THE stage is set for the opening tomorrow of the fourth annual Wakenaam Night at the Wakenaam Community Centre Ground in Region Three (Essequibo Islands /West Demerara).
Persons from all across the country are invited to the grand event on the island which promises to be entertaining and exciting, featuring stage performances by various artistes, both local and international, and a mini expo to showcase what the island has to offer.
Treasurer of the Wakenaam Night Management Committee, Mustak Mohamed, explained that preparations are nearing completion in time for the opening ceremony, set to begin at 17:00hrs.
More than 30 booths will be on display by participants from Essequibo and Georgetown and, according to Mohammed, this staging will be “bigger and better” than the ones before.
This activity is meant to encourage Guyanese to visit other parts of the country, to bolster domestic tourism, and create and awareness of what Wakenaam has to offer.
In addition, it will serve as a catalyst for bringing families as well as community members closer together.
“There is something for everyone to enjoy; the booths are educational, the kids can enjoy fun activities and games, and the adults can take in the entertainment of the performers like Vishash Sahdeo, Mahendra Ramkellawan, Fiona Singh and Big Red,” Mohammed announced.
As to the continued success of the event, initiated in 2008, he lauded the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce for its continued support and encouragement.
He said, “The Tourism Ministry has played a big part in putting on this activity every year; without their collaboration we would not have come this far; I want to thank the minister and his team for this.”
Mohammed noted too that other sponsors have been instrumental in the growth of the event, including  the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), Republic Bank, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security  among others .
He took the opportunity to remind patrons of the traditional activities also taking place on Hamburg Beach, Tiger Island, just off Wakenaam Island, for the much-anticipated traditional August Monday activity.
“Everything is set to stage a great show so, come down to the island to see what we have to offer you, its going to be great, its going to be fun,” Mohammed stated.
Wakenaam, home to approximately 5,000 people, is an island of about 17.5 square miles, at the mouth of the Essequibo River, Region Three (Essequibo Islands /West Demerara).