Guyexpo organisers stand to lose $6M in gate receipts and parking fees from the delayed start of the trade show. The official opening ceremony is rescheduled for today at 4:05 pm due to heavy rainfall which started on Sunday and has left parts of the Sophia Exhibition complex under water.
"Unfortunately the rains prevented us from sticking to that plan," said a disappointed Manzoor Nadir, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce during a press conference yesterday.
"We want to get the show on the road and to get started," he explained after the postponement had been brought forward from tomorrow. A decision had initially been made to have the fair open tomorrow after the met office told officials more bad weather was on the way.
The stage area which was scheduled to hold the opening ceremony is water logged and an alternate area is yet to be decided on. It was noted that if it rains today then a smaller opening ceremony might have to be considered.
There will be no VIP or public parking due to a rain-soaked parking area. The ministry is asking visitors to use public transportation for the opening ceremony.
Patrons had been offered the western side next to the front fence as secure parking for a fee of $300 and preferred parking inside the National Exhibition Centre compound for $500. Parking may be available after today and the public will be advised of these developments.
Next Tuesday or even Wednesday are being considered as days to further extend GuyExpo which was set to wrap up on Monday.
Some 12 exhibitors with booths on the lawns between the main auditorium and the annex were affected along with at least another eight. The entertainment and the food court areas were water logged but exhibitors on the tarmac area have built platforms.
Exhibitors from interior regions are already on spot for the opening. Delegations from Canada, St. Lucia, Antigua and Bermuda, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago and from London are also arriving.
Up to Wednesday evening some 205 local and international exhibitors covering 27 sectors were booked for the trade fair in over 350 booths. In terms of booth space this represents a 40% increase from previous events. Up to yesterday persons were still being offered booth space.
A GuyExpo 2K4 seminar set for today at Le Meridien Pegasus will discuss Guyana's investment opportunities.
This year organisers will have a team go from booth to booth to interview exhibitors and also visitors about how they thought the show went and what improvements may be needed.