The Ministry of Indi-genous People’s Affairs has announced the activities planned for the upcoming Indigenous Heritage Month.
The activities will run from August 31st to September 30th, under the theme “Preserving our customs and traditions.”
Speaking at the media launch at the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs yesterday, Junior Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe stated that activities will start with an Inter-Faith Service on the 31st of August at the Amerindian Heritage Village at Sophia.
She noted that the Heritage Village was in a deplorable state and that the buildings are currently undergoing intensive renovation, which is to be completed in time for the month of events. The minister promised that this year the festival will be bigger and better than before and she noted that several committees were put together to plan different events throughout the month.
The coordinator of the ceremonial launch indicated that President David Granger and Senior Minister Sydney Allicock will give the main addresses at the ceremony on September 1st and that over 600 persons are expected to attend. She also stated that there will be cultural performances by several indigenous groups at the event and that a number of Amerindian dishes will be available for sampling.
The Art, Craft, Food and Beverage committee leader stated that the Indigenous Food and Craft Exhibition will be held from Septem-ber 1st to September 6th. She invited everyone to attend and enjoy the rich Amerindian food and beverage.
Minister Garrido-Lowe added that this year the organisers are trying to focus more on indigenous foods and beverages. “The indigenous vendors have been saying that their food and drinks are not being sold out because the non-indigenous foods are being sold,” she said. The minister stated that this year they will be giving the indigenous vendors a head start by allocating an hour where only their food and beverages can be sold.
There will also be the annual Heritage Fundraising Dinner, where a range of Amerindian foods and delicacies will be served. All the proceeds from this event will go towards persons in the interior who are seeking medical attention at the Georgetown Hospital.
