“All good things happening” at Mainstay/Whyaka – Pres Ali

…as LCDS investments fuel tourism, agri transformation

President Dr Irfaan Ali has posited that resources from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) are helping to transform Mainstay/Whyaka, with tourism and agriculture at the heart of the development, creating new opportunities, generating income and building a stronger, more sustainable community. The President made the remarks while visiting the Mainstay-Whyaka area, where he attended the community’s Lake Mainstay Regatta. According to Ali, while the Regatta was the reason for his visit, he wanted to highlight developments in the community that extend beyond the annual event. “I want to talk to you a bit about the transformation, and the Toshao will tell you. From this little village, our first project would have been the chicken project, pineapple project. But today they have expanded pineapple, they have expanded chicken. Then we put on the airstrip. And they have now gone into tourism, into engagement,” the President said.
He also pointed to improvements in other areas, including aquaculture, which he said has contributed to the community’s growing economic activity. “You know that the Lake Mainstay Resort is normally filled all the time. And the village now has expanded. We went into the fish project. They’re continuing to expand that. There are all good things happening here…I want you to see these beautiful cabins. Modern cabins, with all of the facilities that they have built out,” Ali said. Meanwhile, the village’s Toshao Marsha Williams, highlighted the investments being made in Mainstay/Whyaka, particularly in tourism and accommodation. She pointed to the village’s cabins as one of the first developments visitors encounter upon arriving, noting that the facilities were established as part of the Government’s investments in Indigenous communities through the LCDS. According to Williams, the first two cabins were developed through LCDS funding, which she said represents the Government’s commitment to Indigenous peoples and is being used by the community to create opportunities and boost tourism. She said the village is seeking to put Mainstay/Whyaka “more on the map” beyond its association with Lake Mainstay Resort.
The Toshao also pointed to the construction of an office at the entrance to the village, which she said was also funded through LCDS 2025, as well as a cage-farming project that has already produced successful harvests. She noted that previous harvests from the cage-farming project yielded fish weighing between seven and 10 pounds, describing the results as encouraging for the community.
According to the Toshao, the growth in tourism has also contributed to an increase in sporting activities around the lake, as more visitors come to Guyana and utilise facilities in Mainstay, including Lake Mainstay Resort. She said the increased activity is helping to boost tourism not only in the village but also throughout the region and Guyana as a whole. The Toshao said the village council and residents recognise the potential for further development and are therefore continuing to invest in the community with the support and commitment of the Government, with the aim of promoting Mainstay/Whyaka and showcasing what the village has to offer.