Delegates of heritage pageant visit Social Cohesion Minister

The Miss Indigenous Heritage Pageant, one of the most anticipated events for Heritage Month celebrations, is underway as the 10 delegates vying for the coveted crown paid a courtesy call to Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton on Monday.

During the brief visit at the Social Cohesion Ministry, Main Street, Georgetown, the delegates, while engaging with Minister Norton, were encouraged to grasp every opportunity offered throughout the pageant to gain self-development.
“You can improve yourselves in terms of the opportunities you might be provided, job opportunities, getting into tourism, travelling and all in all discovering yourselves, that is what I am interested in,” Norton told the young women.
On the sidelines of the visit, Legal Assistant of the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry and Committee Member of the Pageant, Miriam Andrew-Ming conveyed that the delegates will be involved in several preparation activities leading up to the pageant including skills training, public speaking and volunteer works.
Meanwhile, the same level of enthusiasm was expressed by the delegates during brief interviews with this publication describing their journey thus far.
Luana Allicock, who will be representing Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) at the pageant, noted that “The pageant, from when it started, has been a really great experience from when it started, it’s helping me in my public speaking, meeting new people, how to interact and how to learn to do new things”.
A similar view was expressed by 18-year-old Natalia Ann-Patterson, a university student who is representing Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). She stated, “my passion is to help young Indigenous females to live up to their culture as well as to look forward towards being in technology”.
The pageant is set for September 28 at the National Cultural Centre. Tickets are available to the public at the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the National Cultural Centre. The prices are: auditorium front-$2500, auditorium rear-$2000 and balcony-$1500.