AT a simple but very interesting ceremony held yesterday at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, the Annual Bartica Regatta 2013 was launched. Among those present at this launching ceremony were Chairman of Region 7, Mr. Gordon Bradford; international fashion designer, Bartician Sonia Noel; DC Promotion’s Dion Fereira and Charles Jones, and Regatta Committee Public Relations Officer Ms. Simonette Layne, among other invitees and members of the media. In his address as chairman of the Bartica Regatta Committee, Region 7 Chairman Mr Gordon Bradford indicated that he is heartened to collaborate with DC Promotions and Ms. Sonia Noel in organizing another year of regatta activities. He said that Bartica Regatta is a major tourism event, and the associated activities are a signature Bartica event.

Explaining the significance of the Regatta, Bradford noted that this event started some time in the 1950s, and it is an event that is fully embraced and supported by Barticians.
He added that the regatta has become a major tourism event, bringing tremendous opportunities for development of the township and contiguous communities; and as a Bartician, he would like to see this event reaching its true potential in attracting more international and local persons.

He mentioned that in previous years the regatta had been sponsored and supported by private individuals, who saw the need for the sport; and in that bygone era, persons who had timber concessions used to sponsor paddle boat races.

He noted that the sport grew with the later acquisition of outboard engines, and enthusiasm for the sport increased when boats with small engines began participating in the races.

Regatta activities ceased being held between 1970 and 1975, but through the vision and robust efforts of the then Regional Chairman, Mr. Gervy Harry, the regatta was resurrected and a committee was formed to continue the activity.

Bradford named some of the stalwart supporters of the Bartica Regatta as John Willems, Oscar Smartt and Godfrey De Freitas, but he said there were many others who were involved in staging the regatta, some of whom were organizers.

He highlighted that many regional chairmen had contributed to sustainability of the annual event, since it falls within the purview of the Regional Democratic Council.

This event has never been budgeted for under the Regional Democratic Council. However, he said, the Regatta Committee is seeking sponsorship from private businesses, and the help of central government on occasions is granted.

The introduction of a public/ private sector partnership was sought; and last year, after he had been returned to office for the second term, the timeframe for planning and getting a programme for the annual regatta activities was short, but DC Promotions and Ms. Sonia Noel — all Barticians — came onboard to make the event a success.

The RDC sought to have the same team again promoting the 2013 event.

AJ’s Promotions, another group, was on board promoting the boating activities.

New activity

The regatta committee recently introduced a new activity to the programme — a Gospel Concert. It was well received by the people of Bartica. He noted that artistes were all from Guyana, and this added to making the regatta a signature one. The Gospel Concert will again commence the activities for this year’s regatta. Moreover, the Miss Bartica Pageant will be held this year, and eight lovely, young and brilliant ladies will participate. Over the past years, the pageant was restricted to young ladies from Bartica alone, but that stipulation has been lifted in order to accommodate national participation.

Ms. Sonia Noel has full responsibility for coordinating the Gospel Concert and the Miss Regatta Pageant. She had similar responsibilities last year.
The eight contestants who will be participating in the Miss Bartica Regatta 2013 were also showcased in a brief presentation. Under the watchful eye of Ms. Melissa Payne, they made an interesting presentation of this year’s pageant theme — cancer.

President of DC Promotions, Mr. Charles Jones, outlined his responsibility in the staging of the regatta as promoting quality entertainment for the community of Bartica. The group, in existence for three years, had promoted sporting activities before moving to promoting entertainment, last year, with considerable success.

In a brief address to the gathering, Ms Sonia Noel indicated that she had been involved in the Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant for a very long time, since she was eighteen; and she is today still committed to seeing the event being successfully promoted.

She stated that, because of her busy schedule, she had thought she would have been unavailable to participate in the Bartica Regatta; but, as a Bartician, it was very hard to decline the invitation to help promote the event.

She noted that because the pageant is transitioning into a national event, the first prize has also been increased to G$1M.

New magazine
Noel indicated that today’s launching would also see another signature event in the launching of the Bartica Review Magazine, which would highlight the Annual Easter Regatta and all the other positives of the community.

She mentioned that positive happenings in Region 7, if properly advertised and promoted in the media, could result in more positive things emerging for the region.

Activities in the Bartica Regatta 2013 will commence on March 24 with the football tournament, to be followed on March 29 with the Gospel Concert.
International reggae artiste Jah Cure will grace the community with his presence on Saturday, March 30, at the Bartica Community Centre Ground. The two-day regatta racing events will follow on March 31 and April 1, and the Miss Regatta pageant would be held on March 31, whilst the Throttle Down beach party would conclude the activities.