A city businessman has told Stabroek Business that what was offered at this year’s Boxing Day Main Big Lime was “less than what might have been expected” given the tremendous public support which the event received.
“I believe that an event of that magnitude ought to benefit from the kind of planning that goes into GuyExpo. There was really no evidence of that level of planning,” proprietor of German’s Restaurant Clinton Urling told Stabroek Business.
Urling, whose business premises is situated a short distance away from the Main street area where the event is held said that his recollection of the Main Big Lime was that it was an event that was intended to showcase Guyana to visitors and to Guyanese returning home for Christmas. “What the Main Big Lime offers is an opportunity for us to demonstrate in an urban setting some of the attractions of Guyana including those attractions that are unique to Christmas. There was not much of that in evidence on Boxing Day,” Urling said.
Noting that the event “appeared to reflect a lack of planning” Urling said that what was significant was that the Main Big Lime was planned by the same entity that is responsible for GuyExpo. “The point about this is that it is clearly not a matter of lack of capacity since it is the same Ministry that puts together GuyExpo.”
The south Georgetown restaurateur noted that there was no significant evidence of booths showcasing items made in Guyana. “Apart from a few craft vendors most of the business that was done at the event seemed to be in the areas of food and alcohol,” he said.
And Urling told Stabroek Business that he felt that planning for this year’s Main Big Lime ought to have included a cultural dimension which he said would have added “some character” to the event. “I have in mind, for example, a Masquerade Competition. Masquerade is a popular national art form that is prevalent at Christmas and better prior planning may have ensured that there was a Masquerade input”, he said.
Urling said that while he was aware of the entertainment dimension to an event like the Main Big Lime he was concerned that the event “serve to promote the image of Guyana – particularly for visitors – in the manner that is intended. Frankly, I am not sure how much good the predominance of loud music did for the event,” he said.
Asked whether the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had been approached regarding possible participation in the event, Urling – who is a recipient of the GCCI President’s Award – said that he was unsure as to whether such an approach had been made. He said, however, that he believed that more public/private sector cooperation could help make the Main Big Lime a more meaningful event.
