𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚–𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤

Dear Editor,

When Halim Khan, the Head of the Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc), hailed the commissioning of the Guyana–China Friendship Park as a “transformative investment” attributed to President Irfaan Ali and his government, his comments may have sounded flattering — but they were also historically inaccurate. It’s time to set the record straight about how this landmark project actually came to be, and whose vision and generosity truly made it possible.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬: 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

The idea of the Guyana–China Friendship Park predates any presidential fanfare or government announcement. The initiative first took root with businessman and philanthropist Mr.Joe Vieira, a respected son of Region Three, who donated the land on which the park now proudly stands. This act of private generosity and civic spirit formed the cornerstone of the project long before any political ribbon was cut.

Mr. Vieira’s motivation wasn’t political; his vision was patriotic. His gesture reflected a desire to see a part of Region 3 heartland developed into a shared public space — something that  eventually evolved in a project that would symbolize international friendship, cultural exchange, and local community pride. Without that gift, there would have been no land, no project, and no park to commission.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:

A $12 Million Investment in Friendship

Following the land donation, it was the Government of the People’s Republic of China that stepped forward as the project’s sole investor and builder. The $12 million (USD) undertaking was financed, designed, and executed by China through its embassy in Georgetown, under the theme of deepening bilateral relations.

The project’s scope reflects this investment: modern landscaping, open green spaces, cultural pavilions, and sports areas — all constructed to meet world-class standards. The work was conceptualized, funded, and completed by China, without financial input or technical direction from the Guyana Government. It stands as a gift to the Guyanese people — not as a government achievement, but as a symbol of enduring diplomatic friendship. 

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲

To claim that President Ali “delivered” the park, as Mr. Khan asserted, is misleading. The president may have attended the opening ceremony, but the park’s existence owes nothing to his administration’s policies or budget allocations. What should have been a straightforward moment of gratitude for a foreign partner’s generosity has instead been twisted into another round of self-congratulatory political theater.

In a developing society like ours, truth too easily gets lost in the noise of rapid growth. In the rush to headline every project as a government success, we risk erasing the contributions of ordinary citizens and international partners whose collaboration actually makes these spaces possible.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

The Guyana–China Friendship Park deserves proper historical recognition. It is the product of one man’s civic-minded gift of land and a friendly nation’s generous investment — not a showcase of political achievement. Mr. Khan’s remarks may have been well-intended, but they underscore a deeper problem: the creeping tendency to politicize everything, even acts of friendship and goodwill.

As the tempo of development quickens and Guyana’s landscape transforms, preserving the truth about how each project comes to life becomes ever more important. The Friendship Park, by its very name, teaches a lesson: that progress often comes from partnership — not from propaganda.

Sincerely,

Hemdutt Kumar .