THE community of Orealla, in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), will be abuzz with fun-filled activities today, as the villagers and their neighbouring communities celebrate Amerindian Heritage Day. Toshao Floyd Edwards announced a packed programme of sports and cultural events, the highlight of which will be the much anticipated official commissioning of the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T) cell phone tower at Orealla.
He said the GT&T cell tower at Orealla gives an added joyousness to the occasion, since the villagers will be able, for the first time ever, to enjoy instant communications with the rest of Guyana and the world.
Top officials of the GT&T, including its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), retired Major General Joe Singh, will be there for both the celebrations and the inauguration of the service, the utility’s Public Relations Officer, Ms. Allison Parker confirmed.
The venues for the celebration will be the Heritage Site and the Heritage Benab, both in Central Orealla.
Edwards, who is to make welcoming remarks, said Regional Chairman David Armogan would be the guest of honour and officially declare open the Heritage Day celebrations.
Culture and sports aside, there will also be available a wide array of Amerindian foods, with wild meats, such as iguana, labba and turtle meat and Amerindian drinks.
The sports programme starts with a six-mile athletic race to be followed by competitions in volleyball, archery, canoe racing, swimming and  traditional Amerindian skills such as tibisiri stripping for women, axe competitions for men and walking races for both males and females.
The competitors will be contesting for trophies and monetary prizes and Edwards said Amerindians from neighbouring Apora and Siparuta, as well as Moshabo on the Suriname side of the border, are all expected to take part in the revelry.