– about weekend circus arrangements

EVEN as the Suarez Brothers Circus is gearing up to begin performing here from Friday, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is complaining that they are not in the know regarding certain matters that they ought to have been consulted on.

Although the circus is being held at D’Urban Park, which location the M&CC has no control over, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green said Monday that the municipality should have at least been informed about the arrangements in place for garbage disposal.

Speaking with councillors at the fortnightly statutory meeting, she pointed out that not only will there be animal waste, but a buildup of garbage as well because patrons will be snacking at the facility and sanitary facilities will be in use.
“How is it being disposed? We have to be clear how we deal with this because of our past dealings,” the Mayor said, adding that the M&CC should be informed of such arrangements well in advance.
Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Harry told the meeting that as far as she knows, no solid waste arrangement is in place at the moment, and that she is in the process of checking with the director to ensure that something is done.

Councillor Welton Clarke, who was miffed that the City Council was not included in the decision-making process, said:
“We shouldn’t have to go looking for the information; it should come to us. We feel strongly that our authority should be respected; we’re on the back foot now waiting to be informed.”
The organisers of the circus had asked the M&CC for the use of Parade Ground, and had even met subsequently with the administration. They were also meeting with other agencies capable enough to accommodate the circus.

Mayor Chase-Green gave as the reason the M&CC was slighted was perhaps because Parade Ground did not meet the expectations of the organisers and hence they settled for D’Urban Park instead.

But even so, she said, the M&CC ought to be consulted on certain issues.
The Suarez team is looking to spend some three to five weeks here, and from all indications, they also plan taking the show to Berbice, but that is yet to be confirmed.

The Circus is currently embarking on a Caribbean-South American Tour, and will also be visiting Suriname and French Guiana, having most recently performed in Trinidad.
This is the third time that the Suarez Brothers Circus will be in Guyana, having already been here in 2003 and 2005.

The circus will be opened seven days a week, with one show per night at 19:30hrs from Monday to Friday; two on Saturdays, one at 17:00hrs and the other at 19:30hrs; while Sundays and holidays will feature three sessions, at 14:00hrs, 17:00hrs and 19:30hrs.
The seating arrangement will feature three levels, which correspond with different ticket prices starting at $1,500 per child and $2,300 per adult for the bleachers, $2,000 per child and $3,500 per adult for the middle section, and $2,500 per child and $4,700 per adult for the VIP zone.

Over 100 persons are expected to travel to Guyana, while the circus is also expected to hire around 30 – 40 local persons to work during the duration of their stay.

Travelling and performing all over the world, the Suarez Brothers Circus originated in Mexico.