Miss Guyana/Universe leaves for Trinidad
Morvinia Sobers, Miss Guyana/Universe has promised the Guyanese nation the best gift for its 33rd Independence anniversary possible, and that is to bring home the 1999 Miss Universe Crown. Speaking with reporters yesterday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri just before her 4:30 pm departure on a BWIA flight bound for New York via Port-of-Spain, Sobers, who is accompanied by Local Director Sri Yoogeandra, said that "the best gift for our Independence Day, will be to return with the crown". She has thanked all Guyanese citizens for their support throughout the hosting of Miss Guyana/Universe, and wishes for their continued support in the upcoming Miss Universe Pageant to be held on May 26, in the twin island Republic of Trinidad of Tobago. National Director of the Pageant Sri Yoogeandra, who up to Friday evening was enveloped in controversy which threatened to prevent his departure, said that Guyana's return to the international (Pageant) stage had been long in coming and that "the time has come to make our presence felt." In praising the team who worked around the clock with Morvinia, Yoogeandra said that Morvinia had an excellent wardrobe which was second to none. He commented that the wardrobe stipulated by the Miss Universe Pageant organizers had been surpassed by the team comprising Donna Ramsammy-James, Andre Sobryn, and others. "I think that Morvinia will stand out on [the] Trinidad stage... I think she is capable of standing on her own in representing this country at Miss Universe." Yoogeandra was most thankful to the Government for its support in "making this dream a reality." The local director said that putting Guyana on the international scene once more was like participating in an Olympic game, only that there was only one girl involved instead of a team. "One girl can do it," he said, and the cost was minimal in comparison to the reward. An up-beat Yoogeandra said that when Morvinia placed in the final ten, this country would have 10-15 minutes exposure on stage. The value, he estimated, was in excess of US$6M. More than 2.5 billion people in over 130 countries around the world would be looking at Guyana through the television. The Director said that he started negotiations in 1995, and he felt that this occasion would pave the way for the staging of bigger and better local pageants and for participation in world pageants. In brief comments, Ramsammy-James expressed the view that Morvinia would be at an advantage on the international stage, because her entire wardrobe had been designed and made by Guyanese. "It's a complete Guyana affair, every piece that she will wear from the time she wakes up in the morning to the time she goes to bed, will reflect Guyana." "We will probably be rivalled by those from India, Trinidad, Brazil, and Venezuela, who tend to go with the same dynamics in terms of looks, but we have taken in mind that it is being held in Trinidad and our whole message is one of comfort - Caribbean and tropical - and that's where I think we will have an edge over the non-Caribbean contestants." 
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