and Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Scout Association of Guyana, shared that the children had been looking forward to interacting in some manner with the King.
He promised them that they might be able to meet the king and shake his hand, but the manner in which the event unfolded yesterday hardly left any opportunity for this. “Unfortunately, they were a little disappointed,” Ramcharitar shared.
The King’s visit to the Kingston Seawall lasted only a few minutes, leaving dozens of people who had converged at the location with limited opportunities to interact with him.
The brief engagement was among the final activities on his agenda in Guyana before he headed to Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri for his departure.
Although the crowd had gathered in anticipation of seeing the British monarch, only a handful of people managed to interact with him before he left.
Approximately 25 scouts attended the event following an invitation extended to the association, which had been asked to bring representatives from across Guyana; a group from Berbice was also present.
In an interview with Kiskadee Watch, Ramcharitar said the King’s visit could help raise the profile of the local scouting movement and possibly strengthen its international partnerships.
The association already has partnerships with some scouting groups in England, and Ramcharitar expressed hope that the royal visit could create further opportunities for collaboration. “Seeing us physically, it may lend some other credence to more partnerships,” he said.
He recalled that scouting originated in England in 1907 and has grown into a global youth movement with more than 50 million members worldwide. Guyana now is part of the Inter-American Scout Region, one of five scouting regions internationally.
Ramcharitar also highlighted Queen’s College’s historical connection to the movement, describing its scout group as the first in Guyana. He said the group was established by a British soldier at the school, reflecting the country’s historical ties to Britain.
Beyond the possible international benefits of the royal visit, Ramcharitar said one of his main priorities was to encourage more young people to become involved in scouting and activities outside social media.
He expressed concern that excessive reliance on phones and online platforms was affecting young people’s independence, initiative and participation in traditional recreational activities.
According to him, scouting provides opportunities for young people to develop practical skills and engage in activities that encourage greater independence.
He also welcomed initiatives aimed at reviving traditional activities, including storytelling, which he said could help reconnect young people with experiences beyond their screens.
Ramcharitar said increasing youth participation in scouting and encouraging greater engagement in everyday activities were among the improvements he would like to see within the organisation.
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