Be careful, a friend recently went back only to be robbed twice in one day for jewelry he was wearing while walking around Georgetown. Other than this danger, you will be pleasantly surprised by the progress under the PPP contrary to what others would have you believe. 

I dont intend to be wearing anything except a cheap watch. I will want to hang out with the locals and lime like the old days along the west coast. I have not much folks there

I will stay here where I feel safer. I left Guyana in 1987. Didn't care to look back then. Haven't cared to look back since and don't care to look back now.

Amral, you should go if your mind is leading you go. 36 years away from home is a long time. You may not find the people you use to know unless you keep close communication with them. It's nice to go back and experience things for youself. 

One of the main things we found lacking in Guyana is trust, even by people we know.

Some 'friends' you socialize with, might be the ones set you up for a hit, if they see an opportunity to benefit. Don't take out large amounts of money in public places. Keep usable money in front pocket and main stash elsewhere on your person, not in a carrying bag. Be aware of being followed after changing money, even from banks. Plan and give mini bus exact change, because the conductor  could change the fare.  

Photocopy your passport and place copy in carry-on bag. If required, replacement is easier at Canadian Embassy near Pegasus Hotel.

Make a list of all items in your wallet and numbers to call from overseas if they go missing, some toll free numbers don't work for other countries. Don't record card numbers on sheet. Keep list in safe place.         

After living in Canada  for decades we developed a sense  of reasonable fairness. We go about our lives without thinking much about safeguards and security, but in Guyana this should be a constant awareness regarding our well-being, even in our homes during the day. 

People in Guyana don't know a cheap watch just by looking, they see a watch that could bring them the next drug  fix and could stab you to get it.

Don't wear jewellery, no rings, no cheap watch [keep watch in pocket] and wear clothes/shoes that could blend with others around you. Don't keep stuff in back pockets. Careful with shoulder [back]packs that could be pulled off easily. Take out cameras only when being used in safe places.

At the airport arrival, give an address of a hotel and false number and don't tell people where you are staying. Your Canadian accent could double the prices when making a purchase, get your Guyanese friends to do the talking.      

Even without speaking, or the clothes we wear,  some people could tell by the texture of our smooth skin that we are from 'outside' and could follow us to grab something not very expensive. Taking it is one thing, but it could leave us with an injury.

In Guyana, visitors need to develop a sense of constant awareness around them and security, that we take for granted  by living in Canada for a long time.

The people of Guyana had changed tremendously and so are we. We seem to have difficulty knowing how to be safe in Guyana, because this is not a constant awareness  in Canada, but very important in Guyana.

Before going, some  anxiety and nervousness might exist, but after a few days in Guyana, it might go away as you get used to the place.  

Guyana is a madhouse frenzy on special occasions. It is more relaxing to visit at other times.

Most important, visit Parika back-dam for all the fresh fruits and when you come back, give Nehru a report.  Don't forget your long-boots, unless they fix de dam.          

Or better yet, just go visit some Caribbean country, even Jamaica, as there is greater safety.

The lawlessness which developed under the PNC, continued under the PPP, and reports indicate, remains unabated.

I don't see the sense of going on vacation if one cannot relax.  This excessive need to carry cash its why I don't go to that country.

Overseas based Guyanese need to boycott that country, unless family emergencies force travel.

And what's  this about "our smooth skins" (and I have heard this before)?  They should have healthier skin due to ample natural supplies of vitamin D (the sun).

All this being said, let me convey my experiences over the past several years that I have been visiting. I don't wear any jeweler and am able to go in the worse areas of GT unharmed. I normally use a taxi(yellow shirt jack fellows) to get to my destination from the airport.   I only walk with sufficient money for purchases wherever I go. I am an avid jogger and some of my routes include from GT to Buxton where CaribJ's friends leave me alone.   I also run through Albouystown and Agricola unharmed, even thought I have heard of locals being robbed there too.  I am currently working on cycling from GT to the Berbice bridge and back. So far I have made it 5 miles past the halfway tree and back. Hopefully I will reach this goal this year, unless Warrior,Redux and CaribJ's friends have other plans for me.   You have to be aware, the bandits smell fear, my family are always in fear whenever I go on jogs or cycling routes. However I am fearless and use common sense and am able to evade the likes of those looking to harm visitors. 

Amral, I returned to live in Guyana five years ago. I have learnt a lot on how to protect myself. Tola gave you some good advice. West Coast used to be relatively safe  but over the past few years, crime has increased there. I used to go walking on the sea wall on the East Coasr but has stopped it. Cannot even trust the police. Friends you might have known might not be as trustworthy now as you knew them to be. You cannot hide that you are"from foreign". Previously, I went out to the night spots, but I have stopped that because of the escalating violence and getting too old to deal with those problems. Now, socializing is at private homes. You will always need to be aware of what and who is behind you. Walk against traffic in GT. Safest things are spontaneous with lots of folks you know around you. 

Drugb is playing the odds and it is only a matter of time. 

If you do go, you will certainly be impressed by the changes, progress. Enjoy the opportunities to visit the interior areas, the canopy walk, kaieteur falls, etc.

have fun and be safe. I will be in Guyana but do not really plan to do much. 

Zed posted:

Amral, I returned to live in Guyana five years ago. I have learnt a lot on how to protect myself. Tola gave you some good advice. West Coast used to be relatively safe  but over the past few years, crime has increased there. I used to go walking on the sea wall on the East Coasr but has stopped it. Cannot even trust the police. Friends you might have known might not be as trustworthy now as you knew them to be. You cannot hide that you are"from foreign". Previously, I went out to the night spots, but I have stopped that because of the escalating violence and getting too old to deal with those problems. Now, socializing is at private homes. You will always need to be aware of what and who is behind you. Walk against traffic in GT. Safest things are spontaneous with lots of folks you know around you. 

Drugb is playing the odds and it is only a matter of time. 

If you do go, you will certainly be impressed by the changes, progress. Enjoy the opportunities to visit the interior areas, the canopy walk, kaieteur falls, etc.

have fun and be safe. I will be in Guyana but do not really plan to do much. 

It's ironic how Guyanese have changed wondering what cause this??I was there after 19 yrs for my mom funeral spent one night due to my commitments here,planning to spend a week later this year i have a lot of cousins and their children whom i want to bond with after so many years away.

I thank you all for the very good advice, they will be heeded should I proceed. My main objective is to go back for the one and only time to satisfy myself and see first hand what the country is now like. I think I can blend in with the locals. If any of my inlaws are going at the same time I might just piggy back along with them. Friends I have less than 5 still in Guyana, children of cousins there whom I do not know, Inlaws whom I have never met along with their children. So I will be a total stranger.

Going this weekend and will be traveling all over Guyana, probably starting with a trip to Charity.

Antabanta, Charity is still 'bright' on Mondays. Also, try Mainstay lake or Capoey lake for a good day trip. I love Capoey Lake - Mission Top- because it is so peaceful and  quiet. I  often take the ferry to and from Supernaam even though it leaves early in the morning and arrives after sunset. For me, it is a cheap 1.5 hr. cruise and the rising and setting sun is so nice.  

Have fun and be safe.

Zed, I am not playing the numbers, I have done similar runs/rides in Jamaica and St Lucia where I was warned similarly. In fact I even go to some of the worse neighborhoods(Newark, Irvington, Orange, East Orange etc) in the US to do charity work, so I don't see why I should be afraid to roam the country of my birth.  You on the other hand may have been know in the country to have money, I am not, I just blend in. 

Perhaps also this year to visit family and friends plus to stay at DeKienderen.

When you visit Guyana, stay low and out of sight. Be inside your house by darkness.

One indeed needs to be careful. However, I hope that things will be okay for my visit.

Zed posted:

Antabanta, Charity is still 'bright' on Mondays. Also, try Mainstay lake or Capoey lake for a good day trip. I love Capoey Lake - Mission Top- because it is so peaceful and  quiet. I  often take the ferry to and from Supernaam even though it leaves early in the morning and arrives after sunset. For me, it is a cheap 1.5 hr. cruise and the rising and setting sun is so nice.  

Have fun and be safe.

Thanks.

skeldon_man posted:

When you visit Guyana, stay low and out of sight. Be inside your house by darkness.

Bhai my house is like a prison in GY,grilled all over no external step entry,protection for my lil repair business while i was there.

So is ours. We have grills on the front windows and we lock the downstairs from outside and inside with a metal bar across the doors. We lock the upstairs from inside (2) locks and also slide a bar across. When I was growing up(many moons ago), we never lock up the doors or even have grills on the windows. Just imagine what the stores have now.

Skelly on my recent one night stay in GY,i decided to get some rest after 32 hrs being awake,around ten my cousin shout out some people want to see me,when i got up all the doors are wide open upper and lower they were across my mom house,bhai i was scared i said to her gaal alyuh don't lock the doors she replied naah we always does be up late and the doors are left open,when i was there six 'o'clock is lock down.

Bhai i guess in the area it is safe now.

skeldon_man posted:

So is ours. We have grills on the front windows and we lock the downstairs from outside and inside with a metal bar across the doors. We lock the upstairs from inside (2) locks and also slide a bar across. When I was growing up(many moons ago), we never lock up the doors or even have grills on the windows. Just imagine what the stores have now.

Seriously hope that there isn't a fire one day.

This is what PPP and PNC lawlessness has done to Guyana!

Stay in a Hotel, don't stay with family or friends. Most hotels in G/T can arrange day trips , they are safe.

caribny posted:

skeldon_man posted:

So is ours. We have grills on the front windows and we lock the downstairs from outside and inside with a metal bar across the doors. We lock the upstairs from inside (2) locks and also slide a bar across. When I was growing up(many moons ago), we never lock up the doors or even have grills on the windows. Just imagine what the stores have now.

Seriously hope that there isn't a fire one day.

This is what PPP and PNC lawlessness has done to Guyana!

How this lawlessness can be controlled?

seignet posted:

caribny posted:

skeldon_man posted:

So is ours. We have grills on the front windows and we lock the downstairs from outside and inside with a metal bar across the doors. We lock the upstairs from inside (2) locks and also slide a bar across. When I was growing up(many moons ago), we never lock up the doors or even have grills on the windows. Just imagine what the stores have now.

Seriously hope that there isn't a fire one day.

This is what PPP and PNC lawlessness has done to Guyana!

How this lawlessness can be controlled?

When the Guyanese in the homeland shows respect for people and their property,they try to emulate North America,they should learn how the peoples of these countries have respect for each other rights and property,home invasion is a serious crime in the countries where we reside.

seignet posted:

caribny posted:

skeldon_man posted:

So is ours. We have grills on the front windows and we lock the downstairs from outside and inside with a metal bar across the doors. We lock the upstairs from inside (2) locks and also slide a bar across. When I was growing up(many moons ago), we never lock up the doors or even have grills on the windows. Just imagine what the stores have now.

Seriously hope that there isn't a fire one day.

This is what PPP and PNC lawlessness has done to Guyana!

How this lawlessness can be controlled?

APNU/AFC need to do what the PPP ought to have done, but didn't do.

What is good is that Granger is a man of dignity, and not the vulgarian that Jagdeo was.  Granger needs to ensure that all ministers behave likewise.

If those who lead are crude and vulgar, with blatant disrespect for the law, then why expect kids to do better.

1.  Take measure to seize guns from people not authorized to have them.  Crack down on paramilitias and gangs.  The police ought to know who they are, where they hang out, and what activities they engage in.  If they don't, then what are the police doing?

2.  Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the police force.  Raise pay, root out corruption.  Train cops in how to be engaged in detective work, including not contaminating the scene of the crime.  Train cops in presenting their cases in court, to prevent criminals from being released on a "technicality".

3.  Improve lighting and cameras in high crime areas.  Improve police patrols, which means sharply increasing the fleet of cop cars, and prioritizing their deployment.

4.  Police need to determine links between criminal gangs and the business community.  Throughout the Caribbean there is a connect, as there is no way that these 16 y/o boys can get a steady supply of guns and bullets on their own. Some Mr. Bigs need to be jailed for importing weapons and distributing them illegally.

5.  Improved community based policing.  Each cop on a beat should be responsible for knowing the people who live with each community, and who the bad elements are.  They should liaise with the local community leaders to deal with these elements.

6.  Improved education, and training for "at risk" kids.  Local communities need to work with the police, and social services to identify "troubled" families, so that the parents can be given support, where needed.  Face facts many parents no longer know how to parent, as the extended family, where these skills were transferred , no longer exist.

7.  Whole rethink of the educational system.  Kids should not just pass exams, but must be equipped with hard and soft life skills.  Given that many kids come from dysfunctional families, often it is up to the schools to provide this.

8.  Improvements in adult education and training, as well as assistance in matching job opportunities with candidates.  People need to be trained in job hunting and job retention skills.  No showing up on Tuesday and disappearing on Friday, once they have collected their pay is NOT acceptable.

Crime fighting isn't merely "lock dem up, and hang dem". It is a holistic strategy and civic society, including the business community needs to be actively involved.

Django posted:

 

When the Guyanese in the homeland shows respect for people and their property,they try to emulate North America,they should learn how the peoples of these countries have respect for each other rights and property,home invasion is a serious crime in the countries where we reside.

Many Guyanese, and their kids, who reside in NA, are actively involved in illegal activity, as are other Caribbean people, and their kids.  Please don't pretend as if we are all highly moral and/or productive and law abiding citizens.

Not that long ago an Indo Guyanese was engaged in bank robberies in the Bronx, and even a doctor who was stealing Medicaid funds. I mention this to prevent the Indo KKK from engaging in their usual black bashing behavior. 

If anything those down there have copied us when we visit Guyana, show off, and cannot explain how we have what we have  when large numbers of Caribbean people work in low paid jobs.

caribny posted:

APNU/AFC need to do what the PPP ought to have done, but didn't do.

What is good is that Granger is a man of dignity, and not the vulgarian that Jagdeo was.  Granger needs to ensure that all ministers behave likewise.

If those who lead are crude and vulgar, with blatant disrespect for the law, then why expect kids to do better.

1.  Take measure to seize guns from people not authorized to have them.  Crack down on paramilitias and gangs.  The police ought to know who they are, where they hang out, and what activities they engage in.  If they don't, then what are the police doing?

2.  Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the police force.  Raise pay, root out corruption.  Train cops in how to be engaged in detective work, including not contaminating the scene of the crime.  Train cops in presenting their cases in court, to prevent criminals from being released on a "technicality".

3.  Improve lighting and cameras in high crime areas.  Improve police patrols, which means sharply increasing the fleet of cop cars, and prioritizing their deployment.

4.  Police need to determine links between criminal gangs and the business community.  Throughout the Caribbean there is a connect, as there is no way that these 16 y/o boys can get a steady supply of guns and bullets on their own. Some Mr. Bigs need to be jailed for importing weapons and distributing them illegally.

5.  Improved community based policing.  Each cop on a beat should be responsible for knowing the people who live with each community, and who the bad elements are.  They should liaise with the local community leaders to deal with these elements.

6.  Improved education, and training for "at risk" kids.  Local communities need to work with the police, and social services to identify "troubled" families, so that the parents can be given support, where needed.  Face facts many parents no longer know how to parent, as the extended family, where these skills were transferred , no longer exist.

7.  Whole rethink of the educational system.  Kids should not just pass exams, but must be equipped with hard and soft life skills.  Given that many kids come from dysfunctional families, often it is up to the schools to provide this.

8.  Improvements in adult education and training, as well as assistance in matching job opportunities with candidates.  People need to be trained in job hunting and job retention skills.  No showing up on Tuesday and disappearing on Friday, once they have collected their pay is NOT acceptable.

Crime fighting isn't merely "lock dem up, and hang dem". It is a holistic strategy and civic society, including the business community needs to be actively involved.

Finally you ketch sense. When PPP were in power you were screaming that they oppressed the blacks whenever they arrested criminals. 

Hopefully you can get Granger to address the issues you listed above. 

However I note that you stayed away from mentioning anything about moving the economy forward as this is not the forte of an army man. 

Drugb posted:

.

Finally you ketch sense. When PPP were in power you were screaming that they oppressed the blacks whenever they arrested criminals. 

Hopefully you can get Granger to address the issues you listed above. 

However I note that you stayed away from mentioning anything about moving the economy forward as this is not the forte of an army man. 

1.   Countries can have strong economies and still have a major  crime problem.    Ensuring that the youth have the hard and soft skills needed to be productive in a growing economy is crucial. 

So is jailing powerful men who engage in crime.  We arrest the little stupid kid who snatches a cell phone, but the drug baron importing thousands of guns runs around unpunished. 

If your wealthy friends get arrested then you should tell them that they are no better than the common criminal, and so should be treated no different.  BAIL REFUSED!

2. I see you are still with your racist nonsense that blacks are all criminals.  So if I say that the PPP oppressed blacks, obviously you think that I meant that the PPP did so because blacks are all criminals. 

NO the PPP was oppressive to Afro Guyanese, and the glee on the faces of almost all of them, when they heard that the PPP lost, is evidence of it.

caribny posted:

Django posted:

 

When the Guyanese in the homeland shows respect for people and their property,they try to emulate North America,they should learn how the peoples of these countries have respect for each other rights and property,home invasion is a serious crime in the countries where we reside.

Many Guyanese, and their kids, who reside in NA, are actively involved in illegal activity, as are other Caribbean people, and their kids.  Please don't pretend as if we are all highly moral and/or productive and law abiding citizens.

Not that long ago an Indo Guyanese was engaged in bank robberies in the Bronx, and even a doctor who was stealing Medicaid funds. I mention this to prevent the Indo KKK from engaging in their usual black bashing behavior. 

If anything those down there have copied us when we visit Guyana, show off, and cannot explain how we have what we have  when large numbers of Caribbean people work in low paid jobs.

Caribny..in every society there is good and bad people,we can't paint the whole society with the same color,Most Guyanese are above board and it depends on where you reside,i live in CT where there are not a lot of Guyanese,there was a few who took the wrong route and disgrace us,but hey it happens.

caribny posted:

1.   Countries can have strong economies and still have a major  crime problem.    Ensuring that the youth have the hard and soft skills needed to be productive in a growing economy is crucial. 

So is jailing powerful men who engage in crime.  We arrest the little stupid kid who snatches a cell phone, but the drug baron importing thousands of guns runs around unpunished. 

If your wealthy friends get arrested then you should tell them that they are no better than the common criminal, and so should be treated no different.  BAIL REFUSED!

2. I see you are still with your racist nonsense that blacks are all criminals.  So if I say that the PPP oppressed blacks, obviously you think that I meant that the PPP did so because blacks are all criminals. 

NO the PPP was oppressive to Afro Guyanese, and the glee on the faces of almost all of them, when they heard that the PPP lost, is evidence of it.

Maybe you should tell America with your advice in 1 above as you will note that the US jails are 40 % blacks while the US population is a mere 17% blacks. This translates into 1 in 3 blacks who can expect to be imprisoned in their lifetime. Were you imprisoned? Are you part of the above statistics?

I want to see the big drug lords or criminals jailed, however we see that the afc/apnu have failed in this regard leading us to surmise that they are on the take. 

The key to jobs for the youths is education and a robust private sector. Granger has no plans for either, that is why he is bringing back the Militia in the hopes of luring the young to join. However this will not work as now young people are only interested in instant gratification, the type that robbery will bring. 

I have been back several times, took a pause during the PNC (Buxton/Agricola) reign of terror.  Resumed after PPP cleaned up the place.  Have never been a victim.  Not sure how things are since the PNC took power and crime seem to now be a "rewardable" occupation!

Drugb posted:

Were you imprisoned? Are you part of the above statistics?

 

 You are a racist who cannot help yourself, but keep your bullshyte away from me.

Continue to wallow in your BS that all blacks are criminals, if that is what makes you happy.

caribny posted:

Drugb posted:

Were you imprisoned? Are you part of the above statistics?

 

 You are a racist who cannot help yourself, but keep your bullshyte away from me.

Continue to wallow in your BS that all blacks are criminals, if that is what makes you happy.

 

Most crime in the US are committed by Blacks.  Most gun violence are committed by Blacks.  Most Blacks are killed by other Blacks, not cops.  I am speaking absolute not relative, and Blacks are 12% of the US population.  Guyana has 35%, why would anyone think it's different there?  And this was the case at the height of the PNC institutionalized and "constitutionalized" reign of terror against Indians!

baseman posted:

Most crime in the US are committed by Blacks.  Most gun violence are committed by Blacks.  !

I see the racists are screaming their lies.  2/3 of the of the people in jail are NOT black. 

Of course you blindly swallow every thing that the racist Trump tells you, including the lie that most crime is committed by blacks.

And like most racists your knowledge of blacks is limited to what FOX News tells you. Were you not a black hating racists, you would know that there are very active activities by black community groups ALL over the use to deal with black on black crime.  In fact the TERM "black on black crime" was coined by those frustrated with its high incidence.

You and druggie can pull out your little "what's it that you don't have" and scream your hatred of blacks as a result.

caribny posted:

baseman posted:

Most crime in the US are committed by Blacks.  Most gun violence are committed by Blacks.  !

I see the racists are screaming their lies.  2/3 of the of the people in jail are NOT black. 

Of course you blindly swallow every thing that the racist Trump tells you, including the lie that most crime is committed by blacks.

And like most racists your knowledge of blacks is limited to what FOX News tells you. Were you not a black hating racists, you would know that there are very active activities by black community groups ALL over the use to deal with black on black crime.  In fact the TERM "black on black crime" was coined by those frustrated with its high incidence.

You and druggie can pull out your little "what's it that you don't have" and scream your hatred of blacks as a result.

 

 

This is not being racist, but being real.  Dispute anything I said with facts and not widow dressing.  Those are stats and facts the Govt of the US has.  Deal with it and stop making excuses.  This is also the fact in Guyana.  Except in Guyana, while most criminals and Blacks, most victims are Indians.

Carib wants Guyana to be a nation of blacks only. He feels dugla people will be labeled as blacks. He always refer to the duglarization of Guyana. He yearns for the day when can see every coolie woman holding a blackman hand and have 5-6 dugla children walking behind them. He is hoping that this will be a more humane form of ethnic cleansing. He refers to the PPP supporters as Indian KKK. He doesn't see himself as the black Hitler.

skeldon_man posted:

Carib wants Guyana to be a nation of blacks only. He feels dugla people will be labeled as blacks. He always refer to the duglarization of Guyana.

Hmmmm.  It isn't me who called Rohee a black man.  It was one of YOU Indo KKK folks.

If Indo females want a black man what's wrong with that?  Too insecure in your manhood?

BTW 30% of the population is black, yet the APNU/AFC got 51%.  I will suggest to you that the vast majority of mixed Guyanese prefer "black people party" to the "coolie people party".

And of course, given that blacks do NOT disown their kids from marrying others, nor do they make the off spring feel like bastards.

If a dougla wishes to say that he is black, he will be accepted as black. If he says he is Indian, you all will laugh at him.

Too much crap happening there now. Serious consideration 

And face facts, Guyana is becoming less Indian and more mixed.