GUYANA is promised a “wow” celebration for the country’s 50th independence celebrations, and the organisers have already scored big with a commitment from Guyanese international superstar Eddy Grant.The native son, who has performed at mega events around the world, had shunned Guyana because of the absence of copyright legislation, but it seems he is ready to end that drought.
Laurie London, Chief Executive Officer of the National Commemoration Committee for the Fiftieth anniversary celebration, during an interview with this publication Friday said Eddy Grant has indicated his willingness to perform and the committee will respond in affirmative, giving him a royal superstar welcome.
Grant’s iconic songs include Electric Avenue and Gimme Hope Jo’ana, which was seen as the reggae anthem of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa in the 1980s. The song was banned in South Africa but was played in the country nevertheless.
Details of Grant’s appearance are expected to be announced in the near future.
Other big names expected in the country for the 50th anniversary international Olympic athletes Allian Pompey, June Griffith and Dennis Collison.
London, a US-based Guyanese who was appointed by government to manage the year of jubilee said it will be grand from its very beginning.
Though the celebration is year-long, he said May the actual month of independence will begin with a country-wide prayer campaign in which every church will be invited to participate in joint services at their respective community locations.
“A day of prayer” he calls it, and said religious leaders will also be invited to release the blessings of God in almost every major event.
Mass games, massive international music festivals, athletics, football and other sporting events with an international flair are being planned.
London said a number of the organizing committee said more than twenty-thousand have already indicated their interest in coming home to participate in the festivities and will be given a taste of Guyana’s tourism gifts.
Organisers have already contacted three airlines – Dynamic Airlines, Fly Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines among others – to make accommodation for the tourists mainly from North America, Europe and the Caribbean.
Committee members said while one tourist is not expected to spend less than US$1000, they anticipate some US$20,000 000 to be generated from the event.
A four-nation football competition aims at attracting even neighboring Brazil, and a grand Guyexpo showcase is slated for May 27 to 29, the committee revealed.