THIS year’s Bartica Regatta is going to be nothing short of fantastic, with organisers promising an event that will be “immaculately planned and organised.”

Secretary for the ‘Regatta Committee’ Cianna Persaud has already started putting together proposals, getting plans ready, and ensuring that the sponsorship list is in place.

With more emphasis being added to the entertainment aspect of the event, international reggae artiste Glen Washington is billed to perform at this year’s regatta.

It has been confirmed that this year’s winner of the regatta pageant will receive $500,000 in cash; with the second place winner receiving $300,000, and third place receiving $100,000. The cash prizes are separate from any other prizes that would be given out; depending on how much more funds are received through sponsorships.

The activities include basketball, dominoes, cricket, volleyball, football, gymkhana motorsport, a comedy show, gospel fest, dirt bike racing, the pageant and road jam. Spread throughout the month of April, all of the events are fixed for the Community Centre Ground.

“This year’s regatta is going to be immaculately planned and organised and patrons will be fully informed about what’s going on. We would not have an event where patrons will not be wowed when they walk through the door, because you’re going to see branding and ads; you’re going to see us showcase a clean, green and pristine town of Bartica with a face that is going to pop,” Persaud expressed during an interview with this publication recently.

Almost the entire population in Bartica turns up for the regatta. “This is something that you can’t miss,” Persaud said.

BEAUTY PAGEANT

The Bartica Regatta pageant is rumoured to be the oldest functioning beauty pageant in Guyana. “We’re talking and dating back to the 50’s or even 40’s, and we hope to keep it alive,” Pageant Trainer Sonjie Marslowe told this publication.

Marslowe, who is also helping to coordinate the regatta, is hoping that someone else will come on board to handle the choreography, styling, etc.

One of the main aims of the organisers is to be able to produce a queen that can represent Guyana at one of the most prominent international pageants. “Back in the day, the pageant was somewhat insignificant, in the sense that it stopped right here in Bartica, but what we’ve been striving to do over the past 10 years or so, is to cut that limitation,” Marslowe said.

“We want the pageant to stretch outside of Bartica and one of our main aims at the pageant is, to produce the first Bartican Miss Guyana; be it Miss Guyana World, Miss Guyana Earth, Miss Guyana Universe, and ultimately, we want to be represented on the international scene at one of those big five pageants,” she added.

Marslowe said the intention is for the contestants to be involved in youth-oriented activities in Bartica and around the country. “We’re talking about fashion, social activism, etc.
The type of contestants we’re aiming for, are those who can accept and manage certain responsibilities regarding our main aims. We work closely with the standards that are set for the international pageants so as to possibly qualify.”

The contestants have not yet been confirmed for this year, but the ideal figure for the organisers would be 10 women, between the ages of 18 and 25.
Marslowe had dreamt of being crowned queen of the regatta ever since she was a child attending the pageant. In 2004, though, when she was 20 years old, she was able to realise her dream.

She noted that Bartica has been putting on some of the best pageant shows in Guyana in terms of stage décor, costumes, gowns, and the works. “This year, we’re hoping for nothing short of fantastic. We’re always striving to have the best ‘Miss Regatta’ pageant ever. We’re always looking to build and develop the pageant because it’s dear to us. It’s one of the things in Bartica that we hold dear. It’s almost like a sacred commodity,” Marslowe expressed.

The contestants, will have to do an official photo shoot and will visit President David Granger and Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin.
Approximately 3,000 persons attend the pageant each year.