THE Lethem /Bon Fin cultural festival held in Lethem, Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) last Friday and Saturday was a resounding success, members of the organizing committee have reported.
The two night event was held at the Rodeo Ground at Lethem on Friday and Saturday last and started from 18:00 hours each evening.
Organised by the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), it featured cultural artistes from Lethem and other parts of Guyana and from Bom Fin and Boa Vista in Brazil.
There were food booths stocked and manned by residents of both communities exhibiting and selling products of both Bon Fin and Lethem.
Those present included Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil Mr. Harrynarine Nawbatt, SEBRAE, representatives of the Brazilian private sector organization, Officials of Brazilian Theatre, the Brazilian Vice Consulate in Lethem, members of the Linden Chamber of Industry Commerce and Development (LCICD), a representative of the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), members of the Upper Courentyne Chamber of Commerce (UCCI) and Senior Officials and members of the RCCI.
The event was well attended and those who supported the event were rewarded with displays of dance, songs and other performances of international standard.
President of the RCCI Mr. Alfred Ramsarran thanked members of the private sector in Lethem and Bonfim who had contributed generously and at short notice to make the event a success.
He called on people both sides of the border to break the language barrier by learning English and Portuguese and by so doing speed up the social and cultural integration process between the two border communities.
The Lethem/Bonfim cultural festival is to be held annually and the next one is to be held at Bonfim around this same time next year.