Undoubtedly, every year Guyana’s premier trade and investment exposition – GuyExpo -has been growing and has reached a point where traffic congestion is severely hampering ingress and egress to the event’s site at the Sophia Exhibition Centre. This could lead to tragic circumstances in an emergency as well as pose serious security threats.

Against this backdrop, it is encouraging that the organizers of this grand event have recognised and acknowledged these hazards, but more importantly are taking corrective steps to address them because on previous occasions many people stayed away, not because they are not appreciative and supportive of the expo, but simply because they did not want to encounter the confusion and chaos caused by traffic congestion.

Safety and the capacity to deal with emergencies have to be priority at events where there is an extremely large number of people. And so the organizers have announced changes for this year’s show to cope with an anticipated 100,000 attendance.

GuyExpo Public Relations (PR) Manager, Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh said strategic improvements have been made to facilitate a more interactive, informative and enjoyable occasion.

Haralsingh disclosed that the Organising Committee has made some changes in response to concerns raised after GuyExpo 2010, including expanding the area for exhibits, providing additional access to and from the site and the layout of the area.

There will now be two access entrances, including Duncan and Garnett Streets and the latter will be converted to two-way traffic after 22:00 hrs.

In addition to this, more ticket booths will be placed along the way, with ‘runners’ supplying tickets to patrons in their vehicles, all with the aim of easing the  traffic congestion going into the venue.

Haralsingh said there will be expanded parking, the fence having been extended to accommodate 300 more vehicles in the compound, taking the number to 1,000 that the place can accommodate.

That was done because some people complained, last year, that it took them hours to get in and out of the site.

“Again this is an instance where we are listening and obtaining feedback and working to improve,” he stated. It is encouraging to note that the changes were prompted as a result of feedback. This is how improvement of such events are made and this time around perhaps a questionnaire could be prepared to get further feedback with the aim for improvement during next year’s staging of the show.

However, one aspect of the event which should also be given great attention is the playing of loud and deafening music. In the past, residents from the neighbourhood voiced concerns about being disturbed. We have already a serious noise nuisance problem in this country and GuyExpo should not add to it; rather, it should be setting the example to the wider society.
But apart from the noise nuisance, deafening music poses a serious security risk and could be a hazard in an emergency because in both these cases communication is vital. However, no one may be able to hear because of the level at which the  music is being played.
We must do everything to ensure that GuyExpo is a grand success because it is a major medium of showcasing our products and boosting trade with other countries. As Mr. Haralsingh said, more overseas buyers are also coming from several destinations including Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil, Dominica, The Dominican Republic, Cuba, Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, several of whom have already confirmed their participation.