– Saw record attendance from residents across Guyana
RESIDENTS from several of the beautiful villages in the Moruca sub-region, Region One (Barima/Waini), were joined by thousands of Guyanese from across the country to experience the 18th annual Moruca Expo, more like a cultural extravaganza that showcased the vibrant heritage of the ‘Morucans.’
The event was held July 26-27 and was a roaring success with record-breaking attendance since the first one was hosted.

Day One featured a road race, aquatics events, and a beach volleyball competition. Attendees were treated to performances by Guyanese artists Granny Ivy, Vicadi Singh, and Tony Cuttz, who had the crowd laughing, dancing, and singing along. This was the first time these entertainers had performed in Moruca, therefore adding to the event’s excitement.
Day Two included a cycle race, novelty events, and entertainment for children with a bouncy castle and trampoline. The crab-catching and firewood-bursting competitions were two of the unique activities on display.
One of the expo’s highlights was the Miss Moruca Pageant, with delegates representing villages such as Santa Rosa, Assakata, Kwebana, Santa Cruz, Warapoka and Skyland.

Assakata Dacia Thomas was crowned the winner with an innovative platform focused on suicide prevention. As the first runner up, Miss Santa Rosa Rhianna Gildari’s platform focused on domestic violence, while the third runner-up, Miss Kwebana Destiny Jose’s platform, focused on drunk driving.
Live performances by Brazilian artist Pepe Moreno were another event highlight, which lasted into the wee hours of Sunday morning. Despite the unfamiliarity of Brazilian music in the sub-region, attendees danced and enjoyed themselves throughout the night, creating a memorable experience for all.

Through his interpreter, Pepe Moreno expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and stated that he had never performed until sunrise in Guyana before. He praised the beauty of Moruca and its people, expressing his desire to return for future shows in the community.
Attendees did not hold back from expressing themselves and were happy that they were not disappointed by the event. Some fellow Morucans even brought friends and family for the first time to Santa Rosa Village, where the events went down.

Overall, the Moruca Expo 2024 is said to have been a huge success, bringing together people from all corners of Guyana, such as Port Kaituma, Mabaruma, Charity, Pomeroon, Supenaam, Parika, Bartica, Georgetown, and even from the Rupununi.
With record-breaking attendance and a lineup of exciting activities, the event has reportedly left a lasting impression on all who attended and set the stage for future expos to come.