King Charles III arrived in Guyana yesterday to military honours at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri before being treated to a colourful presentation of the country’s cultural traditions at State House.
President Irfaan Ali received the King at the airport, where a red carpet, an honour guard and a military band formed part of the ceremonial welcome for his two-day state visit.
State television NCN’s broadcast showed the British aircraft taxiing towards the reception area, with Guyanese and British flags displayed near the cockpit. On the ground, the Golden Arrowhead and Union Jack flew beside ranks assembled outside the terminal.
Wearing a light-coloured suit and sunglasses, King Charles stood alongside Ali, who was dressed in white, on a small red-carpeted dais before inspecting the Guard of Honour. The ranks wore white tunics, green trousers and red berets, which are their ceremonial uniform, with rifles held upright.
Escorted by a uniformed officer, the King walked along the ranks before returning to the reception area. Officials and invited guests watched from nearby as photographers and camera crews recorded the ceremony. He subsequently entered a waiting vehicle.
Later, at State House, singers and dancers in colourful costumes presented a programme drawing on Guyana’s diverse cultural heritage, according to a live broadcast on President Ali’s Facebook page.
The presentation opened with the national song “Oh Beautiful Guyana”, followed by the late Dave Martins’s “Not a Blade of Grass”, popularly known by its refrain, “We ain’t giving up no mountains”. The song asserts Guyana’s territorial integrity in the face of Venezuela’s claim.
Indigenous dancers opened the sequence of cultural performances, followed by presentations reflecting African and Indian traditions and a Chinese singing performance. At several points, the King turned to speak with Ali as they watched the programme.
Afterwards, the King, glass in hand, spent an extended period walking the State House lawns with the President and other officials, meeting guests gathered for the reception.
Among those seen greeting him were Guyanese musician Eddy Grant and cricketers Shimron Hetmyer and Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Political figures included PNCR leader Aubrey Norton, who exchanged a few words with the King; Ganesh Mahipaul; Forward Guyana leader Amanza Walton-Desir; opposition Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley; and Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore.
Acting Chancellor Roxane George-Wiltshire, government ministers and members of the disabled community were also among the guests who greeted the monarch. He also chatted with Guyana’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge and the Head of ExxonMobil here, Alistair Routledge.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and other senior British officials are in Guyana for the visit, which takes place at Ali’s invitation and marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between Guyana and the United Kingdom.
It is Charles’s first visit to Guyana as King. He last visited in February 2000 as Prince of Wales. The visit precedes his attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda.
Connections
Ahead of the arrival, British High Commissioner Joe Fisher said the programme would celebrate longstanding personal connections and the present-day partnership between the countries.
“This visit will be an opportunity to celebrate the deep people-to-people ties between our two countries and the modern and dynamic partnership that we share today,” Fisher said in a video posted by the High Commission.
He said the King would hear about joint climate and biodiversity initiatives and meet people from across Guyanese society contributing to the partnership. Fisher also described bilateral trade as being at record levels.
Preparations extended beyond the airport. Sections of Georgetown were cleaned and painted ahead of the visit, while temporary road closures and traffic diversions were arranged for the royal programme.
Kiskadee Watch reported that restrictions would affect central Georgetown, Kingston and sections of the East Coast Demerara corridor, including areas around State House, the War Memorial, Promenade Gardens, the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Umana Yana, Stabroek Market and the Kingston Seawall.
Police said closures would be imposed as operationally necessary and lifted when safe. Motorists were urged to use alternative routes and allow additional travelling time.
The King’s programme also includes engagements with National Toshaos Council leaders and a commemoration of British, Guyanese and Commonwealth military personnel who died in service.
His visit coincides with the second Global Biodiversity Alliance Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where he is expected to meet scientists, Indigenous community members and conservation innovators and receive a briefing on Iwokrama’s work.
Business engagements and a visit to the Georgetown seawall are also planned, with discussions on investment, sustainable cities and coastal conservation.
The sustainable-development focus comes as the King’s Foundation expands its involvement here. Kiskadee Watch reported this week that the charity founded by the then Prince Charles is working on proposals including improvements to Georgetown’s streets and canals, redevelopment around Stabroek Market and a sister city comprising approximately 30,000 homes.
The report noted that details of the proposed city, including its location, financing and necessary approvals, remained unclear.
Discussion