– as second Expo launched
Turning Guyana into a wedding destination was the major plan touted as the second annual Wedding Expo was launched last evening at the Roraima Duke Lodge in Kingston.
And for the next two days some 37 booths will offer information and advice on how and where to do and acquire all that is needed from the engagement to the honeymoon and beyond – homes, furnishings and vehicles. In addition, visitors to the expo to which entry is free, are entertained with wedding attire displays and dancing.
CEO of the Roraima Group of Companies Gerry Gouveia expressed a wish for the event, hosted this year under the theme ‘Magnificent Beginnings’ to grow and eventually become part of the tourism calendar. He noted that Guyana is not a wedding destination like many other Caribbean countries because of its archaic laws. Gouveia called for the modification of the law to “allow Guyana to become a wedding destination for the many, many people” who want the many beautiful locations in Guyana as the backdrop.
Meanwhile, launching the expo, Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir who stood in for Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand said he admired the Gouveias since they have shown that ordinary people through “dedication, hard work and prayers” could do extraordinary things and are an example for all of us.
He added that the effort to grow the country as a wedding destination requires “all of us in our country to put our minds and our shoulders to work”. However, Nadir stressed that for “all of these wedding businesses to grow we’re going to have to deal with cleanliness and sanitation in the city and the entire country. “Building Guyana as a wedding destination is a business for all of us.”
Nadir pointed out that the way our environment looked and smelled was just as important as the fine details one would ensure made their wedding memorable.
The minister went on to state that healthy sanitation need not only be something experienced in developed countries such as in North America and Switzerland. All of us in our little way and those in authority in a major way can do their part to ensure this happens, Nadir added. He expressed hope that the wedding expo would grow beyond the Duke Lodge and encouraged owners of the business present to “continue with entrepreneurial skills displayed” since “you are going to do well and build Guyana as a wedding destination”. He then encouraged them to continue to try with their ideas even if they sometimes fail.
The wedding expo is sponsored by BK International, Banks DIH, Courts (Guyana), Demerara Tobacco Company, GT&T, Hand in Hand Group of Companies, Republic Bank (Guyana) and Scotia Bank.
