REGION 10 has commenced its calendar of activities, in keeping with what is expected to take place in the rest of the nation in light of the countrywide celebrations in recognition of Guyana’s Jubilee Year.The grand observances got off with an inter-faith church service on Sunday, January 3, at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground. More than 1,000 churchgoers attended the Thanksgiving Service for the 50 years of Independence.

A Thanksgiving Service was also held in Kwakwani on the same day, as this little Region 10 community opened its calendar of events.
The proposed calendar of events, still open for additions and adjustments, will conclude on July 23 with a magic show at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground. However, the celebrations will see its climax in May, and the planners are collaborating with the Linden Town Week Committee to have the events and celebrations occur simultaneously.

Town Week celebrations were previously held during the last week in April and ended on May 1, but this has been adjusted for this year’s Independence celebrations.

Region 10’s events will consist of several cultural activities which will hopefully see participation from everyone in the region, including the elderly and schoolchildren. Steel pan music, calypso, singing, dancing, karaoke and drama are some of the cultural events in which competition is expected.

For the schoolchildren, there will be Spelling B and debating competitions, as well as sporting activities. A Futsal competition will commence in March and end in May. This will see several teams from within the region competing for prizes.

MISS INDEPENDENCE PAGEANT
In addition, a pageant to be held on May 14 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground will see several delegates vying for the crown of Miss Independence. This calendar of events will generally cater for everyone, with sports, parties and cultural events.

Planned for May 25 is a grand concert which will feature an international artiste, and this event will run straight into the flag-raising ceremony. In contrast to previous years, the flag-raising ceremony will be held in front of the Regional Democratic Council building as that building holds the seat of government in the region. On that same day 50 years ago, the flag was raised at the building, which housed the Council at that time.

The 50th Independence celebrations will also see the restoring of the town’s monuments, such as the water wheel and the aluminum plant.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the commemoration team of the Regional Democratic Council and the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with Vybz Entertainment, will be working diligently to make these events memorable and successful.

By Vanessa Braithwaite