Plans for the hosting of the Bartica’s Annual Easter Regatta is moving apace with history set to be created when the much anticipated event for the first time will be held in a town, and not a community, with major emphasis to be placed on the green agenda. With a touch of class and elegance, the Annual Easter Regatta was launched last Wednesday at the Palm Spring Hotel by the Bartica Regatta Committee and the Bartica Mayor and Town Council.
Speaking at the launch, Region Seven Chairman, Gordon Bradford, and the Mayor Gifford Marshall, underscored the importance of having all of Bartica involved in the three-day event which begins on April 15 and ends on April 17, especially the business community. They both agreed that in everything, care for the environment must be demonstrated.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, Secretary and Event Coordinator, Elizabeth Moonsammy, said Guyanese will not be disappointed with the preparations for the much talked about power boat racing and the Miss Regatta Pageant.
“The Bartica Easter Regatta has been around for more than 60 years. It initially begun as a wager between two captains- of what was then ‘grant boats’- to see whose engine was the fastest. It has grown over the years from boat racing to include the Ms. Regatta Pageant, the oldest in pageant in Guyana and over the last 30 or so years, sports such as cricket, football and dominoes, not to mention swimming and regular Run Bartica Race,” Moonsammy pointed out.
Additionally, there will be a Fun Day with novelty events such as lime and spoons and bag races, along with the regular athletics and the Gospel Fest which was a major success last year.

Zooming-in on the Miss Regatta Pageant, the Event Coordinator noted that already eight beautiful and intelligent young ladies have signed up to participate in the event being coordinated by a former Miss Regatta Pageant, Angelica Fredericks.
This year, as the committee raises the standard of the event, the delegates, in a sophisticated manner, will be promoting Bartica as the green model town with a clean, green and pristine environment.
Additionally, in keeping with the theme for the Regatta, special awards will be presented to John Willems, Mark Jardine, and Winston Miller (snr) for their sterling contributions in sustaining the Annual Easter Regatta.
Posthumous recognition will also be given to the late Oscar Smartt and Montgomery ‘Monty’ Belle for their contributions to this event and Bartica at large.
Moving forward, the event coordinator said it is the hope of the committee that within the next two to three years the Annual Easter Regatta will see greater involvement from the private sector.
She explained that during the early history of the Regatta, it was organised and executed by the business community; however, for a short period, the event was suspended until it was revived by the Regional Democratic Council.
“We want to be able to take it back to where it began, because they owned it (business people/community), they were more committed to seeing it being successful.”
However, she said, the committee is forever grateful for the continued support being offered by key members in the business community.
“I would like to make special mention of the businesses and individuals who have played a major part in sustaining the Regatta over the years – in particular – beverage giant Banks DIH, which has been with us since the inception, Mr. Chunilall Baboolall and the Aruwai Group of Companies, Ricky Ramnarine, the Mahadeo brothers, Nizim Kassim, Ansa McAL, DDL, Deon Ferrier and the Beverage Depot, Leon Thomas, BK International and GBTI amongst others.”
Other sponsors are invited to come on board, the event coordinator posited, noting that in supporting the annual regatta, they will get a chance to showcase their products and services to persons of all walks of life.