REGGAE sensations Jah Cure and Dwayne Stephenson were two of several visitors from overseas who greeted President Donald Ramotar at the crowded Bartica Beach front as the annual Easter holiday Regatta got underway today.

“The Cure” as he is otherwise known was the highlight of a packed show last evening at the Bartica community centre ground entitled ‘The Reggae Regatta Splash’ organised as part of the widely publicised weekend spectacle.
The main event-speedboat racing, was officially opened  by President Ramotar who brought greetings on behalf of the Guyana Government while addressing patrons from the main pavilion.
He was accompanied by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, Chairman of Region Seven Gordon Bradford, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader David Granger and others.
Activities continue this evening with the regatta beauty pageant and tomorrow with more boat racing.
Easter day which is being celebrated today will see kites of all shapes and sizes dot the open skies as a symbolic representation of Christ’s resurrection.
The Bartica Regatta is widely regarded a very important activity on Guyana’s tourism calendar, attracting thousands from across the country. The other is the Rupununi Rodeo in Lethem and kite flying on the Number 63 Beach on Easter.
The Regatta, according to President Ramotar, also fosters a reunion of Barticians as many from the riverain communities also attend this annual event.
He humbly declined several invitations to go jet-skiing while meeting and greeting the competitors of this year’s races, but was patient with several requests for photo opportunities. Among them was the family of the late boat racer Monty Belle whose memory they kept alive with t-shirts bearing his name and photograph.
Belle died last August in a freak accident while participating in the Lake Mainstay Regatta.