Linden Town Week Pageant cancelled.

DPI, Guyana, Friday, April 13, 2018

The Linden Town Council has taken the decision to remove the Linden Town Week Pageant from the calendar of events for the annual Town Week celebration.

This was announced by Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell on Friday during a press briefing in the Town Council’s conference room.

Arrindell explained that the Linden Mayor and Town Council’s (LM&TC) decision to withdraw the pageant, “does not mean that we are abandoning our delegates.”

Describing the delegates as ambassadors, the Mayor said they “will be part of a procession” that will lead a “Speak out, Speak up!” march scheduled for Saturday, April 21. The march, which is a stand against all forms of abuse, follows reports of an alleged sexual assault on one of the pageant delegates by a Linden businessman in early March. Investigations are ongoing.

Mayor Arrindell observed the delegates should “each receive a crown for their outstanding resilience,” In dealing with the issue said that while reports of abuse in the pageant industry are usually quickly forgotten, this will not be the case in Linden.

The LM&TC “is already taking steps to protect future delegates by imposing stringent guidelines for fundraising and asking families and friends to be more involved in supporting contestants through every stage of future events,” the mayor stressed as she called on corporate Guyana to partner with the council to promote responsible behaviour in pageantry sponsorship

All ministries, community stakeholders, youth groups, religious organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are invited to participate in the march to show their support.

 

 

 

By: Neola Damon