| – investment to help boost education and health tourismWhile Guyana has in recent years attracted a number of local and foreign investors that havePresident Donald Ramotar (second from left) in the company of Minister Irfaan Ali (third from left) and other officials of TAU participate in the ceremonial groundbreaking.been helping to bolster the economy, Head of State, President Donald Ramotar, yesterday singled out plans for a new campus for the Texila American University (TAU) as particularly pleasing to him.The new campus is slated to cost some US$20 million, according to the University’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Saju Bhaskar,Wholesale Jerseys China, who disclosed that construction, which has already started, is being undertaken mainly by Indian contractors with the support of local labour.According to Bhaskar,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, the first two blocks of the campus is expected to be completed by this year end and another two blocks is scheduled for a 2016 deadline. Once completed the campus will cater to 1,500 students,China Jerseys, the CEO disclosed and will aid the growth of the University which already has another campus at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.According to Bhaskar, TAU had humble beginnings in Guyana with a mere seven students but in less than four years that number has grown to in excess of 400 students from over 35 countries complete with international faculty and support staff.But with a new campus in place,Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys, the CEO insisted that the students’ population is geared for further expansion.At a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday at Block 2442 Plantation Providence,Cheap Jerseys Free, East Bank Demerara, the location of the new campus, the President shared his conviction that the project is one that will embrace the notion of Educational Tourism which has great importance for the local economy. In fact he made it clear to the audience, of business people,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, members of the diplomatic corp, other government officials, among others, that such investments demonstrate the confidence that investors have reposed in Guyana over the last years.And according to the President, investment in education is of great importance to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government since a crucial factor for developmentFrom right: Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Dr Madan Rambarran, and others examine an artist impression of the new campus.is the quality of the people. “In that regard education plays a very important role and Texila University will not only be bringing students from abroad but they also have local students in the whole mix of their students…and that is extremely important for us because it will help us to lift our standards, make more possibilities more accessible; possibilities of education to our young people and to our people at large,” asserted the President.Touted as one of the best medical schools in the Caribbean Region, TAU, which has its origin in India, is said to offer career-oriented educational programmes at the Diploma, Bachelor, Masters/Postgraduate and Doctoral level through a wide network worldwide.Moreover, President Ramotar yesterday observed that TAU is poised to offer a much needed and very important service in the medical field as he made reference to Government’s plans for a Specialty Hospital. “I find that is important in delivering more quality health services in our country. As our population grows…that would be another investment that GovernmentA section of the gathering at the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday.will be putting in that would create another form of tourism, that is, health tourism and health tourism you know played a very important role in Indian’s development and it is a playing a good role in many countries’ development,” said the President. He is therefore confident that health tourism will offer Guyana an opportunity to deliver world class services to the population at affordable costs.Also speaking at the forum yesterday was the Minister of Housing and Water, who also has responsibility for Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali. He pointed out to the gathering that the University falls into Government’s overall plan of developing the East Bank corridor to connect with the East Coast corridor in creating one of the largest, most dynamic urban spread in the South American Hemisphere. “We have started this journey not only with the establishment of houses and homes but we have also paid critical attention to what we want to create; we want to create an industrial zone, a commercial zone, a light industrial/commercial zone and we wanted to create an IT (Information Technology) educational hub that is second to none in the Region,” outlined Ali.He, like the President also emphasised the importance of education tourism underscoring that “if we continue on this dynamic pathway of encouraging universities, of encouraging teaching institutions and building modern infrastructure…we are not only doing so to become a major player in educational tourism but we are going to become the most important player in educational tourism in this part of the world.”Following the ceremony yesterday, President Ramotar was tasked with unveiling a billboard at the construction side after which he, in the company of TAU officials, played a role in the ceremonial groundbreaking. |
