Arthur Chung Conference Centre Explained

Arthur Chung Conference Centre
Map Type:Guyana
Coordinates:6.8208°N -58.1189°W
Location Town:Georgetown
Location Country: Guyana
Completion Date:2006[1]
Renovation Date:8 June 2018[2]
Cost:US$ 7.1 million (renovation)

The Arthur Chung Conference Centre is a convention and exhibition centre in Georgetown, Guyana. It is located next to the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community.[3]

Overview

The convention centre was constructed in 2006, and was initially named Guyana International Conference Centre.[4] The convention centre is a gift from the People's Republic of China, and became the preferred location for venues,[4] and was often used by CARICOM for conferences.[5]

In 2015, the centre was renamed to Arthur Chung Conference Centre in honour of Arthur Chung, the first president of Guyana who was of Chinese (Hakka Han) ethnicity.[4] [6]

The Chinese Government had offered a 10-year agreement for repairs. In 2016, the centre closed for repairs and reconstruction.[4] It reopened on 8 June 2018 with a 500-seat main hall, an eastern conference room of 220 people and a western conference room of 120. The main halls has been fitted with sliding walls to allow the creation of up to five smaller rooms.[1] The renovation was carried out by the China Railway Group Limited.[3]

During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–21, the centre was temporarily used by the National Assembly in order to meet physical distance requirements.[7]

References

  1. News: Upgraded Arthur Chung Conference Centre will help to ‘sell’ Guyana to world . 1 February 2019. 7 December 2021. Stabroek News.
  2. News: Rehabilitated Arthur Chung Centre recommissioned. Stabroek News. 8 June 2018. 7 December 2021.
  3. News: Shanxi-built project handed over in Guyana after renovation . 18 July 2018. 7 December 2021. China Daily.
  4. News: Rehablitated Arthur Chung Conference Centre set to reopen at the end of May. News Source Guyana. 23 March 2018. 7 December 2021.
  5. Web site: Communique issued at the conclusion of the thirtieth regular meeting of the conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, 2-5 July 2009, Georgetown, Guyana. Caricom. 4 July 2009. 7 December 2021.
  6. News: Obituary – Arthur Chung. 29 June 2008. Stabroek News. 7 December 2021.
  7. News: Opposition MP’s missing laptop reappears during afternoon break. News Source Guyana. 24 February 2021. 7 December 2021.

External links