Popular local singer and overseas-based Guyanese Terry Gajraj Thursday launched a new song and video produced by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) to assist in showcasing Guyana’s tourism potential, especially with Guyana now heightening preparations to host Cricket World Cup 2007.

The video and song were launched during a press conference at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia. The song, “Cricket Lovely Cricket” is about cricket in Guyana while the video consists of various attractive scenes around the country, including a number of tourist areas such as the Kaieteur Falls.

“It’s a pleasure for us from the GTA to host this little preview of what we see as a very important activity,” Executive Director of the GTA, Indira Anandjit stated.

She explained that Gajraj approached the GTA in December last and it was decided that with cricket coming up and people not aware of what a wonderful destination Guyana is, one way of sensitising people to this would be through entertainment.

“We are hoping to use this medium to send the message about Guyana and things which are happening here.”

She said when the GTA was approached, it was felt that the song would be an excellent way of sending some serious messages of things happening in the country and showcasing its beauty.

“Despite the negative image which some of you report on, we still have a lot going for us, a lot of positive things that are happening,” Anandjit told the media.

“When you look at this DVD, you will see the positive energy that went behind this and how patriotic I do believe Terry really is to this country because he promotes his work not only in the USA where he lives, but he frequents the UK and he goes to Canada. He has shows throughout the Caribbean and if this is one of the ways to showcase our country then we are not to complain because that is our job also,” the GTA Executive Director pointed out.

Anandjit noted that the song had been first rejected since it had infringed on one of the rules of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for Cricket World Cup 2007, as a line in the song had included the event. It had to be redone.

The GTA Executive Director expressed gratitude to a number of public and private entities that supported the venture and contributed to the making of the video, including the Government Information Agency (GINA) for providing much-needed footage, Baganara Island Resort, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Pizza Hut and the National Communications Network (NCN) for assisting with facilities for recording the video.

Meanwhile, Gajraj said that he is happy to be making another major mark on the music scene in Guyana and that he has observed a number of positive changes in the field here, such as better studio and other recording facilities.

He emphasised that the song has already been getting good reviews in New York, noting that it has been produced at a time when the West Indies cricket team seems to be making a ‘comeback’ and have won some matches recently.

Gajraj has been involved in the music industry for the past 15 years and has recorded other popular local songs, including “Guyana Baboo.” (GINA)