City Councillors on Monday approved a week-long list of activities to commemorate the city’s 175th anniversary. A wide range of arts and cultural activities are billed for the celebration.
At Monday’s Statutory Meeting, Town Clerk Royston King announced that the council would require $19 million to successfully host the events planned. He was quick to point out that, “not a dollar will be used from the council coffers.
he council has friends in the business sector, who have indicated their willingness to help and have already made donations to this event.”
King made the disclosure subsequent to Mayor Patricia Chase-Green’s comment that she is concerned about money which will have to be used to offset expenses, if sponsors do not signal their interest in participating. King, however, assured her and other councillors that they are on track with establishing partnerships with the business community to make the event a success.
Most of the activities billed are expected to be sponsored and will be ticketed.
Apart from the activities, King added that they are exploring the possibilities of commissioning a commemorative stamp and coin.
He said that the Guyana Post Office Corporation has already signaled an interest in the initiative, while he is awaiting a response from the Governor of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga, before they move forward.
City spokeswoman, Debra Lewis, , in a previous Stabroek News report, had announced that the “City Week” celebrations will begin on August 19th with a sunrise church service at the St. George’s Cathedral.
During the celebrations King also said they are planning to announce the City Hall Restoration Fund initiative as they move to raise finances to begin work on the deteriorating building.
Some of the events planned are clean ups; a cocktail reception; an evening of music, with an art and craft exhibition on the avenue in Main Street; a health fair; and a cooler fete and beach party at the Marriott Beach front.
In February, several councillors at a statutory meeting had objected to a $20 million budget allocation for the celebrations. However, Mayor Chase-Green had stated that even if a big celebration was not desired, recognition should at least be given to the day that the city was “born”.
