NA Town Day proceeds earmarked for further Esplanade Park upgrades

Proceeds from this year’s New Amsterdam Town Day celebrations will be used to further develop Esplanade Park, as the municipality rolls out a packed programme of activities to commemorate the town’s 135th anniversary. The celebrations will run from September 18 to October 31, featuring cultural, educational, sporting, religious and entertainment activities aimed at attracting residents as well as visitors from other parts of Guyana and the diaspora. Details of the programme were unveiled on Monday during a press conference hosted by Mayor Wainwright McIntosh, with Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Events Committee, Kirk Fraser, outlining plans for the anniversary celebrations. Fraser disclosed that money raised from last year’s Town Day activities is already being invested in Esplanade Park, where the municipality is working to improve recreational facilities. “If you can take a visit to the park, you will see that we have already mounted the poles for floodlights,” Fraser said, adding that the floodlights have also been procured and are now awaiting installation. According to the Deputy Mayor, proceeds from this year’s celebrations will again be channelled into the facility. “This year we would be using the finance to further enhance the park to ensure that our citizens have a place of tranquillity, whereby both older folks as well as our youthful folks will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of that park,” he explained. The celebrations mark 135 years since New Amsterdam attained town status in 1891. In reflecting on that history, McIntosh paid tribute to those who served the municipality over the years and contributed to the growth and development of New Amsterdam. The official programme gets underway with the second annual Food Festival at Esplanade Park from September 18 to 20. The three-day event will include an inter-secondary-school cooking competition, with participating students being challenged to prepare an Amerindian dish. Organisers said the competition was well received when it was introduced last year and will return as part of efforts to showcase Guyana’s culinary and cultural diversity. Approximately 24 persons have already expressed an interest in vending at the festival. Entertainment is planned for Saturday evening, while Sunday will be observed as a family picnic day, allowing families to visit the park with their children.

Organisers said the food festival is intended to help showcase and preserve the country’s diverse culinary traditions while providing a family-oriented opening to the anniversary celebrations. The activities will continue into October, with a gospel concert scheduled for October 3. Educational activities, including impromptu speaking and essay-writing competitions, are scheduled for October 5, followed by a football competition from October 9 to 11. A Joint Services debating competition, which is being introduced as a new feature, is scheduled for October 12 and 13, while a domino tournament will be held on October 16. The Town Day Jump Start is slated for October 17 along Republic Road close to Jubilee Drive, followed by basketball competitions on October 20 and 23. A Big People Party is scheduled for October 24, while the popular Grand Street Fair will bring the curtains down on the official celebrations on October 31. Other attractions are also expected to form part of the anniversary period, including a car show, which organisers said was successful when held last year, along with activities organised by private promoters.

Activities involving young people
Fraser said particular emphasis is being placed on activities involving young people. He explained that those activities are intended to give young people opportunities to participate, represent their schools, clubs and communities and develop a greater sense of pride in New Amsterdam. Education will also feature prominently during the celebrations, with the municipality announcing plans to honour pupils who performed outstandingly at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). Top-performing pupils from primary schools across New Amsterdam are expected to be recognised for their achievements. Fraser said the initiative reflects the importance the municipality places on education and its commitment to giving back to young people. Meanwhile, Mayor McIntosh used the launch to stress the importance of transparency and accountability in the handling of sponsorship for the celebrations. While thanking businesses, Government agencies and other organisations that have supported Town Day over the years, McIntosh made it clear that financial contributions should be made through the municipality rather than handed to individuals. “If for any reason you’re planning to sponsor one of these events, monies must be paid to the cashier, not to any single individual,” the Mayor stressed.
“A receipt must be obtained,” he added, explaining that the requirement is intended to safeguard the integrity of the municipality. Among those identified as supporting this year’s activities are the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, the Guyana Public Service Co-operative Credit Union and Queensway Security Service. Organisers indicated that additional sponsors are expected to come on board as preparations continue. McIntosh also used the occasion to promote New Amsterdam as a tourism destination and invited Guyanese from across the country, as well as those living overseas, to participate in the celebrations. The municipality is observing the anniversary under the theme “New Amsterdam 2050: A Small-Town Rising, Bridging Heritage and Innovation.”