DOWN in the southernmost reaches of Guyana in the vast Rupununi Savannah, the town of Lethem is preparing for its second annual Town Week celebration with a host of activities unique to the location.
Set for October 14-20, Lethem Town Week 2018 will present activities in the areas of culture, the environment, education, sports and entertainment.
The theme this year is ‘Celebrating Transformation, Diversity and Uniqueness in 2018’ while all planning is being coordinated by the Lethem Town Week Committee with the support of the Lethem Town Council.
All are invited to participate in the official launching of the Town Week at the Declaration Park in Lethem on August 4 where visitors will be provided with a glimpse of the activities expected for the week long celebration.
Beginning on Sunday, October 14 will be the hosting of an inter-faith religious service at the official opening ceremony which will be attended by several Government and regional officials.
There will be special performances from an entourage parade, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Military Band (MS) and other physical displays followed by a day of cycling and horseback racing.
Then on Monday, October 15 efforts will be made towards ensuring Lethem becomes a greener town with the Plant-a-Tree Campaign which will be executed with the support of several regional organisations and residents.
Ten thousand trees is the given target which participants will plant around the municipality and its environs.
On Monday, too, visitors will be able to have a taste of the Rupununi through the Roast Master and Boily Boily Competition.
Then, the next day, residents will showcase their special gifts at the ‘Rupununi Got Talent’ competition on Tuesday, October 16.
For that day there will also be High School Debate competitions, Best Kept Yard competition and a Spelling Bee competition.
Physical activity will take the forefront on Wednesday, October 17 featuring fitness walks and senior and junior football competitions which will all be cooled off with the much anticipated Ms. Lethem Pageant.
The pageant will form a key part of this year’s event as the search has commenced for the next brand ambassador of the town.
On Thursday, October 18 flashback of fashion, music and art forms will be showcased through the ‘Back in Time Concert’ and during the day, too, football, chess, dominoes and board games competitions.
Meanwhile, the Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition will be held on October 19-20 at the Lethem Market and is coordinated by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
It seeks to showcase the productivity and innovative products of the region and on Friday, October 19 there will also be a Lethem Fitness competition and a Boxing Exhibition. Visitors get ready as the Finals of the Senior Football competition will take place on Saturday, October 20 while, on the same day, there will be a grand Road Race.
Other daily attractions include business and service booths, Overland Tours and the Brazil Fun Park, all which will be available before the closing ceremony set for Saturday evening.
The overall aim of the Lethem Town Week is to bridge the diversity of the Rupununi, its people and culture in one event, an initiative the savannah town has been working towards since its declaration as a town in October 2017.
