From left Manager, Support Services, Ms. Hyacinth Joseph; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad; and Madhia Exposé Coordinator, Mr. Daniel Fraser, speaking to the media.

THE first ever Madhia Exposé kicks off today with a packed three days of activities to showcase the mining community under the theme ‘Celebrating our Potential’.

Speaking to the media at his South Road, Georgetown office Wednesday, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, who met with two of the organizers, reiterated that it will be the first of its kind in Madhia, Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni).

The event is expected to attract visitors with a host of unique displays and events, including the Brazilian night, a replica of the St. Lucian La Rose festival, and a firsthand look at mining activities in which persons can participate in pockknocker activities and keep “their find”.

“As you would know, we have GuyExpo, we have Berbice Expo, we have Rupununi town day and the Moruca expo. Madhia has chosen to call theirs Madhia Exposé,” he noted.

The event is being staged in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, and the minister stressed, “Our aim at the ministry is to promote trade throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.”

?s areas become self-sufficient, like the Rupununi and the Berbice expos and other areas, we shift our focus into areas that were not serviced before’ hence Madhia,” he explained.

He observed that Madhia is a thriving community and most people are not fully aware of what happens there. As such the event will bring together people from the mining areas throughout Guyana and as far as the border of Brazil.

Prashad said his ministry hopes to promote trade as well as craft production, since tourism depends on ancillary things such as craft for tourists.

Referring to the formation of the Guyana Arts and Craft Producers’ Association, he noted that producers come with their work from as far as Madhia and further afield to Georgetown.

What we are doing now is taking people to Madhia for them to see what is happening in Madhia, and giving the small entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their products,” he stated.

Minister Prashad added, “We want the businesspeople in Madhia to showcase and highlight what they produce.”

He disclosed that admission to the expo at the Madhia Community Centre Ground will be free.

Several companies from Georgetown will be participating in the expo and one of the main events will be the Miss Madhia Pageant tomorrow night.

He noted that the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) will be playing a major role with the construction of a huge booth to showcase what it is doing and to highlight the tourist resorts and attractions in the area.

Prashad stated that officials from the GTA will also take the opportunity to visit areas that can attract tourists and one of things that his ministry and GTA will be pursuing for the first time is “open pit mining” where tourists can have a first hand look at how mining for gold is done.

Most of these tourists wear gold; but they have no idea how gold is extracted so it is a big thing for them. We may take things for granted here; but to see first hand the operation of an open pit mine and how gold is extracted is a big thing,” he explained.

He expressed the hope that the Madhia Exposé will grow, noting, “I am sure that with all the hard work that the organisers have put into this event, it will be a huge success.”

The response has been favourable and I know that we can look forward to a very interesting Madhia Exposé 2009,” he expressed.

Madhia Exposé Coordinator Mr. Daniel Fraser who was accompanied by Manager of Support Services, Ms. Hyacinth Joseph, noted that it is being done primarily to showcase Madhia. He observed that Madhia is at the centre of Guyana and is “like the navel of Guyana” ,being 220 miles from the capital city of Georgetown by road and some 45 minutes by aircraft.

The programme starts at 16:00 h, with a seven-a-side football match sponsored by Banks DIH, followed by Brazilian Night.

There is a large population of Brazilians in Madhia and they came together as part of the private sector and decided that they are going to honour this exposé with a Brazilian night,” he added.

Another unique feature of the packed programme, which starts at 9:00 h tomorrow, is the La Rose festival which is a St. Lucian tradition that had been celebrated for a number of years in Madhia, but stopped because many of the old islanders had left.

He said from noon tomorrow, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission will be staging “All that glitters” like a ‘mini porkknocker day’ where people can have a chance to take part in mining activities.

Also, Merundoi will be there doing ‘street theatre’ during the morning and afternoon sessions showcasing how to deal with social ills.

At 16:00h there will be another football match sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, followed by the pageant in the evening.

Sunday, will be a ‘light day’ with sports and games and persons can tour the area.

The curtain comes down in the evening with another football match.

&#And Madhia is exquisitely beautiful…,” Fraser reminded.