With Easter approaching…
EASTER is quickly approaching and, because one of the most popular activities associated with it is the traditional kite flying, several streets in Georgetown are now being used for the sales.

These little ones have already decided on their choice of kite for the Easter holidays. (Sonnel Nelson photos)

The Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday sought comments from some sellers on busy Regent Street, where they were optimistic that business will be better than last year.

Trevor Smith, who has been making and selling kites for 30 years at the corner of Regent and Camp Streets said: “In comparison to last year, we have a vast difference in sales. It is great to see how these kites are selling and we are not into our main business days as yet.

One of the kite vendors busy at work.

He said the prices have increased by $100 on each kite due to the cost of materials

Ryan Oselmo, in the business for the past eight years at the Camp and Robb Streets junction, said about sales: “It is not really powerful right now but it is now picking up.”

However, he said, in comparison to last year, sales are much better, with prices ranging between $300 and $1,000 and persons preferring the kites made locally with wood.

Maurice Prince, at Camp and Robb Streets, too, is an 18 years veteran who concurred that the enterprise is more profitable this year.

This seller displays his colourful array of kites to choose from for the Easter season.

“I realised that there is a world crisis and I know putting another $200 or so on the kites would have been really tough on the people. So I decided to stick to my usual prices,” Prince explained.

“This is really about the flying and I hope people have a wonderful Easter,” he said, revealing that he started to make kites since last November.

“It is a good investment although it takes a lot of work and time.”

Orin Joseph, another retailer, who has been marketing imported kites for over seven years at Regent and Camp Streets, said: “It has been a little slow but, from today, things stepped up a little and we expect sales to go up in the days to come.”

Paulette Forde, at Regent and Cummings Streets, who has been involved in making kites for 20 years predicted that sales would “pick up.”

“We are going to have a nice Easter. To me, the sales are better than last year, moving faster,” she observed.

Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer of Guyana Power & Light (GPL), Ms. Denise Adams advised all kite flyers to take the necessary precautions when flying and to fly their kites in wide open spaces, such as fields, pastures and any other similar places.

Kite flying should not be done along roads, highways and, especially, around GPL transmission and distribution lines, she cautioned.

Adams said damage to the GPL network as a result of kite flying would be a major inconvenience to every consumer and costs millions of dollars for repairs and maintenance annually.

She said, should kites become entangled on GPL wires, persons should not attempt to retrieve them but make contact with the utility.

Adams said, in cases where persons may have witnessed someone suffering electric shock from an entangled kite, calls should be made to 911 or the GPL emergency number in the particular area.

“GPL wishes to advise not to make any attempt to render assistance to the injured person unless you are trained to do so.

“Let us all contribute towards an uneventful kite flying season this year,” she appealed.