The 11th Rupununi Expo of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) was held earlier this month at the Rupununi Rodeo ground, at Lethem.
President of the RCCI Jacqueline D’Aguiar acknowledged the support of RCCI members for making the activity possible despite the setbacks, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
This year’s expo, hosted under the theme “Uniting Our Resources for a Secured Future,” was postponed by a week due to the recent electricity and water crisis affecting the Lethem community. The annual event showcases the products and the culture of the Rupununi and this year it also commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Chamber. There was also entertainment such as cycle races, football and volleyball competitions, horse and motor racing, followed by a Miss Rupununi Pageant.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, who opened the event, stated that she was always pleased to attend the Rupununi Expo and commended the RCCI for being resilient and continuing the expo, GINA reported. She urged the villages to be partners in events such as the expo and to take the opportunity to exhibit and be recognised.
The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) contributed to the event while companies such as North American Fire and General Insurance Company (NAFICO), GTM, Digicel and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Guyana Forestry Commission and other agencies within Region 9 used the opportunity to promote their work.
