Over 100 booths for Harmony Village, first-ever ‘sport fest’ to be piloted

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DPI, Guyana, Monday, April 9, 2018

As the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s Department of Youth, Culture and Sport prepares to host its annual Harmony Village on Thursday, April 12, Technical Advisor of the planning committee, Olive Gopaul announced that this year’s event will be a more interactive one.

Gopaul explained that as a result of the work conducted by the ministry at the community levels, the Village, this year, saw an increase of 60 additional booths by 100 organisers, covering a wide cross-section of Guyana.

Coordinator of the Harmony Village, Sharon Patterson said the event is designed to bring together a myriad of stakeholders to co-exist in a small space.  The Village Day “gives each other an opportunity to respect our differences- it is an opportunity for networking because beyond Harmony Village we would like to ensure that our stakeholders have an opportunity to meet and strengthen partnerships,” Patterson said.

While commending the involvement of private sector, and other entities, Gopaul noted that approximately 3,000 persons are expected to participate in the event.

The department has decided to pilot a ‘Sport Fest’ at this year’s event. The ministry took the decision to include the new concept to the day’s events, in an effort to increase awareness of local sportsmen and women and the various disciplines they compete. Gopaul added that, thus far, the support from the sport bodies – Dominoes, Chess, Rugby, Table Tennis, the Softball Association, Cycling and boxing has been outstanding. The technical advisor also shared that there are plans to establish a celebrity sport booth because “more needs to be done to celebrate our sportsmen and women… we need to acknowledge the more,” Gopaul declared.

Additionally, systems are being put in place; such as the extension of the route and use of the eastern carriageway for displaying crafts and sport. The section, between Middle and Church Streets on Main Street, will be closed from Wednesday, April 11 at 15:00hrs to Thursday, April 12 at 21:00hrs, to facilitate the event.

This year, several media outlets and ministries have opted to participate in the Harmony Village. The Ministry of Education is one of such as a TVET booth is expected to conduct demonstrations, Gopaul disclosed.

Another new concept the ministry has adopted this year is the recruitment of Social Cohesion Ambassadors in communities across the country. The Ambassadors have volunteered to aid in the coordination and planning of this event, this will, in turn, better position them to develop capacity in their communities.

The Harmony Village day will open on Thursday, April 12, with a formal ceremony at the intersection of Middle and Quamina Streets followed by the exhibition, which will run until 19:00hrs.

The public is advised that the road will be closed Wednesday, April 11, at 15:00hrs to facilitate the installation of booths and the stage. Exhibitors have been asked to have their booths erected by 07:00hrs on Thursday. Parking for VIPs will be made available on the western carriageway, while booths will line along the eastern carriageway and the avenue.

 

By: Zanneel Williams