Dear Editor,

As a sponsor, supporter and donor of prizes we at R.K's wish to record our disappointment at the behaviour of patrons and some contestants at the staging of the Miss African Heritage Beauty Pageant at the National Cultural Centre on Sunday 5th August, 2001. We have always supported the pageant and black consciousness.

In our opinion the pageant was well organized, the stage professionally set and the Masters of Ceremonies were superb. The late start was due to some contestants arriving late, and some performers, the drummers; but this was explained before the start by the young lady M.C.

However, during the show the organizers arranged entertainment in the form of drumming, singing, poetry, acting, etc, and the patrons were enthralled and entertained. My son and I enjoyed all that was offered.

R.K's Security and Group of Companies sponsored a talented and beautiful young lady, Alana Thorne, and we offered prizes such as driving courses, etc.

Due to the rich and exciting mood we experienced and perhaps the presence of the spirits, my young son, only 13, whom I have been educating to respect and love all peoples, was moved emotionally.

As a matter of fact I educate all my children this way and always take them to African exhibitions and educational affairs at the National Park, and I always support that venture.

My son, Roshan Khan II was so touched that he offered several floor prizes of his own, monies accumulated from a part-time summer vacation job. Various sums of $2,000.00 for deserving constants for best smile, best talent, etc, were to be offered. A total of $30,000.00 would have been given out by him, almost all his savings.

We had hoped that having taken the initiative others would have followed, with some wealthy ones in the audience going up to $50,000.00 or $100,000.00. But some loud-mouthed patrons, lacking patience, did not allow Mr. Alexander to finish speaking about this offer. Mr. Alexander reprimanded them in no uncertain terms. These loud-mouths had assumed that the floor prizes offered were from R.K" Security, but instead it was from Roshan Khan II, my thirteen-year-old son.

I will continue to educate my children positively to respect all. I wish all Guyanese will do this instead of teaching hate, vulgarity, malice, cursing and threatening. Children learn from parents.

The refusal of some contestants to accept the judges' decisions as final was disgraceful and not just amateurish but absolutely wicked. Who could doubt the honour and character of the judges, Mr. Sinclair and others, whose reputation as people of dignity precedes them? Must these judges now have their character besmirched? Who will want to judge in the future? Must they be subjected to bad manners and lack of discipline?

The verbal and near physical abuse on that night of Mr. Alexander and his dear wife Paula, particularly by a former contestant who had been given a great opportunity for advancement, was uncalled for. This man Lorri has done so much for black consciousness; and is one of the voices of reason and sanity in our society and on his television talk show, unlike open haters, and biased so-called journalists.

I wish Lorri and Paula all the best, I hope they overcome this rash of foolishness, in time and find the strength to continue the pageant, which is now a welcome hallmark in the Guyanese society, and not only for African-Guyanese.

Let us end vulgarity, insanity, irrationality and wanton stupidity. Let us rise as a people of reason, intellect, wisdom, character and honour.