Port Mourant comes to New York

The New York based Legends of Port Mourant group is pushing ahead with its quest to continue assisting entities in the renowned Berbice village in the development of sports and education.

According to Raymond Sundar, president of the group, they plan to go further by putting in place an amended mandate to make contributions to residents in other areas, especially youngsters in the Interior.

So far the two major beneficiaries of Legends’  assistance program has been Corentyne Comprehensive High School (COMPRI) and the Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC).

In addition to providing a wide variety of sporting equipment – cricket, table tennis, lawn tennis, badminton, the group has assisted COMPRI in its efforts to establish a Home Economics Department by providing funds to purchase a stove, a refrigerator and cutlery.

Recently a barrel containing books was shipped to the school. Another barrel of books will soon be sent.

The library at Port Mourant Community Centre recently received 300 books from the Legends with another 200 expected soon.

According to Sundar, the Legends  which is a  Not for Profit Group, also  comprising  Sylvester Mendonca, Jimo Leonard, Puno Singh, Raymond Prashad and Ronald Chinsammy, will be hosting the first Port Mourant Family Re-Union Day in the United States of America. It is slated for Sunday (August 22) from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.  at Baisley Pond Park in South Jamaica, Queens at the intersection of Rockaway Boulevard and Sutphin Boulevard.

The hope is to temporarily transplant Port Mourant from Guyana to New York, giving  sports minded folk  and others  an opportunity to meet and greet family, friends and associates, at the inaugural event.

A day packed with a variety of activities beckons. In the sporting arena some will test their skills in ‘bumper ball’ cricket, volleyball,  chess and dominos. Youngsters will participate in  a dancing competition, quiz on Guyana and the USA, hula hoop gyrations, chess instructions etc.

Visitors will also be treated to a sumptuous dinner, encompassing a variety of delectable dishes. Truly a smorgasbord! The calm and serene water of Baisley Pond, along with scores of swans and geese, envelops the background.

The mega star cultural presentation includes the  Aman Tassa Group, led by Amrit Apan and Freddie.

Several International singers will grace the occasion, including Rick Ramdehal and Son Son.

If you are a fan of taan singing, be advised Rudy, one of the most well known proponents of this genre, and members of  Prem Sangeet Taan Group will also be on hand to entertain.

In a radical departure from the norm,  five legends will be identified and  five pretty, bright and talented young ladies will read a famous piece written about these legends. In recognition of this day, a Proclamation was issued to Legends of Port Mourant, Inc. A reading of the Proclamation recognizing August 22, 2010 as Port Mourant Family Re-Union Day will draw the curtain on the day’s activities.