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Coretta McDonald who has held the position of General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) for well over a decade, could now be occupying the position in contravention of the rules of the union.

This is according to General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who told a press conference at Freedom House on Thursday that the disqualification of McDonald is based on the rule book of the union.

Reading from clauses of the rule book, Jagdeo noted that teachers who serve as Members of Parliament (MPs) can only be associate members of the union.

McDonald is a teacher who also serves as an APNU+AFC Parliamentarian and GS for the GTU.

But Jagdeo noted that according to the rule book of the GTU, an associate member will have voting rights but cannot hold the position of President or General Secretary.

So, according to its own rules, McDonald who was first sworn in as an MP in 2020, should not have been allowed to continue serving as GS of the GTU.

Jagdeo, who also serves as the country’s Vice President, said this is another blow to the union’s credibility which has since been found to lack transparency in the management of billions of dollars collected in dues in recent years.

Last week, it was made public that the last audited statement submitted to the Auditor General by the GTU was in 1989, a breach of the constitution of the GTU.

Additionally, the GTU is required to submit financial statements, audited or not, to the Registrar. This was last done in 2004.

As a result, the GTU could be struck off from the trade unions list because of these lapses, rendering the union without the authority to represent workers.

Led by McDonald and GTU President, Mark Lyte, scores of teachers have been engaged in a countrywide strike action over wages and salaries for almost two weeks now.

The strike has been deemed illegal by the government based on the fact that negotiations between the Ministry of Education and the GTU did not break down.

A stock exchange facilitates the buying and selling of shares of publicly traded companies. Some of the companies listed on the Guyana Stock Exchange are: Banks DIH Limited, Citizens Bank Guyana Inc, Demerara Bank Limited, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited, and Sterling Products Limited.

In strong public statements recently, members of the local private sector expressed their disappointment at the operations of the Guyana Stock Exchange.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), in a statement, called for an overhaul.

“The lack of necessary infrastructure, technological advancements, and regulatory framework at the GSE compromises the financial health of businesses, restricts their ability to attract investment, and ultimately hampers their growth potential,” the City Chamber said in its statement.

President of the GCCI Kester Hutson

On Thursday, GCCI President Kester Hutson told the News Room that the body recognises access to financing is a huge challenge locally and a thriving stock exchange could help small and medium-sized businesses raise funds instead of solely relying on traditional loan arrangements with commercial banks.

“We recognise the 75% of our members are small and medium sized business who certainly won’t have readily available finance from the bank and we want to ensure options are out there and not just through the banks.

“…We’ve recognised that in the current state, Guyana’s own (the stock exchange) is not doing what it ought to,” Hutson said.

Now that the government is reviewing the Securities law, Hutson said the City Chamber will readily offer its suggestions on how the financial space can be improved. Easier access to information is one area, he said, needs attention.

danielle@newsroom.gy

Imagine a head-to-toe lilac ensemble accented with Kente cloth and a tape measure brooch. That’s Kwaku Bediako, the Ghanaian designer who blends tradition with flair, and whose recent visit to Guyana sparked a vibrant exchange of cultures.

Guyana’s First Lady, Mrs Arya Ali hosted the creative exchange event last Friday under the theme, “The Continuum: Connecting Cultures to the Creative Industry.”

Held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the event aimed to empower local creatives across various sectors with insights from Bediako, the creative mind behind the clothing brand “Chocolate,” favoured by celebrities like Idris Elba and Tyla.

The Continuum: Connecting Cultures to the Creative Industry (Office of the First Lady Photos/Ameer Sattaur)

The First Lady’s opening address underscored the creative industry’s pivotal role in national development. She drew parallels to global movements like the Arab Spring, emphasizing the transformative power of art and culture as catalysts for societal expression.

Highlighting the importance of preserving Guyana’s rich cultural heritage, Ali lauded the invaluable role the creative industry has “in preserving and transmitting our cultural legacy to current and future generations.”

A Glimpse into Bediako’s Creative Universe

The evening’s heart was a live interview with Bediako, hosted by Nuriyyih Gerrard. His energy was infectious as he recounted his fabric-shopping adventure in Georgetown.

“I went for fabric shopping today and there was no difference between Stabroek Market and Makola.” Bediako remarked, highlighting the striking similarities that bridge the two nations. This resonated with the First Lady’s earlier jest about Guyana and Ghana often being mistaken for each other.

Fashion as a Tool for Decolonization and Connection

The interview delved into Bediako’s design philosophy, characterized by blending tradition with contemporary style. He shared the inspiration behind his “Legendary Collection,” a homage to Ghana’s first Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah and his father, garnering international acclaim and visibility for African designers.

Embed from Getty Images
Kwame Nkrumah (1909 – 1972), President of Ghana (Photo by Roger Jackson/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

It also stressed the importance of fashion in decolonisation. Sober-coloured western suits and ties are often seen as the standard ‘proper’ attire for global leaders and by extension professionals.

Born in Nigeria and raised in Ghana, Bediako credited his multicultural upbringing for shaping his artistic vision and sense of style. He emphasized the interconnectedness of African cultures, debunking stereotypes and celebrating the continent’s rich diversity.

In a candid discussion, Bediako shed light on his strategic decision to establish his brand in Ghana, despite Nigeria’s reputation as the fashion capital of Africa. He emphasized Ghana’s cultural significance and its pivotal role in shaping the continent’s artistic narrative, describing his homeland as “the crux of the culture”.

Media Personality Nuriyyih Gerrard hosted the live discussion with Ghanaian designer Kwaku Bediako (Office of the First Lady Photo/ Ameer Sattaur)

 

Building a Global Fashion Empire

Bediako’s keen eye for detail and appreciation for tradition, influenced by his archaeology degree, fuelled his design process. He noticed a gap in the wedding industry, where grooms were often neglected. This insight led Chocolate to focus on creating menswear, targeting grooms and their groomsmen. He cleverly positioned himself as a solution for brides seeking to style their partners, turning them into brand ambassadors.

Again, Bediako’s strategic observation led him to ink a deal for Chocolate with the NBA Africa League called the Basketball Africa League (BAL), after noticing a gap in their merchandising.

The Ghanaian fashion designer’s ambition extends far beyond national boundaries. He dreams of building “the biggest lifestyle business in the world that just happens to be from Africa.” His “think big, start small, move fast” mantra echoes the global aspirations of his Nigerian music counterpart, Burna Boy.

Chocolate Clothes Global by Kwaku Bediako (Chocolate Photos)

A Celebration of Shared Heritage

An energetic masquerade performance by the Victoria Stars served as a vibrant interlude, further strengthening the cultural connection between Ghana and Guyana. Bediako remarked, “It feels like I’m in Cape Coast,” highlighting the shared artistic expressions.

Victoria Stars Masquerade Performers (Office of the First Lady Photos/ Ameer Sattaur)

Empowering Local Creatives

The session concluded with an interactive Q&A with local creatives like fashion designer Quinton Pearson, makeup artist Renee Chester, poet Daniela Araujo, and virtual art gallery owner Sade Barrow. Bediako’s core message: collaboration is key. He emphasized its power in building individual brands and fostering a thriving local creative industry. This, he believes, will counter the threat of fast fashion giants by offering unique, high-quality designs.

Bediako’s session with local creatives highlights the power of cultural connections and innovation in the fashion industry. His story serves as an inspiration for aspiring Guyanese creatives, urging them to tap into their unique heritage and translate it into globally relevant expressions.  This spirit of inclusivity and adaptation paves the way for a future where African fashion brands shine on the world stage.

Guyanese Creatives interact with Ghanaian Fashion Designer Bediako (Office of the First Lady Photos/ Ameer Sattaur)

However, his vision is not only for African brands.

“That’s why I’m here-oh” Bediako tells Gerard, as he talks about the purpose of his visit to Guyana. “I’m looking to work with as many creatives here.”

With the support of the First Lady of Guyana, and cultural grants spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, it is hoped that the creative industry will indeed grow from such cultural creative exchanges and go on to thrive as Guyana continues to evolve like her big sister Ghana on the back of new-found oil wealth.

new tourism products in Region Nine this week, expanding tourism products is a priority for sustaining the economy.

“Expanding the product has been a priority for the Tourism Authority and what we have been doing is to strengthen the regional authorities, the regional RDMO’s so that they can lead the project management and development here.

“The regional destination marketing and management body has been leading that and we will support until this project becomes very, very sustainable,” Baksh said.

Director of the GTA Kamrul Baksh. 

The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) last week held its first members meeting for the year at the Herdmanston Lodge during which they focused on methodologies for gathering industry data, including Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contributions.

A press release from THAG noted that representatives from the Bureau of Statistics, Ivor Coates and Keeona McKay, highlighted that accurate documentation of data that properly represents the sector’s contributions can assist with meaningful advocacy in that area.

“We want to work on getting an assessment done on the adventure market so while we have so much undiscovered gems and we feel that they have a lot of potential,” Baksh said.

This assessment requires tourism businesses to submit data to the bureau which will then, through a confidential management system, produce statistics to support positive impacts the sector has on the country’s growing economy. This information is crucial for advocating for concessions and other support.

A key factor for tourism development is funding and Baksh said proposals to get support are optimised by the GTA and it will continue to “look for pockets to support [tourism] enterprise.”