By Navendra Seoraj
THE Roraima Group of Companies has reiterated its commitment to, and increasing interest in, the development of Guyana’s tourism industry with its launch of the annual Wedding Expo for the 8th time on Thursday.
Starting with the interviews and the tests which all lead up to the famous “race to the altar”, the expo will not only give exhibitors a chance to showcase their talent and services, but will afford yet another couple the opportunity to have the wedding of a lifetime.
In remarks made at the Roraima Duke Lodge on Thursday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Roraima Group of Companies, Captain Gerald “Gerry” Gouveia, announced that this year’s expo is being held under the theme ‘Magnificent Beginnings’, and “promises to return the same flare and explosion of colours, culture, music and religion.”
Roraima staffers, decked out in the various wedding attire and religious wear, then gave the audience a taste of what to expect come April 1-3 at the Duke Lodge.
NEED FOR MODERN LEGISLATION
Captain Gouveia recounted, however, that the expo’s ability to expand has been hampered greatly over the years by the absence of modern legislation.
However, commitments flowed from the Government for swift legislative amendments to outdated laws that continue to hinder this innovative revenue earner.
Gouveia criticised the local legislation which requires that couples travel to Guyana two weeks in advance of their wedding in order for their marriage to satisfy all legal requirements.
“Change the legislation! You cannot have a legislation that says people must come here two weeks before they get married…We need to change the legislation,” Gouveia asserted.
He is, however, happy to know that the Coalition Government had committed to amending those laws this year.
SMALL BUSINESSES
“Wedding Expo has been growing from strength to strength, and continues to offer great support to small businesses to grow and maintain their presence on the local market,” he contended. And he said further that amending the legislation would provide a better landscape in which local stakeholders can operate.
“Wedding expo is about small businesses, but it’s also about big businesses…We have seen peoples’ businesses grow from small businesses to busy businesses,” he said.
In the meantime, congratulations and well wishes came from the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Tourism and Hospital Association of Guyana.
WEDDING DESTINATION
Minister of Tourism and Telecommunication, Mrs Cathy Hughes, noted the energy of the Wedding Expo and said it was something the Ministry will support, as it also embraces wedding tourism in Guyana and seeks to market the country as a wedding destination.
Minister Hughes said her commitment would be to seek amendments to the laws by the second quarter of 2016.
“Wedding tourism holds huge potential, and we are definitely happy to lend our support,” the Minister said.
The process to amend the legislation has started, and stakeholders can look forward to this in the near future, the Minister assured.
She also urged entrepreneurs to take advantage of opportunities offered to them via the Wedding Expo and similar events.
