THE Bartica Development Business Association (BDBA) has won the franchise to host the much-anticipated 2018 Bartica Easter Regatta.

The Regional Administration of Region Seven reached an agreement with the business association recently after extensive deliberations. The BDBA, which comprises most of the major businessmen and women in Bartica, has been established to drive development in town. This year’s Bartica Easter Regatta will be its first major project, and it is the intention of the association to make “a big impression” while maintaining the event’s basic format.

The planning team is headed by Holbert Knights and includes businessmen such as George Jordan, Maurice Smartt, Dave Scott and Dave Younge (also Racers). Paul Burnett and Sonjie Marslowe are coordinating this year’s pageant. The Regatta is billed for March 17 to April 2, 2018.

Headlining the kaleidoscope of activities planned for this year, will be the usual Easter Saturday “Street Jam” followed by the “F1 Power Boat Racing” and the “Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant” on Sunday, and “Regatta Washdown”, featuring an international artiste, on Monday. The coordinators have indicated that the pageant will be made up of several components, including the Top Model Segment at Aruwai Resort; Sashing Ceremony and Carnival at the West Indian Park; Intelligence & Platform Presentation, to be aired live on local television; and the actual pageant night segment at the Bartica Community Centre Ground.

In addition, Bartica Easter Regatta will host (for the first time) a Gymkhana, a presentation of the Guyana Police Force; also for the first time, “Regatta Talent Fest Competition”; and the much-anticipated “Gospel Concert”.

And to keep with tradition, competition in various sport disciplines, including the regatta river swim, street football, volleyball, basketball, dominoes, dirt bike racing and boxing.
Knights told Guyana Chronicle on Saturday that in the upcoming week, the association will invite members of the business community of Bartica to discuss Regatta 2018. He said it is important that there be an economic spread and economic boom for the town.

During the meeting, the association will detail its plans for the much-talked about series of events and at the same time solicit their input. “We want the business community to be involved every step of the way,” Knights told this newspaper.

The Bartica Easter Regatta is an annual sport and recreational event which takes place in the mining town located on the Essequibo River. While much of the plans and dates of activities are yet to be finalised, the main activities will take place during the Easter weekend, March 31 to April 2, 2018.