– President shares major Region Three development plans
ORGANISERS of the first-ever Parika Night and Expo 2011 are deeming it an event similar to the Main Big Lime after a massive crowd turned out in support on the evening of August 27, in the popular Region Three village. They were so impressed at its success that they gave the nod of approval for it to become an annual feature of the East Bank Essequibo village, and a calendar event of the Tourism Ministry.

The inaugural Parika Night and Expo 2011 event was organised through a partnership effort of the Mora/Parika Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), the business community, and the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce.
President Bharrat Jagdeo was among those who appeared at the fun- filled event, along with Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, and was later joined by Presidential Candidate and Adviser, Donald Ramotar, who mingled with the crowd in customary meet-and-greet fashion.

A section of the road leading to the expo in the vicinity of Hydronie was cordoned off to vehicular traffic, and as patrons made their way in, they were greeted by a towering “Welcome” sign.
The sale of local cuisines and popular sound systems at various locations augmented the party-like atmosphere. While sections of the business community were represented by booth displays.
Patrons were also treated to live band and dance performances with special appearances by some popular local and regional artistes, such as Guyanese born “Natural Black” from Jamaica and Little Joey from Trinidad and Tobago.

Addressing the gathering, President Jagdeo commended the organisers for staging the event that attracted a crowd of such magnitude, and used the occasion to provide an update on major development plans in the making for Region Three.
Foremost on the agenda is the extension of the road into a four-lane highway from the Demerara Harbour Bridge, West Bank Demerara, to Parika, East Bank Essequibo, which he said will significantly ease traffic congestion.
The plan is one of several to be implemented on sections of the country’s roads laden with heavy traffic.
The Head of State also spoke of $600M being spent on the construction of a state-of-the art synthetic track at Leonora which he described as a necessary component of community development.
“That facility when completed, will be lit, hundreds of events will run off there, you’re going to have a series of hotels and restaurants and a number of things built around it, so that the West Coast too will enjoy a whole range of facilities that people in Georgetown and other parts have access to,” President Jagdeo said.

The Leonora Technical Institute, which is under construction, according to President Jagdeo, will attract students from across Guyana and the islands. More importantly, he said, residents of the West Coast will no longer have to bear the cost of travelling to the city for such education.
Such investments, President Jagdeo said, are testimony to the country’s robust economy and government’s commitment to progress.
Ramotar, a native of Region Three, subsequently joined the expo and addressed the gathering, and compared the Parika of today to that of the past.
“Today we have three banks, functioning here, and the community itself has become very vibrant,” Ramotar said.
Parika Night and Expo 2011 attracted over 30 participants, according to Chairman of the Parika NDC, Parmanand Samlall; these included commercial banks, the NDC and the business community. (GINA)