–to end long Easter weekend

HUNDREDS of residents living on the West Demerara descended on the Joe Vieira Park, just over the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) on the West Bank Demerara (WBD) to enjoy their Easter Monday and bring the long holiday weekend to an end.

Specks could have been seen in the sky from the time you began crossing ‘the Bridge’ from Georgetown. And by the time you were about halfway across, the loud sounds of the music emanating from the Park competed with the well-known clanking of the metal panels of the bridge.

Just off ‘the bridge’, you couldn’t miss the Park. There were the kites, the music…there were cars and police officers everywhere trying to maneuver the mammoth crowd heading in and out of the large field.

Colin Christie walked inside with his four children. He moved beyond the very many games and food stalls that were set up to a clearing where he could focus on getting the kites in the air while keeping an eye on his children.

“Since I know myself, I been coming here [ the Joe Vieira Park] and I am 34 now,” he shared. Since he is a resident of the ‘West Side’ this area has always been convenient for him to come and fly his kites, and so this is a tradition he has now maintained with his own children.

Farther behind Colin was Zaheer (only name given) trying to raise his five-foot tall star-point kite into the air with the help of his young son. The breeze was minimal, and so the large kite, which was one of the larger ones in the ground, kept falling down. But what was important was the quality time the father and son were spending together.

“Mostly, each year, we just spend time together here and fly the kites and picnic and so,” the man, who also resides on the WBD’ said.

Aside from the hundreds of ‘West-siders’ flying their kites or picnicking, there were also some persons who came out to cash in on the economic opportunities presented.

Winston Harding was one who came out with his tent, grill and his friends (to ‘pitch in’) to make a quick dollar on Easter day.

“This is first year I’m out here doing this sort of business,” Harding said. “Everybody looking for an lil extra something and I live on the West Bank so I do this.”

Harding however indicated that Easter time has always been a favourite time of the year for him.

“Christ raising on the third day is important- as much as we enjoying and have fun,” he shared.