Fears of unpredictable rains, floods hamper Main Big Lime
Kaieteur News
January 3, 2005
Though there were no major rains early yesterday, the passing clouds and the downpours of previous days cast a grey shadow on the turnout for the much anticipated Main Big Lime.
Yesterday, though not in the large numbers anticipated, Guyanese and tourists alike turned out on Main Street and were treated to most of what was promised them.
However as opposed to the years gone by when literally thousands traipsed along the jam-packed street and needed some amount of navigational skills, this year the numbers were not that many. Those who turned out for the event had much space for healthy socializing.
Shafdar Alli, Coordinator of the event, told Kaieteur News that he was happy that the waters that flooded the avenue on Old Year's Day and even on Christmas Day had receded and that most of the more than 75 booths were able to occupy a mostly dry avenue.
The displays included mostly art and craft, photography and ornamental plants. In addition, Banks DIH, DDL, Carib, GT and T, and for the first time, Cel*Star, all set up bars and booths.
The Banks DIH presence was most dominant in the form of tents and bars but more patrons were seen with Carib beer in hand.
Along the route from Church Street to Lamaha Street , on both sides of the road were lined with the many known and unknown sound systems belting out some of the new, old and middle of the road hits.
However, the Hits and Jams/ Banks Family village that was slated for the burnt out Park Hotel plot of land was not as extravagant as was advertised.
“Most people were not too sure of what to expect so the band that was to be on show was cancelled and we did not bring most of the items to make the area into a village. People were generally afraid of the rains,” promoter Kerwayne Bollers told Kaieteur News.
Mr. Alli was certain that the day's event would have been better supported had it not been for the unpredictable weather, but he expressed gratitude that so many persons turned up for the event, nonetheless.
“This Lime to me has still been able to achieve its objective of being an after holiday forum for healthy socializing, meeting old friends and making new acquaintances.”
He expressed thanks to the Police who were visibly present along the route, the City Council and the private sector for ensuring that the event came off. From observations it is safe to conclude that the main interest of the teenage and adult patrons to the lime were in costume jewellery and the rice art chains that proved most unique to those who wanted keepsakes.
This of course caused the only two known rice artists in Guyana , Sean and his cousin Anthony Hopkinson, to be among the busiest of the exhibitors.
Most of the exhibitors and vendors interviewed said that this year the weather took a toll on the support that they would normally get from tourists and Guyanese alike.
“I didn't bring out most of my stock because I was afraid that it would rain,” one vendor said.
The food vendors and drink sellers had mixed comments as regards the days takings. Some of the visitors, too, offered mixed adults comments about the Lime being ‘just a lime', as opposed to a fair.
However, the children were obviously having a blast on the strategically placed trampolines, and children fun parks that featured a merry go round, and several cars.