The Kanuku Mountains Community Representa-tive Group (KMCRG) says it successfully held the fourth Rupununi Christmas Fair at the Market Place, Lethem, on December 21, 2013.
The fair provided market access for residents especially women, from impoverished Amerindian communities in the Rupununi, while attracting the interest of national and regional public and private sector stakeholders.
A release from the group said that the Christmas fair started from a simple idea by the KMCR Group in 2010 to promote the values and traditions, particularly of Amerindian communities in the Rupununi.
A highlight of the fair was the award competition in which a panel of judges identified the winners of five categories. Awards were given for the best agricultural produce – won by Ben Smith from Moco Moco Village; best preserved food products – won by the Shulinab Women’s Group; best handicraft products – awarded to the Nappi Balata Artisans; most innovative range of products – awarded to the Ishartoon Women’s Group from Aishalton and the KMCRG award was won by Theodore Edward from Maruranau for his innovative hand-woven armadillo purses. Participants, the release said, travelled from all parts of the Region to showcase a wide variety of products. These included balata figurines from master craftsmen in Nappi; jewellery from Lethem; packets of cassava biscuits from Wowetta, fresh local, peanut butter from Karasabai, casareep, parched peanuts/cashew nuts or salted peanuts from St Ignatius; wild bees honey and fresh agricultural produce from Moco Moco village; hand-made coconut or crabwood oil soap and small jars of neem cream and other natural products from Annai; a range of handicraft and delicious food and beverage products from Shulinab, Aishalton, Surama and other nearer Kanuku Mountain and savannah local communities. The KMCR Group received continued support from NGOs – Conservation International which strengthened the link between the sustainable livelihoods project, ‘Leveraging Natural Capital in the Guyana’s Rupununi’ and the Christmas Fair; and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture which gave a donation towards the award prizes.
The fair also received increased support from corporate social responsibility contributions of private sector enterprises including Trans-Guyana Airways, Neal and Massy, Golden Arrow Airways, and Air Services Ltd.
The Christmas Fair was also strongly supported by the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Over twenty members of the Lethem business community including local guest houses, shops, stores, other businesses and individuals donated gifts and cash to be given as prizes to the participants.
The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry assisted by purchasing 30 large gift hampers made up of products from more than eight Rupununi community producers and craft workers.
Many customers and participant vendors noted that this fair was better organised and this was a result of increased collaboration among the stakeholders, the release said. Young local volunteers assisted to paint the stalls. The Community Policing Group provided gate and parking control.
Jessica George, Project Manager for the KMCR Group and member of the fair organising committee said, “The wider success of the fair this year is as a result of increased collaboration between our public and private sector stakeholders as well as the communities themselves.” She added, “We now need to strengthen those partnerships and work towards longer term sustainability of the fair, not just next year.”
She said that the KMCR Group needed continued support of their partners to improve the standards of the facility and sanitary services at the venue. They needed to increase promotion and marketing of the fair; facilitate wider attendance by addressing transportation issues; and to keep diary dates flexible to allow both customers and vendors to enjoy and benefit from the unique ambience and offerings of the Rupununi Christmas Fair.
Behi Barzegar, a volunteer and another member of the fair organising committee observed that the Christmas Fair was growing because it is filling a marketing gap for the communities and enterprising people. She said that its popularity and the commitment and enthusiasm of the communities and also the local businesses are proof that the people in the region know what they want and can organise to achieve their goal.
Haydock Thompson, representing the New Guyana Marketing Corporation for the first time said that he never knew there was such a variety of products available in the Rupununi.
Likewise first time participants from the Surama Village in the North Rupununi were impressed, school teacher Floyd Buckley said that the fair was entertaining and provided a great opportunity for villagers to sell their products. Jaqueline Allicock, a manager of the Surama Eco-Lodge said she was perplexed at first not quite imagining the link between agriculture and tourism but after seeing the fair in operation, she understood the benefits of bringing persons from all over the region and beyond, who would not normally meet to interact.
The visit of Santa Claus for the second year running thrilled over 400 children, including 30 visiting from Region 8, who received gifts thanks to the NGO EIRIPAN and local retailers Saarah’s, Andy’s, and Carlton Beckles.
