Many successes noted from KMCRG second Christmas Fair
RESIDENTS in communities across Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo),   as far South  as Awarwanau and  Annai in the North, participated in the Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group (KMCRG) Christmas Fair, at Lethem last Saturday.
The second of its kind was bigger than the first and showcased not only food but handicraft and hand-made jewellery as well as traditional medicines and cosmetics.
An additional attraction included the auction of exclusively designed furniture, manufactured by master woodwork instructor and Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) volunteer Edwin Doyle, in aid of raising funds for the Cary Elwes Training Centre.
Organisers said the auction raised $129,000 for the establishment, which was set up in 2010 as a joint project between the Jesuit Mission and VSO Guyana and has, so far, been instrumental in training 34 carpenters from nine communities in the Region over the past year.
Also participating in the fair this year were the well-known Rockview Lodge and Savannah Inn.
There was a drawing competition, as well, for children, supervised by talented young local artists, 16-year-old Elton Jovince and 13-year-old Alina Miller.
Exhibitors received prizes in cash and kind from the KMCRG Board and Members. the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Conservation International, the Society for Sustainable Development Strategies (SSOS), DDSigns and a number of individuals and local retail outlets.
Officer-in-charge of the Lethem Branch of the Institute for Private Enterprise Development (IPED), Mr. Shaun Persaud announced the donation of free attendance for two of the competition winners at workshops covering Customer Relations and Bookkeeping at the institution’s training centre in Georgetown.

Many faces
Speaking at the fair, Toshao Gomes, who is President of the KMCRG said:
“Development has many faces and this fair seems to have struck the right chord at the right time, by creating a link between agriculture, income generation and agro-tourism, not just for the KMCRG communities, but for the whole of the Rupununi.”
Karasabi Natural Food Processing Centre won free attendance, for the second consecutive year, at a workshop, compliments of the Carnegie School of Home Economics, for the variety and quality of products exhibited.
Sepo group would attend the IPED courses in Georgetown for offering high quality soaps and oils made from traditional materials.
A second IPED course was awarded to Rupununi Crafters for innovative designs and beautifully crafted jewellery and decorative items using  indigenous materials and traditional techniques.
Contestants in the children’s drawing competition received small gifts, courtesy of Sarah’s Store in Lethem.
KMCRG acknowledged the growing support for the fair, in particular from the Regional Democratic Council (RDC)  which contributed towards   ransport from some of the more remote communities and the Regional Chamber of Commerce (RCCI).
Organiser Behi Barzegar, a VSO volunteer, said she was delighted with the repeated success of the event and hoped that would encourage wider participation in future ones from the communities in Region Nine.
She said: “We will be conducting a review of the fair and start early to prepare for next year.  Having registered the interest from the private sector, we hope to share the lessons and strengthen our dialogue with them and the government to help us plan for next year and beyond.”