The Lethem Municipality is gearing up for the first-ever Lethem Town Week, according to a release yesterday from the Ministry of Communities.
Lethem Town Week is slated for October 15 through 21st, 2017 and will culminate with an official ceremony headlined by President David Granger declaring the border community one of Guyana’s newest towns.
Chairman of the organizing committee, Raymond Hunte said that the activities will thrill patrons. The event will begin with an interfaith service and athletic championships in the form of road race, a cycle race as well as a fitness walk.
Hunte said that the fitness walk will not be one usually associated with distance but survival and endurance.
The participants will have to trek through the savannah, climb hills, cross creeks and hike along rocky terrain.
A regional agricultural and commercial exhibition will also be mounted.
“We will also be having a volleyball and 10/10 cricket competition and we are thinking to incorporate some aspects of rodeo with cowboys on horse backs,” the Chairman stated.
Among the other highlights of the event will be a “Bold and Beautiful” fashion show that will be open to boutiques, clothing stores, local designers and businesses associated with the fashion industry.
A spelling bee competition will also be part of the town week of activities; with all the words having specific significance to the Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo region, the release said.
“During that week we will be celebrating Diwali (the festival of lights) and in an effort to embrace our Hindu brothers and sisters; we have planned a motorcade. There will also be an illuminated building competition where residential and business entities can get involved and they will be judged for the brightest building,” Hunte said.
The event planners are hoping to attract joint business ventures with airlines, hotels and tour operators.
Brazilian stores have already indicated their interest in showcasing Portuguese-made construction materials, the release said.
The organizers are also working closely with tour guides to provide overland daily tours to Boa Vista, waterfalls and ranches.
Persons from as far as Manaus are expected to be in attendance as the committee plans to arrange Brazilians bus operators to ferry their nationals to the border town.
Hunte, a former telecommunications executive with a military background and a wide array of experience in marketing, project management and event planning, stated that Lethem Town Week will be a cultural and entertainment extravaganza.
The executive members of the committee are Vice Chairman, Juanita Williams, Treasurer; Leonard Zammett, Secretary; Jennifer Moonsammy, Vice Treasurer and Sharla Hernandez. The other members are Ahrens Landry, Wendell Rohlehr, Theresa Torres and Yolanda Moffett.
