The Wakenaam Nite held over the weekend was once again a success and the organisers should be given full commendation for a splendid job,Chairman of Wakenaam Night Management Committee, Shiek Ahmad, attributed the success of the event was to the tremendous support from the people in and out of Wakenaam.
Wakenaam, one of the larger of the 365 islands found in the mighty Essequibo River historically has been a predominantly agricultural community, better known for its rice, coconuts and cash crops, has also produced one of Guyana’s West Indies leading cricketers, Ramnaresh Sarwan.
However the advent of Wakenaam Nite, which began four years ago, has now laid the foundation for the transformation of the island into another tourist destination and creates a new window of opportunity for the business community, craftsmen etc. to showcase their talent, innovative and creative skills, thereby removing the stigma that its residents are only capable of indulging in agricultural production.
According to a report in this newspaper there was an attendance of some 8,000 and the event was indeed bigger and better as promised by the organisers. Very important too was the fact that on display was a wide variety of products ranging from pottery to cosmetics. This certainly would have exposed the producers of these products to potential lucrative business ventures with both local and foreign counterparts.
Notably too were the presence of a sizeable number of overseas-based Guyanese, all of whom spoke glowingly of the event, and the overall improvement in the country. This will definitely have a positive spin-off for the island and the country as a whole because when they return to the Guyanese Diaspora they will spread the good news there which would help to attract more Guyanese abroad, and to some extent non-Guyanese to attend such events.
Director of Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh, said the event attracted more booths and better participation than the last time, and was testimony to better organisation.
Of great significance though is that the event provides the launching pad for the island to develop its tourism potential and this was alluded to by Haralsingh. He said events like Wakenaam Nite are the heartbeat of a tourist destination, the core attraction that pulls the interest of people.
According to the GTA Director, Wakenaam Nite worked well in helping to facilitate the advancement of domestic tourism.
“We want to encourage Guyanese to travel more…we want to promote travel at home and have our people explore, experience and enjoy their own country,” he said.
“Tourism is growing in Guyana…there are many opportunities in Wakenaam,” he added.
Among the opportunities are island tours, craft manufacturing, agro-tourism, night life and Wakenaam’s popular ‘fowl curry competition’.
“If you can add three or four more significant events to the Wakenaam’s calendar of activities, then more people will be brought out to the island and it will help to improve the quality of life and entertainment prospects for the people here,” he said.
The GTA Director commended the organisation of bed and breakfast operations and said the challenge is out there for private sector to invest in the establishment of a hotel.
He maintained that expos are a platform to advance varied interests and can only have positive impacts.
“Wakenaam is making a name for itself,” he said.
Wakenaam Nite is clearly on a solid foundation, the focus should now be on using it to create greater opportunities for the people of the island.
The success of the event also helps to remove the myth, which many in Guyana believe, that people in rural and remote communities lack talent and organisational skill and capacity.