Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock on Monday handed over a cheque to Toshao of the Tuseneng Village Council, Philip Geronimo for the hosting of the 5th North Pakaraimas Expo billed for March 26-27, 2018.
According to a release from the Department of Public Information (DPI), Tuseneng is the host village for this year’s activity which aims to bring together local people, tourists, visitors, businesses, community organizations and others in celebration of the diversity of the Indigenous Culture through cultural presentations art, craft, fashion, a farmers’ market, traditional foods, beverages and games.
The activity will see six villages participating namely Kanapang, Penak, Itabac, Kurukubaru, Kato, and Chuing Mouth.
During the handing over at the Ministry’s Thomas and Quamina streets location, Allicock underscored Govern-ment’s commitment to ensuring economic development is realized throughout the hinterland.
The Minister said the North Pakaraimas Expo must be one such initiative which will create that enabling environment for such development to take place.
He also stated that “it’s not a handout it is an investment so naturally we are looking for the returns for your own economic development and looking at our people being in a position to market their stuff, tourism activities, and soon we will have the lapidary in Monkey Mountain so all of this is in support of that sort of venture”.
Geronimo said the village is looking forward to hosting the activity and thanked villagers for their support.
Finances will go towards the construction of several booths, general sprucing up of the village, transportation and other costs for the six villages that will be participating.
The two-day event is expected to attract more than three thousand visitors, DPI said.
Neighbouring Monkey Mountain hosted the 2017 Expo which saw several Ministers of Government in attendance.
