With the festive season creeping up with much anticipation, the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry on Friday opened its second annual Christmas Village on Main Street, Georgetown. The village was launched last year as a step up from the “Main Big Lime”, with lots of lights and extraordinary seasonal attractions.
The trees along the avenue were lit up with scores of booths. It was no different this year as the ministry took great pains in decorating the area and preparing it for the big day.
Scores of people gathered at the intersection of Main and Lamaha streets to witness the packed programme.
There were performances by a masquerade group from Victoria, along with musical renditions by the police force band and choirs. The audience was also treated to a performance by the National School of Dance.
Festive feeling
Addressing the gathering, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali said he hopes that the Christmas Village will create the atmosphere which will generate the festive feeling of Christmas, where love and goodwill fill the air.
The minister noted that Guyana has a distinct Christmas culture, pointing out that many overseas-based Guyanese come home to get a taste of the Guyanese Christmas spirit.
“We have a lot of Guyanese returning home and we have a lot of visitors who are going to share this glorious season with us and so we wanted to create an environment that is safe and one that would create that magical feeling of Christmas which you can only get when you’re home,” he stated.
Ali disclosed that to make this year’s Christmas Village more interesting, the Tourism Ministry has partnered with the private sector to import the finest lights to add even more cheer to Main Street.
The minister thanked all the sponsors for supporting the event as the Tourism Ministry looks to make the annual event bigger every year.
Wonderful Christmas
“Main Street will be converted into the Main Christmas Village where families and all of our visitors can converge and have that wonderful Christmas feeling. In every major city in the world, there is a village like this, so we are now coming abreast with what is happening globally.”
He noted that transforming Main Street into the Christmas Village was not an easy task because of the inclement weather; however, the staff of the ministry and the Guyana Tourism Authority made it possible. The minster urged Guyanese to celebrate the season with love and unity.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, in a brief remark, recalled how Christmas was celebrated when he was a child, noting that the celebrations have changed over the years.
The prime minister assured those gathered that the government is committed to ensuring that every Guyanese can look forward to a merry Christmas.
“This year, our aim and purpose is to keep working towards a good life and a steadily better life, a more sustainable life for people and we feel gratified with the improvements we have seen,” Hinds stated.
At the end of the programme, Santa Claus and other famous cartoon characters converged on stage as they distributed free gifts to the children, compliments of China Trading.
The free gifts excited the children as they ran towards the stage, leaving their parents and guardians behind.
