Hits and Jams Entertainment, which is being targeted by a boycott organized by a section of the opposition, yesterday refused to discuss the impact on its New Year’s Eve “Night of Elegance” gala.
Photographs and accounts received suggested a dismal night for the promotion entity, which saw only a few hundred in attendance at the event at the Promenade Gardens—a sharp contrast from the usual capacity crowds. Rain might have also affected attendance.
Manager of Hits and Jams Kerwin Bollers told Stabroek News that he did not wish to comment. “I have nothing to say on that,” was his reaction when contacted by telephone.
Meanwhile, Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green told this newspaper yesterday that he was not at the time aware of the condition of the Promenade Gardens and was unable to comment on the state of the flora and other features of the gardens.
Stabroek News has seen a copy of a letter from Republic Bank (Guyana), a partner in the upkeep of the facility, in which it had expressed concern about the holding of the event there again because of the poor condition that it had been left in after the 2010 event.
Efforts to contact Republic Bank personnel responsible for the maintenance of the property proved futile.
The Chief Citizen, how-ever, remained adamant that the municipality was “bullied” by central government into having the event held there. “I regret this descent by the government to intervene in granting Hits and Jams permission to hold their event at the Promenade Gardens.
They, through the Office of the President, implemented a tactic of barbaric bullyism…They also had the support of the Guyana Police Force; as such, I told my constab to keep away because I did not want a confrontation,” Green said.
Another promoter, Kashif and Shanghai saw a vastly reduced crowd at its football final on New Year’s day after it was targeted for boycott by the APNU youth group.
