Stressing that safety is a priority, organisers on Tuesday last launched the Bartica Annual Easter Regatta, as well as a new magazine, Bartica Review Magazine, which will be available in a few weeks.
Chairman of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Gordon Bradford, who also serves as the Chairman of the Regatta Board outlined the facilities that will be in place. “We always have aircraft on standby for emergency air dashes to the city,” he said. “We have a hospital nearby. There are coastguards and lifeguards surrounding the course at all times. Safety is always our Number One priority but unfortunately when it comes to safety we cannot be 100% because no matter how prepared you are it will always take you by surprise,” he said, “The regatta is a competitive sport and they are guidelines but what I hope for in the future is that there be a bill to ensure certain safety measures are taken out before any water sport. We have never had a fatal accident, thank God but we are not waiting on one.”
Bradford expressed his grief at the death of Orin ‘Monty’ Belle who was a regular competitor at the Bartica Regatta. Belle died last year from injuries sustained in a freak accident while competing at the Lake Mainstay Regatta.
Bradford said he was pleased that his administrative region was hosting such an event, once again and promises it will be above the expectations of all who came to love the Bartica Regatta. He said Bartica was the place where all of the regattas in Guyana started and it deserves to be the hub of a tourism standpoint for its uniqueness, hospitality and clean environment. “I see tourism as the plank to keep us afloat economically; over the years the regatta has grown,” he added.
Bradford mentioned the history of the regatta, which began in the late 50s. He paid tribute to those persons who started the foundation of the regatta and those who work so hard to keep it alive. He said he wished the event could be sustainable financially in the future by having more public/private collaboration.
He addressed the issue of the regatta being notorious for starting late. “Time and tide waits on no one,” he said noting that the late starting was mostly a problem with the arrival of the competitors rather than the actual organisation of the regatta, but steps will be placed to start on time.
DC Promotions highlighted the celebration of the third year since its establishment. The company’s ambition is to put Bartica on the map since people only refer to the village when general elections are in the air or when remembering the dreadful 2008 massacre which left deep scars. “We want to promote things very healthy for our region,” said Deon Ferrier of DC Promotions.
Ms Regatta Pageant Coordinator, Sonia Noel, revealed that the eight contestants of the pageant, which will be held on March 31, are from across the country rather than just the region which had always been the case. “By every effort we want to make this event national and not just centred on Bartica,” said Noel.
The prize for the 2013 queen is $1 million, which is a pageant first. “During the experience of the Ms Regatta 2013 Pageant, everyone must feel like winners. It is not just a pageant but a grooming exercise,” she said.
The event kicks off on Sunday, March 24 with a football competition and concludes on Monday, April 1 after a Beach Jam. There will also be a gospel concert and an international concert featuring Jah Cure.
Also present at the launch, held in the Savannah Room of the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown was Charles Jones of DC Promotions.
