20/20 Cricket Championship in Toronto

It will be two magical days of magical spin and pure fun Guyanese style in the Western Union Celebrity Cricket Championship in Toronto featuring some of Guyana’s and Canada’s most Celebrated cricketers with prize money and give-aways of more than Cdn$20,000.

FLASHBACK: Scenes from last year’s activities in Canada attended by President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Guyana Cricket Board has confirmed a top-class cricket team this year with the likes of Sewnarine Chattergoon and the Crandon brothers. They will be going up against the local Toronto & District League, Scarborough League, and Etobicoke League which themselves consist overwhelmingly of players of Guyanese origin.

The Guyana XI will be out for revenge for their defeat at the hands at the Scarborough team last year. They did have an excuse in that the game had to be cut back to 10/10 as summer thunderstorms interrupted play and affected ground conditions.

Thousands are expected to turn up in high anticipation of enjoying fine Guyanese music, exquisite cuisine and true ambiance at what has grown to be the largest annual cricket event in Canada. Arrangements are underway for radio coverage into Guyana.

The Games are part of the 14th annual Guyana Festival, which is the largest Guyanese event outside of Guyana, with an estimated 25,000 in attendance.

Festival activities commence to the sounds of Tassas and African drumming on Saturday, June 20th, with representatives from various levels of the Canadian governments, CARICOM and other Canadian organizations present for the noon opening ceremony. As traditional, a high level Government dignitary is expected to travel up for the ceremonies and to meet with overseas Guyanese.

Organized under the theme, “A Taste of Guyana”, the Festival is an exposé of Guyanese Heritage and Culture in Canada. With performances planned by several celebrated Guyanese artists, the Festival promises unmatched entertainment.

Patrons can participate in a host of activities including soccer, dominoes or face-painting; attend the car show; shop at the trade show for the finest piece of authentic Amerindian craft; feast on the best duck-curry or peas and-rice in town; experience the uniqueness of a Guyanese Multi-Faith Service and reception, or just hang out with thousands of Guyanese at the Independence Lime where they are guaranteed to meet an old friend for a ‘gyaff’.

First featured five years ago, The Trade Exposition on Saturday and Sunday at L’Amoreaux Community Centre, is again expected to be a major attraction, with participation from dozens of companies from Guyana including several tourism companies that will be on hand to promote Guyana’s magnificent eco-tourism products. There will be an arts and crafts sale, featuring authentic Amerindian and Guyanese crafts and gift products.

The Cultural Show, a sold-out affair each year, is expected to be a big hit again this year. The theatrical presentation entitled ‘Wah mis yuh nah go pas yuh’, directed by Luther Hansraj will showcase some of Guyana’s best entertainers living in Canada and the Unites States. Two distinguished Guyanese performers, Pamela Maynard and Aubrey Mann, will be receiving awards for their outstanding global musical achievements and cultural contributions.

Activities have been expanded to make Sunday (June 21) – a fun and exciting day for the entire family. Features include The Duck Curry Cook-out competition, which has been expanded to ten competing chefs and more than 1,000 tastes, and is guaranteed to titillate the taste buds of patrons.

The winner of the competition will receive two tickets to Guyana and an opportunity to represent the Guyanese Diaspora in Canada at the World Duck Curry Competition in Guyana later this year.

The cook-off starts at noon, with tasting from 15.00 hrs. Other dishes on sale will include duck curry, mutton curry, pepperpot, dhalpouri, cook-up rice, alloo and channa curry, bake and saltfish, polourie, potato balls, pastries, snacks, roasted corn and local drinks.

The Festival brings to a close the annual Guyanese Heritage Celebrations, a month-long program in Canada organized to commemorate the 43rd Anniversary of Guyana’s Independence. The celebrations commenced on May 23 with the Guyana Awards (Canada) Gala and included dozens of activities spanning five provinces, involving thousands of Guyanese and Canadians.