With the scorching midday sun beaming down, Britain’s Prince Harry arrived in Guyana at the Eugene Correia Airport to a military salute by the Guyana Defence Force with its band playing the British and Guyana National Anthems.
He was greeted on arrival by Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge and British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn.
The Prince is in Guyana for the last stop of his Caribbean tour.
From the airport, the entourage made its way to the Ministry of the Presidency, where Prince Harry was welcomed and greeted by President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and other Government Ministers.
Before posing for an official photograph with the Guyana Government team, he glanced and made his way across to a photograph from 1966 that is mounted in the Presidential Complex. The photograph shows the handing over of the instruments of Independence to then Guyana Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham.
“Do you recognise your uncle in the photograph”, President Granger asked. Prince Harry said he did and that he looked much different back then, sending the room into chuckles.
From the Ministry of the Presidency, the Prince made his way across to the Independence Arch where he laid a floral tribute.
He appeared very solemn as he glanced at the arch which stands on Brickdam. He waved to a small crowd that gathered nearby as he made his way from the arch.
The Prince stopped briefly and spoke to some school children.
His next stop was the headquarters of the Guyana Defence Force, Camp Ayanganna. There, the Prince met the Chief of Staff, Veterans of the Force, Senior and Junior Officers and cadets.
He sat on a table to chat with veterans as he quizzed them about their medals and their time in the military.
One of the veterans presented him with one of his medals and the Guyana Defence Force presented him with a special commemoration plaque.
A steel pan band played Guyanese folk songs as the Prince left the GDF headquarters and made his way across to the Commonwealth War Graves Memorial at the Police Headquarters.
There, he laid a wreath, stopped to read the writings on the grave and waved to curious persons who were close by.
On Saturday, the Prince will travel to the Iworkrama Conservation site then to the Kaieteur National Park. On Sunday, he will visit the Joshua House for Children then meet with the First Lady before departing Guyana.
This is Prince Harry’s first visit to Guyana.
See more photos below.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login